Page 25 - Burke County NC 2023

CoMMA Museum

Historic

Burke County

W e are in the ancestral lands of both the of the county courthouse. The name, eventually the Southern Railroad, from the north to seek their
shortened to Morganton, came from Capt. Daniel
fortunes. Stagecoach lines ran through Morganton
Catawba and Cherokee Indian Nations
– home to the largest indigenous
won the Battle of Cowpens.
in 1839.
settlement – a village named Joara – in what is now Morgan, a Revolutionary War hero whose regiment starting in the 1830s, and the town was incorporated
called North Carolina.
Burke County grew rapidly in the 19th century as The eastern part of the county in the 1800s became
The first recorded Europeans to visit came with settlers traveled the Great Wagon Road, and later home to religious refugees – called the Waldensians
Hernando de Soto of Spain. Capt. Juan Pardo, a – who fled their homeland in the Cottian Alps in Italy
Spanish conquistador, traveled to the area with his to escape persecution, founding the town of Valdese
soldiers in 1567. They established Fort San Juan in 1893.
near Joara and left 30 soldiers there while he went
on further exploration. Fort San Juan was the first In the early 1900s, Burke County became renowned
European settlement established in the interior of for furniture production due to the diversity of tree
what is now the United States, predating Roanoke by species, giving rise to renowned crafters such as
nearly 20 years and Jamestown by 40 years. Drexel-Heritage and Henredon. Smaller companies
like Morganton Furniture, Table Rock Furniture, Knob
Like much of the modern East Coast 200 years ago, Creek Furniture, and Wright Table prospered as well.
Europeans of mostly English, Scot, Irish, and German
ancestry populated these lands. Part of Rowan County Morganton was home to Etta Our county’s slogan is “Nature’s Playground” because
was partitioned off and named for Thomas Burke, a for residents and visitors, this is the ideal destination,
North Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress, Baker (1913-2006), an American with two major state parks, Lake James and South
in 1777, creating Burke County, which at the time Piedmont blues guitarist Mountains providing a wide range of outdoor
encompassed much of modern-day western North and singer whose Southern recreational activities. We are the only North Carolina
Carolina. As population grew, additional counties Appalachian roots music inspired county to host two state parks, and it’s no surprise
were established from the land, shrinking Burke the likes of many musicians, that movies like The Hunger Games and Last of the
County to its present size. including Bob Dylan Mohicans had prominent scenes filmed here.

Burke County’s governmental seat was a frontier We are still known for manufacturing and
settlement originally known as Alder Springs, furniture is back, as well as revitalized downtowns,
but in April 1784, a state bill created the Morgan new breweries, and more businesses, making
Judicial District and renamed Alder Springs Burke County a cherished destination to live,
“Morgansborough,” designating it as the site work, and play.

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