From Michigan Place Names
Calhoun County: founded by William and Ansel Adams in 1833. Several men in the settlement had served in the War of 1812 before they migrated to Michigan and the town was named after the gunboat Burlington which had engaged in that conflict on the Great Lakes. Levi Houghtaling became its first postmaster on April 5, 1838. Incorporated as a village in 1869 [Mrs. William Heal; PO Archives]