The unlikely history of a city that was once a global lumber leader

Cultures · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before it became a hub for renewable energy and artisanal ice cream, Burlington, Vermont, was a bustling industrial powerhouse. From the world's first lake-going steamboat to a global dominance in the lumber trade, discover how this lakeside city transformed through war, industry, and community activism.

Burlington's origins are rooted in colonial land disputes. While the grant for the area was awarded to Samuel Willis and 63 others on June 7, 1775, the American Revolutionary War delayed permanent settlement. The city's name remains a subject of debate, with historians weighing whether it honors the wealthy New Yorker Edward Burling or the British Earl of Burlington.

The 19th century brought significant technological and economic shifts. In 1808, the world's first lake-going steamboat was constructed here. Following the completion of various canals—including the Champlain in 1823 and the Erie in 1825—Burlington became a vital trade center. At its peak, the city served as the third largest lumber market in the world, a period of prosperity that left behind grand Victorian architecture.

However, the waterfront's history is also one of industrial decay and reclamation. By the mid-1980s, the shoreline was a derelict wasteland of rail yards and 90 oil storage tanks. Through decades of advocacy, such as the formation of the Citizens Waterfront Group in 1980 to oppose luxury condos, the area was redesigned for public use. This transformation included the creation of the Burlington Bike Path, completed by 1990, and the extension of the Island Line Trail.

Today, the city balances its industrial past with modern innovation. In 2015, Burlington became the first U.S. city to operate entirely on renewable energy. While it remains a regional college town home to the University of Vermont, it also hosts global brands like Ben & Jerry's, which began in a renovated gas station in 1978.

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