Burlington was first settled in 1641 and was officially incorporated on February 28, 1799. The town is sited on the watersheds of the Ipswich, Mystic and Shawsheen Rivers. It is now a suburban industrial town at the junction of the Boston-Merrimac corridor but for most of its history it was almost entirely agricultural, selling hops and rye to Boston and supplementing that income with small shoe making shops. Early railroad expansion passed the town by, limiting its early development, and Burlington continued to cure hams for the Boston market and produce milk, fruit and vegetables. This picture changed drastically, however, as soon as Route 128 was built. The highway kicked off an enormous expansion, and between 1955 and 1965 Burlington was the fastest growing town in the state. In one five year period, its population tripled as residential and commercial retail development exploded creating the town's present character.

It is believed that Burlington takes its name from the English town of Bridlington, however this has never been confirmed.