Burlington, Iowa

Burlington is a city in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,839 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Des Moines County. Burlington is the home of Snake Alley, the crookedest alley in the world, and has been called the Backhoe Capital of the World.

In 1837, Burlington became the second territorial capital of the Wisconsin Territory. ^* After the Iowa Territory was organized in the following year, Burlington became its first territorial capital. The government used "Old Zion", the first Methodist Church in Iowa (located near what is now 3rd and Washington streets), to conduct business of the day. There are several businesses and famous people that originate from this city; two prominent examples are the CB&Q Railroad that evolved into the Burlington Route and the BNSF Railway, and an individual, Aldo Leopold, the well-respected naturalist. Other notable people born in Burlington: Dr. Wallace Carothers, inventor of Nylon, William Frawley, known as Fred Mertz on the "I Love Lucy" show, Bart Howard, composer and writer of the jazz standard "Fly me to the Moon," Kurt Warner, twice named the National Football League MVP, and Jim Kelly, who piloted the space shuttle's 2005 return to flight. Nebraska Governor Kay A. Orr, the first Republican woman Governor in the United States was born in Burlington.

Burlington's roots are in transportation and manufacturing. Located on the Mississippi River, Burlington was a bustling river port in the steamboat era and home to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. Even today one of the main East-West lines of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad crosses the Mississippi at Burlington.

Burlington is the home of the Burlington Bees baseball team, a class A member of the Midwest League. Hall of Fame baseball player Paul Molitor started his professional career with the Bees. The Bees play at Community Field, which underwent extensive renovation in 2005. Burlington is also home to a campus of Southeastern Community College.

Geography

Burlington is located at (40.808153, -91.115726).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.8 mi² (38.4 km²). 14.1 mi² (36.4 km²) of it is land and 0.8 mi² (2.0 km²) of it (5.26%) is water.

Transportation

The Southeast Iowa Regional Airport is located about five miles south of town. Commercial service is provided through American Airline's "American Connection". This service offers three daily flights to St. Louis.

The town is served by US Highway 34, which is the freeway that goes through the middle of town and US Highway 61. Iowa Highways 99 and 406 served the town before they were decomissioned in 2003.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,839 people, 11,102 households, and 7,105 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,910.1/mi² (737.6/km²). There were 11,985 housing units at an average density of 853.0/mi² (329.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.59% White, 5.04% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.06% of the population.

There were 11,102 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,770, and the median income for a family was $40,912. Males had a median income of $33,238 versus $23,003 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,450. About 10.0% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

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