Georgia

Burke

24,596
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Burke

Burke, Georgia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 9,467. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 24,596.

Its recorded population peaked at 30,836 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 20 percent.

On the ground today, 17 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Wiggin's Hill (GA, 1779), Battle of Burke County Jail, Battle of Brier Creek Rear Guard (1779), and 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202024,596
201023,316
200022,243
199020,579
198019,349
197018,255
196020,596
195023,458
194026,520
193029,224
192030,836
191027,268
190030,165
189028,501
188027,128
187017,679
186017,165
185016,100
184013,176
183011,833
182011,577
181010,858
18009,504
17909,467
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Burke

Military engagements that took place in Burke, Georgia.

Skirmish at Wiggin's Hill (GA, 1779)
1779
Battle of Burke County Jail
1779
Battle of Brier Creek Rear Guard (1779)
1779
Battle of Burke County Jail 1779
1779
Battle of Brier Creek area second action 1779
1779
Battle of Briar Creek (earlier skirmish)
1779
Battle of Briar Creek Mar 3 1779
1779
Battle of Brier Creek
1779
Battle of Briar Creek
1779
Skirmish at Briar Creek Ford (1782)
1782
Action at Waynesboro (Sherman's March)
1864
Waynesborough Georgia
1864
Battle of Waynesboro
1864
Battle of Waynesborough Georgia (Wheeler's Defeat)
1864
Kilpatrick vs Wheeler at Buckhead Creek
1864
Battle of Waynesboro (Wheeler vs. Kilpatrick)
1864
Battle of Waynesborough
1864

Historic places in Burke

National Register of Historic Places listings in Burke, Georgia.

Burke County Courthouse
Waynesboro
McCanaan Missionary Baptist Church and Cemetery
Sardis
Waynesboro Historic District
Waynesboro
Hopeful Baptist Church
Keysville
Waynesboro Commercial Historic District
Waynesboro
Browse all Georgiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Georgia

Explore census history and historic records for more Georgia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Burke County, Georgia

This page charts the census history of Burke County, Georgia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Burke

When does Burke first appear in the US census?
Burke, Georgia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 9,467.
What is the population of Burke?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Burke had a recorded population of 24,596.
When did Burke's population peak?
Burke's recorded population peaked at 30,836 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Burke?
17 documented military engagements took place in Burke, including Skirmish at Wiggin's Hill (GA, 1779), Battle of Burke County Jail, Battle of Brier Creek Rear Guard (1779).
How many historic places are in Burke?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Burke, Georgia.
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