County population in 2016: 88,851 (57% urban, 43% rural); it was 89,148 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 15,397 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 10,475 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 25,597 Renter-occupied apartments: 9,932 (it was 8,931 in 2000)
% of renters here:
26%
State:
33%
Land area: 507 sq. mi.
Water area: 8.2 sq. mi.
Population density: 175 people per square mile (high).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Burke County: 86.6 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (29.6%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (16.9%), Agriculture,forestry,fishing and hunting, and mining (15.2%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2016: $1,025 (0.8%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2016: $852 (0.8%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2016: 19.1%
Burke County:
19.1%
North Carolina:
15.4%
(19.6% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 24.9% for Black residents, 44.2% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 19.1% for American Indian residents, 50.4% for other race residents, 36.1% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2016: 45.0 years old
(Males: 42.6 years old, Females: 47.0 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 47.8 years old, Black residents: 50.1 years old, American Indian residents: 23.4 years old, Asian residents: 32.7 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 26.3 years old, Other race residents: 22.5 years old)
Area name: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Burke County is $462 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $531 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $681 a month.
Current college students: 3,109 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 81.1% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 16.2%
Number of foreign born residents: 4,150 (53.2% naturalized citizens)
Burke County:
4.7%
Whole state:
7.8%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
2010 or later: 618
2000 to 2009: 1,240
1990 to 1999: 1,046
1980 to 1989: 1,360
1970 to 1979: 257
Before 1970: 209
Note: State values scaled to Burke County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 21.0 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 69.0%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 26,764
One, attached: 710
Two: 457
3 or 4: 575
5 to 9: 1,653
10 to 19: 261
20 to 49: 195
50 or more: 197
Mobile homes: 9,842
Housing units in Burke County with a mortgage: 11,507 (366 second mortgage, 977 home equity loan, 105 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 12,518
Here:
47.8% with mortgage
State:
63.4% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Burke County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
41,460
141
Mainline Protestant
9,782
43
Black Protestant
2,006
12
Other
1,153
5
Catholic
1,023
1
None
35,717
-
Burke County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 20
Burke County:
2.25 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.05 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 10
This county:
1.13 / 10,000 pop.
North Carolina:
0.92 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 49
Burke County:
5.52 / 10,000 pop.
North Carolina:
4.75 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 46
This county:
5.18 / 10,000 pop.
State:
7.57 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Burke County:
10.2%
North Carolina:
9.8%
Adult obesity rate:
Burke County:
27.5%
State:
28.3%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
16.7%
State:
15.6%
Agriculture in Burke County:
Average size of farms: 73 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $70,404 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $1533.57 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 48.64% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 44.52% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $56,996 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 34.90% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $44,166 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 93.85% Average age of principal farm operators: 56 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 12.46 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.53% Corn for grain: 1009 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 251 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 987 harvested acres Vegetables: 40 harvested acres Land in orchards: 53 acres
Earthquake activity:
Burke County-area historical earthquake activity is slightly above North Carolina state average. It is 81% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 8/2/1974 at 08:52:09, a magnitude 4.9 (4.3 MB, 4.9 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 138.2 miles away from Burke County center On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 212.7 miles away from the county center On 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML) earthquake occurred 130.6 miles away from the county center On 11/23/2006 at 10:42:57, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, 4.3 LG) earthquake occurred 99.6 miles away from the county center On 11/2/2006 at 17:53:02, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, Depth: 0.6 mi) earthquake occurred 102.0 miles away from Burke County center On 4/29/2003 at 08:59:39, a magnitude 4.9 (4.4 MB, 4.6 MW, 4.9 LG, Depth: 12.2 mi) earthquake occurred 241.8 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
North Carolina Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, Incident Period: July 03, 2013 to July 14, 2013, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4146: September 25, 2013, FEMA Id: 4146, Natural disaster type: Storm, Mudslide, Landslide, Flood
North Carolina Severe Winter Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: December 18, 2009 to December 25, 2009, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1871: February 02, 2010, FEMA Id: 1871, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Flood
North Carolina Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3222: September 05, 2005, FEMA Id: 3222, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Hurricane Ivan, Incident Period: September 16, 2004 to September 23, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1553: September 18, 2004, FEMA Id: 1553, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Tropical Storm Frances, Incident Period: September 07, 2004 to September 12, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1546: September 10, 2004, FEMA Id: 1546, Natural disaster type: Tropical Storm
North Carolina Severe Ice Storm, Incident Period: December 04, 2002 to December 06, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1448: December 12, 2002, FEMA Id: 1448, Natural disaster type: Ice Storm
North Carolina Storms/Flooding, Incident Period: February 02, 1996 to February 09, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1103: February 23, 1996, FEMA Id: 1103, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
North Carolina Blizzard, Incident Period: January 06, 1996 to January 12, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1087: January 13, 1996, FEMA Id: 1087, Natural disaster type: Blizzard
North Carolina Severe Snowfall and Winter Storm, Incident Period: March 13, 1993 to March 17, 1993, Emergency Declared EM-3110: March 17, 1993, FEMA Id: 3110, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Snowfall
North Carolina HURRICANE HUGO, Incident Period: September 21, 1989 to September 22, 1989, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-844: September 25, 1989, FEMA Id: 844, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
3 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Burke County (13) is near the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 10 Emergencies Declared: 3
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 4, Hurricanes: 3, Storms: 3, Winter Storms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Drought: 1, Ice Storm: 1, Landslide: 1, Mudslide: 1, Snowfall: 1, Tornado: 1, Tropical Storm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (8%)
Sales and related occupations (6%)
Management occupations (6%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (5%)
Office and administrative support occupations (21%)
Production occupations (11%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (11%)
Sales and related occupations (8%)
Management occupations (7%)
Healthcare support occupations (7%)
Education, training, and library occupations (6%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Guatemala (27%)
Laos (18%)
Mexico (15%)
Thailand (8%)
Cuba (4%)
Philippines (3%)
India (2%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Burke County (%):
American (31%)
English (9%)
German (8%)
Irish (6%)
Scotch-Irish (3%)
Scottish (3%)
European (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 27,893 (84.7%)
Carpooled: 3,286 (10.0%)
Bus or trolley bus: 26 (0.1%)
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 178 (0.5%)
Bicycle: 10 (0.0%)
Walked: 435 (1.3%)
Worked at home: 1,052 (3.2%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in Burke County, North Carolina in 2000:
1,348 people in state prisons
689 people in nursing homes
478 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals or wards
445 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
359 people in schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded
88 people in other types of correctional institutions
61 people in hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse
49 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
29 people in other group homes
23 people in homes for the mentally ill
9 people in hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill
9 people in hospices or homes for chronically ill
8 people in homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse
7 people in wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere
6 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
6 people in other workers' dormitories
4 people in other nonhousehold living situations
People in group quarters in Burke County, North Carolina in 2010:
1,535 people in state prisons
622 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
323 people in residential treatment centers for adults
200 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
176 people in other noninstitutional facilities
131 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals and psychiatric units in other hospitals
117 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
88 people in residential schools for people with disabilities
70 people in group homes intended for adults
51 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
21 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
13 people in residential treatment centers for juveniles (non-correctional)
5 people in in-patient hospice facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $42,562.
5.10% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($29,784 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.10%
North Carolina average:
7.13%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
3.93% relocated from other counties in North Carolina ($21,909 average AGI)
1.18% relocated from other states ($7,875 average AGI)
Burke County:
1.18%
North Carolina average:
3.45%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Burke County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 16,082 (12,332 aged, 3,750 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 1,954 (9%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Burke County, North Carolina in 1999 - 2014:
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (1,084)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (498)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (480)
Unspecified dementia (412)
Pneumonia, unspecified (319)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (257)
Congestive heart failure (220)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 14% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 12%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 2.24 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 11,912 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 523 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 58,381
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,136 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,103 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 1
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 18 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 64
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 7 Beer, wine & liquor stores per 100,000 population in 2005: 1
Crimes per 100,000 population in 1996: 1
Homicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 56.2. This is less than state average.
Mechanisms of homicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 37.0
Other - 19.3
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 183.2. This is more than state average.
Mechanisms of suicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 125.3
Other - 57.9
Household type by relationship:
Households: 88,851
In family households: 73,792 (11,735 male householders, 12,646 female householders)
17,976 spouses, 23,736 children (22,854 natural, 86 adopted, 796 stepchildren), 3,218 grandchildren, 583 brothers or sisters, 468 parents, 1,702 other relatives, 1,728 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 12,034 (5,515 male householders (4,808 living alone)), 5,315 female householders (4,807 living alone)), 1,204 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 3,025
Size of family households: 11,951 2-persons, 5,489 3-persons, 4,329 4-persons, 1,604 5-persons, 830 6-persons, 178 7-or-more-persons.
Size of nonfamily households: 9,615 1-person, 1,141 2-persons, 74 3-persons.
8,358 married couples with children.
5,981 single-parent households (2,056 men, 3,925 women).
91.6% of residents of Burke speak English at home.
4.7% of residents speak Spanish at home (53% speak English very well, 20% speak English well, 19% speak English not well, 8% don't speak English at all).
0.5% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (71% speak English very well, 21% speak English well, 8% speak English not well).
2.9% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (64% speak English very well, 13% speak English well, 20% speak English not well, 3% don't speak English at all).
0.2% of residents speak other language at home (79% speak English very well, 6% speak English not well, 15% don't speak English at all).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $437,390,000 ($4,889 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $55,808,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $201,859,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $86,850,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $1,156,000 Federal grants: $84,713,000 Federal procurement contracts: $54,525,000 ($48,312,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $8,288,000 ($143,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $2,445,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $15,126,000 Federal Government insurance: $27,605,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 5,358
Here:
60 per 1000 residents
State:
72 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 4,424
Here:
49 per 1000 residents
State:
44 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +1,158
Here:
+13 per 1000 residents
State:
+18 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -1,748
Here:
-20 per 1000 residents
State:
+27 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Burke County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 18.89 millions of gallons per day (1% from ground, 99% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.6
State:
6.3
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.3
State:
4.5
Year house built
2014 or later: 98
2010 to 2013: 681
2000 to 2009: 4,360
1990 to 1999: 6,414
1980 to 1989: 7,395
1970 to 1979: 7,938
1960 to 1969: 5,377
1950 to 1959: 3,855
1940 to 1949: 2,133
1939 or earlier: 2,403
Note: State values scaled to Burke population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Burke County, North Carolina
Note: State values scaled to Burke County population
no vehicle: 743
1 vehicle: 6,315
2 vehicles: 8,890
3 vehicles: 5,737
4 vehicles: 1,660
5+ vehicles: 680
no vehicle: 812
1 vehicle: 5,190
2 vehicles: 3,825
3 vehicles: 666
4 vehicles: 693
5+ vehicles: 0
88% of Burke County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 35% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 75% lived in North Carolina.
Burke County:
88.2%
State average:
84.3%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 64,520
Other state: 19,579
Northeast: 2,529
Midwest: 4,748
South: 10,266
West: 2,036
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Burke County
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45.0 years
38.7 years
(49.6%)
(50.4%)
, Santa Fe County, New Mexico 
, Loudon County, Tennessee 
.
