North Carolina

Burke

87,570
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Burke

Burke, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 8,118. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 87,570.

Its recorded population peaked at 90,912 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 4 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Burke County Massacre Site, Stoneman's Raid — Morganton NC, and 44 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202087,570
201090,912
200089,148
199075,744
198072,504
197060,364
196052,701
195045,518
194038,615
193029,410
192023,297
191021,408
190017,699
189014,939
188012,809
18709,777
18609,237
18507,772
184015,799
183017,888
182013,411
181011,007
18009,929
17908,118
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, North Carolina.

Burke County Massacre Site
1300
Stoneman's Raid — Morganton NC
1865

Historic places in Burke

National Register of Historic Places listings in Burke, North Carolina.

North Carolina School for the Deaf: Main Building
Morganton
North Green Street-Bouchelle Street Historic District
Morganton
Swan Ponds
Morganton
South King Street Historic District
Morganton
Tate House
Morganton
West Union Street Historic District
Morganton
Quaker Meadows
Morganton
Morganton Downtown Historic District
Morganton
Magnolia Place
Morganton
Creekside
Morganton
Waldensian Presbyterian Church
Valdese
Western North Carolina Insane Asylum
Morganton
Burke County Courthouse
Morganton
Franklin-Penland House
Linville Falls
Henry River Mill Village Historic District
Hildebran
Dunavant Cotton Manufacturing Company
Morganton
Valdese Elementary School
Valdese
Avery, Alphonse Calhoun, House
Morganton
Gaston Chapel
Morganton
Tate, Franklin Pierce, House
Morganton
Southern Railway Freight Station
Morganton
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Burke County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Burke County, North Carolina. 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, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 8,118.
What is the population of Burke?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Burke had a recorded population of 87,570.
When did Burke's population peak?
Burke's recorded population peaked at 90,912 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Burke?
2 documented military engagements took place in Burke, including Burke County Massacre Site, Stoneman's Raid — Morganton NC.
How many historic places are in Burke?
44 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Burke, North Carolina.
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