The area of South Burlington was first granted by the Province of New Hampshire as part of Burlington township on June 7, 1763.
The town of Burlington was organized around 1785. In 1865, the unincorporated village of Burlington was chartered as a city. The remaining area of the town came to be organized as a separate town with the name South Burlington in the same year, 1865. The town of South Burlington was later incorporated as a city in 1971.
The City Center Initiative is a proposal to create a walkable downtown for the City of South Burlington. The public is investing in infrastructure to support gathering spaces, mobility and economic vitality. public infrastructure. The over 300 acre area targeted to be developed and redeveloped is zoned for mixed-use including residential, commercial, and cultural spaces. The main components under design or construction by the City are a city hall, senior center and public library, streets and parks. Two main streets, Market Street and Garden Street, will be constructed and/or reconstructed to form the central routes through „City Center“. These streets will be outfitted with bicycle and walking facilities, lined with trees, and include stormwater infiltration surfaces. Along these streets will be mixed-use buildings primarily for use by lower-level retail and upper-level residential units. In addition, a 7+ acre plot has been redeveloped as a public park, with walking paths through a forest, a children’s discovery area, and natural art landmarks.
South Burlington has a largely service-based economy. There are 191 businesses in retail trade, mainly concentrated around City Center near Dorset Street and Williston Road.