Burke County Genealogy
The county was formed in 1777 from Rowan County. It was named for Thomas Burke, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1781 and Governor of North Carolina from 1781 to 1782. In 1791 parts of Burke County and Rutherford County were combined to form Buncombe County. In 1833 parts of Burke County and Buncombe County were combined to form Yancey County. In 1841 parts of Burke County and Wilkes County were combined to form Caldwell County. In 1842 additional parts of Burke County and Rutherford County were combined to form McDowell County. Finally, in 1861 parts of Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County, Watauga County, and Yancey County were combined to form Mitchell County.
Burke County was home to the first European settlement in the interior of North Carolina: “The first European settlement in the interior of North Carolina and what became the United States was made by Spanish in 1567, when they built Fort San Juan at the large Native American settlement of Joara near present-day Morganton. They renamed the settlement Cuenca.[2] In 1568 the natives killed the Spanish and burned the fort. The Spanish never returned to this area, and it was centuries before the next Europeans tried to settle there.”
In 1567 a Spanish expedition arrived and built Fort San Juan there, claiming the area for the colony of Spanish Florida. They had been sent by the governor at Santa Elena, Parris Island in South Carolina. Capt. Juan Pardo, leader of the expedition, left about 30 soldiers at the fort while doing additional exploration. In the spring of 1568 the natives killed the soldiers and burned the fort. Introduction of European diseases and takeover by larger tribes led to Native American abandonment of the area. It was centuries before the next Europeans, English, Scots-Irish and Germans, attempted to settle here again.
Source Wikipedia
Burke County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 661
Morganton, NC 28655
Burke County Public Library System
Burke County Historical Society
P.O. Box 151
Morganton, NC 28655
Burke County Courthouse
200 Avery Avenue
County Government Building
Morganton, NC 28655
Census
1790 Federal Census transcription indexed by last name
1790 Federal Census transcription
1790 Federal Census Transcription – Morgan District
1800 Federal Census Index by last name only
1800 Federal Census Index
1800 Federal Census Transcription Link opens to directory with above index and text files titled by starting page.
1810 Federal Census index by last name only
1820 Federal Census Index by last name only
1830 Federal Census Index by last name only
1840 Federal Census Index by last name only
1850 Federal Census Index by last name only
Cemeteries
USGS listing of cemeteries of Burke County
Query Forums
Latest North Carolina Genealogy Query posts for Burke County from the Forum:
North Carolina Genealogy Forum: Forum: Burke County NC Genealogy Queries – Recent Topics
fsadkins on “Henry Adkins and Ann Nancy Stanley”
My ggg grandparents were Henry Adkins (1786 – 1866) and Ann Nancy Stanley (about 1776). They married in Burke County NC in 1806. I would like to find documentation of their marriage and births. Any assistance would be appreciated.
fsadkins on “Wilson Adkins and Elizabeth Stacia Hill”
My great great grandfather, Wilson Adkins, was born in Burke Co.- now Mitchell Co.,NC, 1816 or 1817. He married Elizabeth Stacia (Stacie) Hill in Ramseytown NC. I’m looking for information abour her family, her birth. she died in Wise Co. VA 9 Oct 1880.
Thanks for any help!
rstaylo on “taylors burke co. n.c.”
Am looking for any information on a hugh taylor born 1796 married to a emily webb
I am looking for information about the parents of my great grandfather, John Oliver Hicks. John Oliver was born in Burke County in 1825. His father was either Isaac or J. H. Hicks. His mother was Margaret(Peggy) Hardin.
Thanks for any information.
Ann Joyner
Cities and towns of Burke County:
Bridgewater
Brindle Town
Burkemont
Calvin
Chesterfield
Connelly Spg
Connelly Springs
Connellys Springs
Drexel
Enola
Glen Alpine
Hildebran
Icard
Jonas Ridge
Joy
Linville Falls
Morganton (County Seat)
Oak Hill
Petersburg
Pleasant Grove
Rutherford College
Salem
Sunnyside
Valdese
News related to Burke County, NC
“burke county” nc – Google News
WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-Police dog dies … – WBTV
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WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-Police dog dies …
WBTV Entertainment News from AP By Jeff Rivenbark – email MORGANTON, NC (WBTV) – Officials say a K-9 died earlier this month in Burke County after he was left … K-9 dies after being left in patrol car K-9 Dies In Deputy's Hot Car |
Marijuana growing operation found in Burke County – WBTV
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Marijuana growing operation found in Burke County
WBTV BURKE COUNTY, NC (WBTV) – Officials discovered a large marijuana growing operation in Burke County Monday afternoon. The marijuana plants were spotted by a … 500 marijuana plants found in Burke County Lawmen seize $1.8 million pot crop |
Burke’s jobless rate drops to 13% – Morganton News Herald
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Burke's jobless rate drops to 13%
Morganton News Herald The jobless rate went down while there was net increase in employment â 14 more Burke County people working in July than the 33303 working in June. … |
Caldwell’s jobless rate drops – istockAnalyst.com (press release)
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Caldwell's jobless rate drops
istockAnalyst.com (press release) Burke County also reached 13 percent (up from 12.8), while Catawba decreased from 12.7 to 12.5. Caldwell's rate has dropped each of the last five months … |
1 man killed in shootout with police – News14.com
 News14.com |
1 man killed in shootout with police
News14.com MORGANTON, NC — One man is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Burke County. Morganton police say the man was shot just after 12 am Monday at … |
Area has 7 cases affected by SBI lab mistakes – Hickory Daily Record
 Charlotte Observer |
Area has 7 cases affected by SBI lab mistakes
Hickory Daily Record Five of those were in Catawba County, one was in Burke County and one was in Caldwell. Jay Gaither, district attorney for those three counties, … DA will review SBI cases |
