04/29/2026
🚂 Did You Know? Burlington wasn't always "Burlington!"
If you lived here in the 1850s, you’d tell people you lived in Company Shops.
Before it became the "Hosiery Center of the South" or the home of the Labcorp headquarters, Burlington was a custom-built railroad town. The North Carolina Railroad needed a central spot to maintain and repair its steam engines, so they bought a plot of land and literally built a town from scratch to house their workers and shops.
Here are 3 more "Fun Facts" about the Gate City:
The Dentzel Carousel:** One of Burlington's biggest treasures is the hand-carved wooden carousel in City Park. Built around 1910, it features 46 animals and is one of the few remaining intact Dentzel carousels in the world.
The "Hosiery Capital": After the railroad shops moved away in the late 1800s, the city pivoted to textiles. It became so famous for its socks and stockings that by the mid-20th century, it was known as the "Hosiery Center of the South."
A "Puppet" Legacy: Keeping that textile history alive in a quirky way, the local baseball team is named the
Burlington Sock Puppets! They play at the historic Burlington Athletic Stadium, where MLB legends like CC Sabathia and Jim Thome got their start.
Local Tip: Next time you're downtown, visit the Company Shops Station. It’s a beautifully restored railroad building that serves as a bridge between the city's "Company Shops" past and its vibrant present.
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