Burke County, North Carolina

Burke County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of the state's western mountain region, containing sections of the Blue Ridge Mountains including the Linville Gorge and South Mountains. As of the 2020 census, its population was 87,570. Burke County is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Early 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 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. 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.

18th century

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.

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.

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.

19th century

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.

Geography

right|thumb|alt=A huge rock on top of a mountain with a flat top|Table Rock

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.56%) is water. 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".

In the southern part of the county, the South Mountains State Park covers almost 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

Johns River Game Land
Lake James State Park (part)
Pisgah National Forest Game Land (part)

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

| align = right

thumb|2020 population density of Burke County NC by census block

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Burke County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 1980

!Pop 1990

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020

!% 1980

!% 1990

!% 2000

!% 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020

|White alone (NH)

|66,658

|69,306

|75,727

|75,472

|style='background: #ffffe6; |68,664

|91.94%

|91.50%

|84.95%

|83.02%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |78.41%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|5,171

|5,159

|5,953

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,762

|7.13%

|6.81%

|6.68%

|6.55%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.44%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|95

|131

|213

|207

|style='background: #ffffe6; |238

|0.13%

|0.17%

|0.24%

|0.23%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%

|Asian alone (NH)

|145

|790

|3,093

|3,163

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,150

|0.20%

|1.04%

|3.47%

|3.48%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.60%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|80

|162

|style='background: #ffffe6; |64

|0.09%

|0.18%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07%

|Other race alone (NH)

|78

|14

|89

|87

|style='background: #ffffe6; |240

|0.11%

|0.02%

|0.10%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|813

|1,234

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,268

|0.91%

|1.36%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.73%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|357

|344

|3,180

|4,634

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,184

|0.49%

|0.45%

|3.57%

|5.10%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.20%

|Total

|72,504

|75,744

|89,148

|90,912

|style='background: #ffffe6; |87,570

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 87,570 people and 25,391 families resided in the county. The median age was 44.2 years, 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18, 20.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older, for every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males age 18 and over.

54.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 45.9% lived in rural areas.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, 89,148 people, 34,528 households, and 24,342 families were residing in the county. The population density was . The 37,427 housing units had an average density of . 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 112th 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.

Communities

thumb|300px|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

Education

All of Burke County is in the Burke County Public Schools.

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.

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.

References

External links

; Government

; General information

NCGenWeb Burke County, genealogy resources for the county