Did you know that Burlington originated as a simple railroad repair shop? In the 1850's, construction on the North Carolina Railroad created a need for a maintenance and repair shop. Hence, Company Shops (soon to become Burlington) was born. This new town attracted many workers from all around. Company Shops was thriving for many years. However, soon disaster struck! A fire in 1918 burned down most of Main Street. But the city rebuilt and kept on going strong! After the fire, the town entered an era of rebirth and many new buildings were constructed, such as the Paramount Theater. Eventually, the town outgrew its boundaries. So in 1978, the railroad depot was moved 10 feet south, allowing the town to expand.  Burlington's economy prospered and the population grew. Burlington has proved to be a resilient town and intends to keep going strong.