Town of South Burlington
Located east and south of the City of Burlington, South Burlington has long been known for its fine neighborhoods, excellent school system, and general affluence. One of the commercial centers of Chittenden County, South Burlington’s hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and businesses are easily accessed from Williston Road, Shelburne Road, and the Interstate. Public transportation is available, connecting with Burlington International Airport on the northeast side of town.
Established as the town of South Burlington in 1865 through an act of Legislature, rural origins prompted the city’s separation from Burlington for tax reasons. Objecting to the payment of an additional tax for the purpose of extending Burlington’s water intake further into Lake Champlain, rural residents, who relied on driven wells to provide water, refused to pay for a system that would afford no benefit.
Agriculture sustained South Burlington well into the mid-20th Century. As late as the mid-1950s, traffic regularly stopped for Fred C. Fiske’s cows being driven across Williston Road from the farm, now the site of the Sheraton Hotel, to pasture on land upon which Staples Plaza is located. Cows and horses grazed on pastures along Kennedy Drive and Dorset Street during the mid-1970s.
The period between incorporation and 1930 saw slow residential growth, with few houses built. During the late 1930s, the first residential development was initiated by Arthur Elsom, planner of Mayfair Parkway. Although the advent of World War 2 slowed Elsom’s project, it was restarted immediately after the end of the war.
After the war, farmers discovered that subdividing their land to provide building sites and acreage for returning GIs was more profitable. Construction boomed, increasing the population 111% between 1950 and 1960. Then, as now, the majority of residents enjoyed incomes above the median. Community spirit flourished during that period, and still continues.Charming neighborhoods provide diverse housing opportunities. Surrounded by homes built on land that was once part of their acreage, farmhouses show the marriage of form and function necessary in their day.
New neighborhoods with large Victorian style and contemporary homes are creating another building boom in the city. Through this diversity of style, there is still unity.
This fundamental unity among the inhabitants of South Burlington’s various neighborhoods is visible to the casual observer. Enthusiastic support for schools is evident in the attendance of school and sports activities. In addition to amenities provided by the Parks & Recreation Department, fitness centers, golf courses, skating rinks, tennis and swim clubs abound. Construction of a number of recreation paths to connect portions of the city was begun several years ago, and several are now completed. Residents and visitors enjoy conveniently located shopping areas, with locally-owned enterprises operating alongside regional and nationally known stores.
A city with a lot to offer, South Burlington has maintained its independence, yet provides the unity and security so many seek when establishing a home or business. Like most of Chittenden County, South Burlington is unique.