Burke County, North Carolina

Burke County
County
Burke County Courthouse
Seal Logo
Motto:  "All About Advancing"
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.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 for	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  (2023)	88,338
• Density	172.98/sq mi (66.79/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	10th
Website	www.burkenc.org

Burke County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 87,570. ^[1] Its county seat is Morganton. ^[2]

Burke County is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Indigenous peoples inhabited the interior and the coastal areas for thousands of years. Native Americans of the complex and far-flung Mississippian 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 at Joara, a 12-acre (49,000 m²) site and regional chiefdom 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, Spanish Juan Pardo's expedition arrived and built Fort San Juan at Joara, claiming the area for the colony of Spanish Florida. Pardo named the settlement Cuenca, after his home city. ^[3] They had been sent by the governor at Santa Elena (Parris Island) in South 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]

In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, Burke County was formed from Rowan County. It was named for Thomas Burke, then serving as a delegate to the Continental Congress (1777 to 1781). He was later elected as governor of North Carolina, serving one term from 1781 to 1782. The western Piedmont was settled by many Scots-Irish and German immigrants in the mid- to late 18th century. They were generally yeoman farmers and fiercely independent.

As population increased, the county was divided to form other jurisdictions. In 1791, parts of Burke County and Rutherford County were combined to form Buncombe County. In 1833, parts of Burke and Buncombe Counties were combined to form Yancey County. In 1841, parts of Burke and Wilkes Counties were combined to form Caldwell County. In 1842, additional parts of Burke and Rutherford Counties were combined to form McDowell County. Finally, in 1861, parts of Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Watauga, and Yancey Counties were combined to form Mitchell County.

The Burke County Regiment participated in the Battle of Kings Mountain, which pitted Appalachian frontiersmen against the Loyalist forces of British commander Ferguson at Kings Mountain, SC, in the American 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 the Over Mountain Men. ^[4]

A record of the 1567 Spanish 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 in Jamestown, Virginia, by 40 years. ^[5]

Geography

Interactive map of Burke County

Table Rock

According to the U.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 with McDowell County and Lake Rhodhiss along its northeastern border with Caldwell County.

Table Rock, a prominent peak in the county in the east rim of Linville Gorge, part of Pisgah National Forest, has been described as "the most visible symbol in the region". ^[7]

In the southern part of the county, the South Mountains State Park covers almost 21,000-acre (8,500 ha) and features waterfalls and hiking trails.

National protected areas

• Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
• Linville Falls
• Linville Gorge Wilderness (part)
• Pisgah National Forest (part)

State and local protected areas

See also: Category:Protected areas of Burke County, North Carolina

• Johns River Game Land ^[8]
• Lake James State Park (part)
• Pisgah National Forest Game Land (part) ^[8]
• Pisgah (WRC) Game Land (part) ^[8]
• South Mountains Game Lands (part) ^[8]
• South Mountains State Park

Major water bodies

• Canoe Creek
• Catawba River
• Dales Creek
• Drowning Creek
• Hall Creek
• Henry Fork
• Irish Creek
• Jacob Fork
• Lake James
• Lake Rhodhiss
• Linville River
• Little River
• Old Catawba River
• Pearcey Creek
• Rock Creek
• Roses Creek
• Silver Creek
• Upper Creek

Adjacent counties

• Avery County – northwest
• Caldwell County – north
• Catawba County – east
• Cleveland County – south
• Rutherford County – south
• McDowell County – west

Major highways

• I-40
• US 64
• 
  US 64 Bus.
• US 70
• 
  US 70 Bus.
• US 221
• US 321
• NC 18
• NC 114
• NC 126
• NC 181
• NC 183

Major infrastructure

• Foothills Regional Airport (partially in Caldwell County)
• Hickory Regional Airport (partially in Catawba County)

Demographics

Historical population

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%
2023 (est.)	88,338	[1]	0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790–1960 [10] 1900–1990 [11] 1990–2000 [12] 2010 [13] 2020 [1]

2020 census

Burke County racial composition ^[14]

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 or Latino	7,184	8.2%

As of the 2020 census, 87,570 people, 36,634 households, and 25,391 families resided in the county.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, ^[15] 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). The racial 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.

Government and politics

Burke County leans heavily Republican in presidential elections. The last Democrat to carry the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Lyndon Johnson, who won the county as a Democrat in 1964, was the only other one to do so since World 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 the Appalachian highlands and a few stronghold Republican counties, Burke County was mostly solidly Democratic before World War II.

In the North Carolina Senate, Burke County lies within the 46th Senate district, which also covers Cleveland County and is represented by Republican Warren Daniel. In the North Carolina House of Representatives, the northern two-thirds of Burke County comprises the 86th District represented by Republican Hugh Blackwell. The southern third lies within the 112nd district, which also covers Rutherford County and is represented by Republican David Rogers.

Burke County is a member of the regional Western Piedmont Council of Governments. The county is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, elected to serve four-year terms. ^[16]

United States presidential election results for Burke County, North Carolina ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	32,130	70.08%	13,272	28.95%	445	0.97%
2020	31,019	69.55%	13,118	29.41%	465	1.04%
2016	26,238	67.42%	11,251	28.91%	1,431	3.68%
2012	22,267	60.93%	13,701	37.49%	576	1.58%
2008	22,102	59.03%	14,901	39.80%	440	1.18%
2004	18,922	61.51%	11,728	38.12%	112	0.36%
2000	18,466	60.23%	11,924	38.89%	268	0.87%
1996	13,853	48.97%	11,678	41.28%	2,760	9.76%
1992	13,397	44.48%	12,565	41.71%	4,160	13.81%
1988	15,933	59.41%	10,848	40.45%	38	0.14%
1984	18,766	64.32%	10,353	35.48%	59	0.20%
1980	12,956	50.97%	11,680	45.95%	781	3.07%
1976	10,070	41.22%	14,254	58.34%	107	0.44%
1972	14,447	68.96%	6,197	29.58%	306	1.46%
1968	11,068	48.84%	5,704	25.17%	5,892	26.00%
1964	10,081	44.03%	12,815	55.97%	0	0.00%
1960	12,925	56.34%	10,015	43.66%	0	0.00%
1956	11,823	59.65%	7,999	40.35%	0	0.00%
1952	11,113	58.97%	7,732	41.03%	0	0.00%
1948	6,374	47.26%	6,226	46.16%	888	6.58%
1944	5,855	46.28%	6,795	53.72%	0	0.00%
1940	4,889	40.30%	7,242	59.70%	0	0.00%
1936	5,506	42.48%	7,454	57.52%	0	0.00%
1932	4,823	44.92%	5,866	54.64%	47	0.44%
1928	5,108	63.94%	2,881	36.06%	0	0.00%
1924	3,190	43.54%	4,137	56.46%	0	0.00%
1920	3,592	52.41%	3,262	47.59%	0	0.00%
1916	1,474	47.63%	1,621	52.37%	0	0.00%
1912	48	1.78%	1,365	50.54%	1,288	47.69%

Communities

Map of Burke County with municipal and township labels

City

• Morganton (county seat and largest community)

Towns

• Connelly Springs
• Drexel
• Glen Alpine
• Hildebran
• Long View
• Rhodhiss
• Rutherford College
• Valdese

Townships

• Drexel
• Icard
• Jonas Ridge
• Linville
• Lovelady
• Lower Creek
• Lower Fork
• Quaker Meadows
• Silver Creek
• Smoky Creek
• Upper Creek
• Upper Fork
• Hildebran
• Connelly Springs
• Rutherford College
• Valdese

Census-designated places

• Icard
• Salem

Unincorporated communities

• Amherst
• Enola
• Jonas Ridge
• Linville Falls
• Petersburg
• Pleasant Grove
• Sunnyside
• Chesterfield

In popular culture

Although never explicitly mentioned by name in the novel, the hideout of Robur-the villain in Jules Verne's Master of the World-is thought to be Table Rock Mountain in Burke County.

The outdoor drama From This Day Forward has been performed annually in Burke County since 1968. It tells the story of the founding of the town of Valdese. ^[18]

Many scenes from the 1992 film Last of the Mohicans were filmed in Burke County. A full-scale fort was built next to the Linville boat access on Lake 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 from The Hunt for Red October had the backdrop filmed on Lake James, while the actors stayed in Hollywood.

In 2011, scenes for the Lionsgate adaptation of The Hunger Games were filmed near Hildebran, North Carolina, at the Henry River Mill Village.

See also

• List of counties in North Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Burke County, North Carolina
• Burke County Regiment of the Salisbury District Brigade

References

1. "QuickFacts: Burke County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. David Moore, Robin Beck, and Christopher Rodning, "In Search of Fort San Juan: Sixteenth Century Spanish and Native Interaction in the North Carolina Piedmont" Archived June 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine , Warren Wilson College Archaeology Home Page, 2004, accessed June 26, 2008
4. (Clark, "Burke County," pp. 37–39)
5. John Noble Wilford, "Fort Tells of Spain’s Early Ambitions", New York Times, July 22, 2013, accessed July 22, 2013
6. "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
7. Clark, Larry (2007). Burke County, North Carolina: Historic Tales from the Gateway to the Blue Ridge. The History Press. pp. 11–12. ISBN   978-1-59629-323-6.
8. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
13. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. "Burke County Board of Commissioners". Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
18. "Outdoor Drama At Valdese Has Long Run". Charlotte Observer . June 3, 1973. p. 17E.

External links

• Geographic data related to Burke County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
• Official website