Burke County, North Carolina | |
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 Seal  Logo | |
| Motto: "All About Advancing" | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina | |
 North Carolina's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:35°45′N81°43′W / 35.75°N 81.71°W /35.75; -81.71 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1777 |
| Named after | Thomas Burke |
| Seat | Morganton |
| Largest community | Morganton |
| Area | |
• Total | 514.24 sq mi (1,331.9 km2) |
| • Land | 506.24 sq mi (1,311.2 km2) |
| • Water | 8.00 sq mi (20.7 km2) 1.56% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 87,570 |
• Estimate (2024) | 88,545 |
| • Density | 172.98/sq mi (66.79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 14th |
| Website | www |
Burke County is acounty in the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina. It is part of the state's westernmountain region, containing sections of theBlue Ridge Mountains including theLinville Gorge andSouth Mountains. As of the2020 census, its population was 87,570.[1] Itscounty seat isMorganton.[2] Burke County is part of theHickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NCMetropolitan Statistical Area.
Indigenous peoples inhabited the interior and the coastal areas for thousands of years. Native Americans of the complex and far-flungMississippian culture inhabited the county long before Europeans arrived in the New World. They were part of a trade network extending from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes. They built earthwork mounds, including atJoara, a 12-acre (4.9 ha) site and regionalchiefdom in North Carolina, near present-day Morganton. It was the center of the largest Native American settlement in North Carolina, dating from about 1000 AD and expanding into the next centuries.[3]
In 1567, SpanishJuan Pardo's expedition arrived and built Fort San Juan at Joara, claiming the area for the colony ofSpanish Florida. Pardo named the settlement Cuenca, after his home city.[3] They had been sent by the governor atSanta Elena (Parris Island) inSouth Carolina to find an overland route to the silver mines in central Mexico, believing that the Appalachians were connected to a range there.
Captain Juan Pardo, leader of the expedition, left about 30 soldiers at the fort while continuing his exploration. His expedition built another five forts to the west, in the foothills of the mountains. In the spring of 1568, the Indians attacked Fort San Juan, killing the soldiers and burning the fort. The natives killed all soldiers except one at the garrisons, at five other Spanish forts in the interior.[3]
A record of Pardo's expedition was not discovered and translated into English until the late 20th century. In the 1990s, excavation was started at a site believed to be Joara, continuing into the 21st century. In 2013, archeologists announced that they had found remains of Fort San Juan at Joara, confirming early accounts. This has changed knowledge and interpretation of early European encounters and colonization efforts in what would become the United States, as Spanish efforts preceded the successful efforts of England inJamestown, Virginia, by 40 years.[4]
In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, Burke County was formed fromRowan County. It was named forThomas Burke, then serving as a delegate to theContinental Congress (1777 to 1781). He was later elected asgovernor of North Carolina, serving one term from 1781 to 1782. The western Piedmont was settled by manyScots-Irish and German immigrants in the mid- to late 18th century. They were generallyyeoman farmers and fiercely independent.
TheBurke County Regiment participated in theBattle of Kings Mountain, which pitted Appalachian frontiersmen against the Loyalist forces of British commanderFerguson atKings Mountain, SC, in theAmerican Revolution. Rather than waiting for Ferguson to invade their territory, militiamen throughout the Blue Ridge who crossed over the mountains to meet the enemy were known as theOver Mountain Men.[5]
As population increased, the county was divided to form other jurisdictions. In 1791, parts of Burke County andRutherford County were combined to formBuncombe County.
In 1833, parts of Burke and Buncombe Counties were combined to formYancey County. In 1841, parts of Burke andWilkes Counties were combined to formCaldwell County. In 1842, additional parts of Burke and Rutherford Counties were combined to formMcDowell County. Finally, in 1861, parts of Burke, Caldwell, McDowell,Watauga, and Yancey Counties were combined to formMitchell County.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 514.24 square miles (1,331.9 km2), of which 506.24 square miles (1,311.2 km2) is land and 8.00 square miles (20.7 km2) (1.56%) is water.[6] The county contains portions of two lakes:Lake James along its western border withMcDowell County and Lake Rhodhiss along its northeastern border withCaldwell County.
Table Rock, a prominent peak in the county in the east rim ofLinville Gorge, part ofPisgah National Forest, has been described as "the most visible symbol in the region".[7]
In the southern part of the county, theSouth Mountains State Park covers almost 21,000-acre (8,500 ha) and features waterfalls and hiking trails.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 8,106 | — | |
| 1800 | 9,929 | 22.5% | |
| 1810 | 11,007 | 10.9% | |
| 1820 | 13,411 | 21.8% | |
| 1830 | 17,888 | 33.4% | |
| 1840 | 15,799 | −11.7% | |
| 1850 | 7,772 | −50.8% | |
| 1860 | 9,237 | 18.8% | |
| 1870 | 9,777 | 5.8% | |
| 1880 | 12,809 | 31.0% | |
| 1890 | 14,939 | 16.6% | |
| 1900 | 17,699 | 18.5% | |
| 1910 | 21,408 | 21.0% | |
| 1920 | 23,297 | 8.8% | |
| 1930 | 29,410 | 26.2% | |
| 1940 | 38,615 | 31.3% | |
| 1950 | 45,518 | 17.9% | |
| 1960 | 52,701 | 15.8% | |
| 1970 | 60,364 | 14.5% | |
| 1980 | 72,504 | 20.1% | |
| 1990 | 75,744 | 4.5% | |
| 2000 | 89,148 | 17.7% | |
| 2010 | 90,912 | 2.0% | |
| 2020 | 87,570 | −3.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 88,545 | [9] | 1.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[1] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 68,664 | 78.41% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,762 | 5.44% |
| Native American | 238 | 0.27% |
| Asian | 3,150 | 3.6% |
| Pacific Islander | 64 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed | 3,508 | 4.01% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 7,184 | 8.2% |
As of the2020 census, 87,570 people, 36,634 households, and 25,391 families resided in the county.
At the2000 census,[16] 89,148 people, 34,528 households, and 24,342 families were residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile (68 people/km2). The 37,427 housing units had an average density of 74 units per square mile (29 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 86.01% White, 6.71% African American, 0.30% Native American, 3.48% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 2.17% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. About 3.57% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 34,528 households, 31.0% had children under 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were not families. About 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the age distribution was 24.0% under 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,629, and for a family was $42,114. Males had a median income of $27,591 versus $21,993 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,397. About 8.00% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under 18 and 12.5% of those 65 or over.
Burke County leans heavily Republican in presidential elections. The last Democrat to carry the county wasJimmy Carter in 1976.Lyndon Johnson, who won the county as a Democrat in 1964, was the only other one to do so sinceWorld War II. However, as late as the 1990s, Democratic presidential candidates have managed to garner 40% of the county's vote. As was typical for all of the South outside theAppalachian highlands and a few stronghold Republican counties, Burke County was mostly solidly Democratic before World War II.
In theNorth Carolina Senate, Burke County lies within the46th Senate district, which also covers Cleveland County and is represented by RepublicanWarren Daniel. In theNorth Carolina House of Representatives, the northern two-thirds of Burke County comprises the 86th District represented by RepublicanHugh Blackwell. The southern third lies within the112nd district, which also coversRutherford County and is represented by RepublicanDavid Rogers.
Burke County is a member of the regionalWestern Piedmont Council of Governments. The county is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, elected to serve four-year terms.[17]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 48 | 1.78% | 1,365 | 50.54% | 1,288 | 47.69% |
| 1916 | 1,474 | 47.63% | 1,621 | 52.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 3,592 | 52.41% | 3,262 | 47.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 3,190 | 43.54% | 4,137 | 56.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 5,108 | 63.94% | 2,881 | 36.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 4,823 | 44.92% | 5,866 | 54.64% | 47 | 0.44% |
| 1936 | 5,506 | 42.48% | 7,454 | 57.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 4,889 | 40.30% | 7,242 | 59.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 5,855 | 46.28% | 6,795 | 53.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 6,374 | 47.26% | 6,226 | 46.16% | 888 | 6.58% |
| 1952 | 11,113 | 58.97% | 7,732 | 41.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 11,823 | 59.65% | 7,999 | 40.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 12,925 | 56.34% | 10,015 | 43.66% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 10,081 | 44.03% | 12,815 | 55.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 11,068 | 48.84% | 5,704 | 25.17% | 5,892 | 26.00% |
| 1972 | 14,447 | 68.96% | 6,197 | 29.58% | 306 | 1.46% |
| 1976 | 10,070 | 41.22% | 14,254 | 58.34% | 107 | 0.44% |
| 1980 | 12,956 | 50.97% | 11,680 | 45.95% | 781 | 3.07% |
| 1984 | 18,766 | 64.32% | 10,353 | 35.48% | 59 | 0.20% |
| 1988 | 15,933 | 59.41% | 10,848 | 40.45% | 38 | 0.14% |
| 1992 | 13,397 | 44.48% | 12,565 | 41.71% | 4,160 | 13.81% |
| 1996 | 13,853 | 48.97% | 11,678 | 41.28% | 2,760 | 9.76% |
| 2000 | 18,466 | 60.23% | 11,924 | 38.89% | 268 | 0.87% |
| 2004 | 18,922 | 61.51% | 11,728 | 38.12% | 112 | 0.36% |
| 2008 | 22,102 | 59.03% | 14,901 | 39.80% | 440 | 1.18% |
| 2012 | 22,267 | 60.93% | 13,701 | 37.49% | 576 | 1.58% |
| 2016 | 26,238 | 67.42% | 11,251 | 28.91% | 1,431 | 3.68% |
| 2020 | 31,019 | 69.55% | 13,118 | 29.41% | 465 | 1.04% |
| 2024 | 32,130 | 70.08% | 13,272 | 28.95% | 445 | 0.97% |
All of Burke County is in theBurke County Schools school district.[19]
Although never explicitly mentioned by name in the novel, the hideout of Robur-the villain in Jules Verne'sMaster of the World-is thought to be Table Rock Mountain in Burke County.
The outdoor dramaFrom This Day Forward has been performed annually in Burke County since 1968. It tells the story of the founding of the town ofValdese.[20]
Many scenes from the 1992 filmLast of the Mohicans were filmed in Burke County. A full-scale fort was built next to the Linville boat access onLake James for the filming. The fort was later destroyed and the land replanted with trees. Many of the extras who played settlers, British soldiers, and Native Americans were locals from Burke and surrounding counties.
The final scene fromThe Hunt for Red October had the backdrop filmed on Lake James, while the actors stayed in Hollywood.
In 2011, scenes for theLionsgate adaptation ofThe Hunger Games were filmed nearHildebran, North Carolina, at theHenry River Mill Village.
Geographic data related toBurke County, North Carolina atOpenStreetMap 
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Municipalities and communities ofBurke County, North Carolina,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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