Burlington Iowa Map

About Burlington, Iowa

Burlington is a locality in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. It has a population of 23,982. The population density is 642.4 people per km². Burlington is located at 40.8075°N, 91.1129°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. Burlington is an incorporated locality. ZIP code: 52601.

Burlington claims a dramatic elevation above the Mississippi River, where the high bluffs overlook the slow, rhythmic movement of the water. It lies 16.2 miles northeast of Fort Madison, IA (from Fort Madison, IA: bearing 41°T), and is situated 2.6 miles east-southeast of West Burlington. The landscape surrounding Burlington consists of vast, tilled fields that stretch toward the horizon, punctuated by the quiet, still presence of Yeager Lake. A short distance away, the uneven terrain of Mooney Pocket breaks the flat expanse of the prairie, creating a subtle variety in the local topography. Residents often gather in South Hill Park, a local park that provides a vantage point for watching the afternoon light settle over the valley. The air here holds the scent of damp earth and growing corn, a reminder of the fertile soil that defines the regional character. Far to the west, the distant outline of Gittings Mound offers a fixed point against the wide, open sky of the plains.

Burlington emerged as a vital river port during the nineteenth century, serving as a gateway for settlers moving steadily into the interior of the continent. Industry eventually flourished along the banks of the Mississippi River, where the convergence of rail and water transport supported a robust manufacturing base. Today, the economy relies on a mixture of regional logistics, specialized production, and the steady output of agricultural commerce. The local work ethic remains tethered to the seasonal cycles of the surrounding farmland, where the harvest dictates the pace of the year. Small workshops and factories continue to operate in the shadow of the town’s older, brick-fronted commercial centers. This endurance of trade reflects a deep-seated commitment to maintaining a functional and self-reliant livelihood in the middle of the country.

Burlington maintains a quiet, literate civility, shaped by a history of diverse immigration that settled into the steady rhythm of prairie life. The town’s heritage is visible in the preservation of historic architecture, particularly along the winding, steep streets that climb away from the river. Among those who once walked these paths was the influential writer and journalist Aldo Leopold, whose early observations of the natural world were shaped by the woods and fields of the region. The cultural calendar is marked by local gatherings that emphasize community connection, often taking place in the open spaces of South Hill Park. Throughout the year, the atmosphere remains unshowy and grounded, favoring a sense of place that values tradition over rapid change. Even as the decades pass, the fundamental character of Burlington persists as a deliberate, thoughtful reflection of its environment.

About This Burlington Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Burlington, Iowa. Coordinates: 40.807539, -91.112923. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.

Detailed location data for Burlington includes the ZIP code (52601), telephone area code (712), county seat of Des Moines County (Burlington), and school district assignment (Burlington Community School District).

Search Maps opens a second, independent map. It searches OpenStreetMap for any US town, county or landmark by name; offers USGS topographic maps and USGS aerial imagery as base layers; overlays a labelled U.S. National Grid (USNG) so the map can be read like a printed topographic quad; measures distance and grid, true and magnetic bearings between any two points; and takes a single GPS fix reporting your position as a USNG grid reference and as latitude and longitude. Map tiles require cell coverage, but a GPS position does not, so the coordinates remain correct even where the map cannot load.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.