Burke County, North Carolina
12 public bodies govern here, 2 school districts are based here, and USDA lists 4 farmers markets. Everything below says where it came from.
In four numbers
- People
- 87,795
- Median household income
- $58,592
- ±3,527
- Unemployed
- 4.4%
- 1,865 of 42,542 in the labour force
- Homes with broadband
- 84.7%
- 30,764 of 36,306 households
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020-2024; read 2026-09-26. Percentages worked out here from the two counts shown.
Who governs here
County government 1
| Name | People | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| County of Burke | 87,611 (2021) | Po Box 219, Morganton | Website |
Cities, towns and villages 7
| Name | People | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Morganton | 17,518 (2021) | Po Box 3448, Morganton | Website |
| Town of Connelly Springs | 1,523 (2021) | Po Box 99, Connelly Springs | Website |
| Town of Drexel | 1,760 (2021) | Po Box 188, Drexel | — |
| Town of Glen Alpine | 1,525 (2021) | Po Box 898, Glen Alpine | — |
| Town of Hildebran | 1,674 (2021) | 202 S Center St, Hildebran | Website |
| Town of Rutherford College | 1,218 (2021) | Po Box 406, Rutherford College | Website |
| Town of Valdese | 4,672 (2021) | Po Box 339, Valdese | Website |
Special districts 4
| Name | What it does | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foothills Regional Airport Authority | Air transportation | 3566 Foothills Airport Rd, Morganton | — |
| Morganton Housing Authority | Housing and community development | 644 1st St, Morganton | Website |
| Valdese Housing Authority | Housing and community development | Po Box 310, Valdese | — |
| Burke Soil and Water Conservation District | Soil and water conservation | 130 Ammons Drive, Morganton | — |
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Government Units List (published August 2023); the file read 2026-09-26. Offices are placed by county; a special district’s territory can cross county lines. Each body posts its own meetings on its website where the Census records one.
School districts based here
Burke County Schools
School district27 schools
700 East Parker Road, Morganton, NC, 28655
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
The New Dimensions School
Independent charter district1 schools
550 Lenoir Road, Morganton, NC, 28655
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data 2024-25; read 2026-09-26.
Farmers markets
Burke Farmers Market
5936 Rock Falls Road Morganton, NC, 28655
Gathered by USDA from the web; USDA record last changed 2023-03-27. USDA listing
Hildebran Farmers' Market
202 S. Center St., Hildebran, NC, 28637
Gathered by USDA from the web; USDA record last changed 2023-03-27. USDA listing
Morganton Farmer's Market
111 North Green Street, Morganton, NC, 28655
SNAP / EBTWICSenior coupons
Submitted by the market; USDA record last changed 2020-09-11. USDA listing
Valdese Farmers' Market
121 Faet St., Valdese, NC, 28690
Gathered by USDA from the web; USDA record last changed 2023-03-27. USDA listing
USDA National Farmers Market Directory; read 2026-09-26.