Link To This Page — Contact Us —
Burke County, North Carolina
Burke was formed in 1777 from Rowan County. The act was to become effective June 1, 1777. It was named in honor of Dr. Thomas Burke, a member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina, 1781-1782. The present land area is 506.72 square miles and the 2000 population was 89,145. The act establishing Burke specified that the first court was to be held at a place the justices should decide until they selected a permanent place for the courthouse and had the same erected. In 1784 Morgansborough was established and made the county seat. Morganton is the present county seat.
- Submit a Website or Report Incorrect Information
- Historical Newspapers from North Carolina (1719 - 1977) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
- North Carolina Genealogy Network - Facebook.com
- Family History Library
- North Carolina Newspaper Archives
- the largest historical newspaper database online, contains nearly 100 million newspaper pages from 1759 to present. Every newspaper in the archive is fully searchable by keyword and date. It Features billions of articles from historical newspapers around the U.S. and the world, it makes exploring history and genealogy easy. Discover fascinating news in archived newspapers hundreds of years old - including obituaries, birth announcements, sports articles, comics, and more – to fill in the life stories you are interested in. All of thier historical newspapers are full-page and fully searchable
- On-Site County Court Records Search! Many court records are not digitized yet, which means the only way to obtain these records is by going to the actual courthouses. Someone from our network of court-runners will go retrieve the records and then send you the results. Average response time is 38 hours.
- North Carolina Historical Records
- Burke County, North Carolina History Books at Amazon.com
Burke County Court, Probate and Tax Records
See Also North Carolina Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records and Marriage Records
What follows is an outline of beginning dates of extant records of each county. The beginning dates do not imply that all records are extant since some of North Carolina's county records have been lost due to fire and other causes. Find out about the Burke Courthouse Hours and Location
Burke County Clerk of Superior Court has Court Records from 1755 and Probate Records from 1776 and is located at Courthouse, PO Box 796, Morganton, NC 28680; (828) 432-2811, Fax (828) 438-5460.
Burke County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1770 and Marriage Records from 1780 and is located at PO Box 936, 201 South Green Str, Morganton NC 28680; 828-438-5451,Fax: 828-438-5463, [EMAIL].
Below is a list of online resources for Burke County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Burke County Court Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Burke Co. Court Records
- Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
- Burke County, North Carolina Court Books at Amazon.com
- North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
- North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2000
- North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Will Abstracts, 1660-1790
- North Carolina Will Abstracts, 1760-1800
- North Carolina Wills and Inventories
- Search Land Patents at Gov-Records.com
- Search Property Records at Gov-Records.com
Burke County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records
See Also Vital Records in North Carolina
Do not contact North Carolina Vital Records or the North Carolina State Archives, as there are no birth records prior to 1913 in a state public office. For death certificates prior to 1930, contact the North Carolina State Archives. A few delayed death records may exist back to 1909. Prior to this, there are no death records of any sort other than wills and estate settlements in the North Carolina State Archives.
COUNTY: Birth and Marriage Recordes and avalible from the Burke County Register of Deeds Office. Divorce Records are available from the Burke County Clerk of Superior Court Office. Click Here To see a list of North Carolina County Health Departments
STATE: North Carolina Vital Records is located at 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903; (919) 733-3526 (This office does not accept FAX or e-mail orders). All Fees are listed below under "Cost". They have the following records:
- Birth Certificates: Birth records are available from 1913 to the present. For birth records prior to the dates listed above, contact the local Register of Deeds office in the county where the birth occurred. In order to process a request, Vital Records needs to know: Full Name on Certificate, Date of Birth, Mother's Full Maiden Name, Father's Full Name, Place (City or County) of Birth.
- Death Certificates: Certified copies of death records are available from 1930 to the present. For death certificates prior to 1930, contact the North Carolina State Archives. A few delayed death records may exist back to 1909. Prior to this, there are no death records of any sort other than wills and estate settlements in the North Carolina State Archives. Vital Records needs to know: Full Name of Deceased, Date of Death, Place (City or County) of Death, Date of Birth. Fees are listed below. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
- Marriage Certificates: Certified copies of Marriage records are available from 1962 to the present. Vital Records needs to know: Full Name of Groom, Full Name of Bride, Date of Marriage, Place (City or County) Where License Was Issued. Marriages prior to 1962 should be available from the County Register of Deeds office where the marriage was performed. Fees vary.
- Divorce Certificates: Certified copies of Divorce records are available from 1958 to the present. Vital Records needs to know: Full Name of Husband, Full Name of Wife, Date of Divorce, Place (City or County) of Divorce. If the records are not available at the North Carolina Vital Records office, they should be available from the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary.
Ordering Vital Records - You can also order
Cost: A fee of $15 is charged for each name searched in a five-year period, regardless of the search results as per G.S. 130A-93.1. If the record is located, one certified or uncertified copy of the record will be provided at no additional cost. Additional copies of the same record, when requested at the same time, are $5 each. These fees are for a search, regardless of the results. Search fees are not refundable. Any additional request to search in 5-year increments for records outside of the original 5-year period will cost an additional $15 fee
Ordering Vital Records by Mail - Make certified checks and money orders should be made payable to "North Carolina Vital Records". Please do not send cash or checks. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to: North Carolina Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Divorce Certificates or Death Certificates.
Ordering Vital Records In Person: Individuals may visit the office on the first floor of the Cooper Memorial Health Building at 225 N. McDowell Street, Raleigh, N.C. between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, except on state government holidays. Parking is available on the north (Lane Street) side of the Cooper Building. Customers should bring a valid photo ID and non-refundable $15 search fee for each request. Copies of the same certificate are $5 if requested at the same time. You will be asked to fill out an application upon arrival or you may bring a completed one with you (see above for required forms). Walk-in requests for same day service are subject to an additional $15 expedited services fee and will usually be fulfilled in about one hour. Customers are encouraged to leave completed requests forms with us for a mailed response to avoid the extra fee for same day services.
Below is a list of online resources for Burke County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Burke County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Burke Co. Co. Vital Records
- Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
- Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
- North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
- North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2000
- North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Death Collection, 1908-1996
- Burke County, North Carolina Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
- North Carolina Vital Records: Marriages 1744 - 1900 (Select Counties & Years) (Win
Burke County Census Records
See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Links for North Carolina
Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Burke County, North Carolina are 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Burke County, North Carolina are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.
Below is a list of online resources for Burke County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Burke County Census Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Burke Co. Census Records
- Census Records at Archives.com
- Burke County, North Carolina Census Books at Amazon.com
- Census & Voter Lists
Burke County Military Records
See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in North Carolina
There are a few online military record databases which include: North Carolina Volunteers, Spanish American War, North Carolina Revolutionary War Soldiers.
Below is a list of online resources for Burke County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Burke County Military Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Burke Co. Military Records
- Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from the State of North Carolina
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War from the State of North Carolina
- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files from the State of North Carolina
- Southern Claims - Barred and Disallowed from the State of North Carolina (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
- Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of North Carolina (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of North Carolina
- Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67 from the State of North Carolina (The National Archives): NARA M1003. View, Print Copy & Save Original Applications for pardon submitted to President Andrew Johnson, 1865-67, by former Confederates excluded from earlier amnesty proclamations.
- Burke County, North Carolina Military Books at Amazon.com
- North Carolina Society, Daughters of the American Revolution
Burke County Cemeteries & Graveyards
See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for North Carolina
There are many churches and cemeteries in Burke County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Burke County Tombstone Transcription Project. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches and cemeteries free for viewing or download here.
Below is a list of online resources for Burke County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Burke County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Burke Co. Cemetery & Church Records
- Cemetery Records at Archives.com
- Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com!
- Find thousands of North Carolina obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a North Carolina newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from North Carolina.
- Obituary Records at Archives.com
- America's Obituaries (1977 to current) at Genealogybank.com
- Obituaries contain helpful information such as names, dates, places of birth, death, marriage and family information. Over 28 million obituaries make this the most complete collection from the 20th and 21st centuries - includes over 1,100 U.S. newspapers. New content added daily!
- Burke County, North Carolina Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
- Gravestone, Tombstone, and Memorial Photo Collection from findagrave.com
- Burke County, North Carolina Church Books at Amazon.com
County Church & Bible Records
See Also Research In Church Records or Statewide Church & Bible Links for North Carolina
Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits
Below is a list of online resources for Burke County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Burke County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
