Sitting peacefully on the shore of Lake Champlain, Burlington is a vibrant city that has a small town feel, and even though it's the most populated city in the state of Vermont, it is also the least populated city in the United States. This dual nature has given Burlington a charm that makes those who visit fall in love with its bustling cultural life, cozy cafes, and stores.

Fun Facts about Burlington

• Burlington is the home of the University of Vermont, which was founded in 1791 and is known for being the first university to openly support freedom of religion, as well as one of the first to accept women as students in 1871.
• Burlington is also famous for its shopping, especially in the stores located in the Church Street Marketplace.
• Burlington is known for its varied number of festivals and cultural events, including the popular dragon boat races on Lake Champlain, and the annual Festival of Fools which takes place every summer and showcases a number of street performers from around the world.
• Burlington hosted the world's first hockey match during the 1886 Winter Carnival. The participants were the Montreal Crystals and the local team. On that occasion, the Canadian team won with a 3-0 score and established a long-standing tradition and rivalry that local lore still talks about today.

Burlington is also the birthplace of Ben & Jerry's ice cream company, which was started by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978. These childhood friends had no experience in the ice cream industry except for a mail-order course, and yet, quickly became a local favorite and later on a beloved national icon.

Vermont senator and presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, served as mayor of Burlington for four terms from 1981 to 1989, winning in the 1981 election by only 10 votes. Burlington is also the birthplace of Phish, the popular band which was formed at UVM in 1983.