Editing Morganton, North Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
<!-- Infobox begins !-->{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Morganton, North Carolina
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| named_for          = [[Daniel Morgan]]
| image_skyline      = Train Depot, Morganton, North Carolina (2008).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Historic train station in Morganton
| image_flag         = Morganton, NC City Flag.gif
| image_seal         = Morganton, NC City Seal.png
| image_map          = NCMap-doton-Morganton.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location within the state of North Carolina
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|North Carolina}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Burke County, North Carolina|Burke]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Ronnie Thompson
| established_title  = Founded
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = 1777
| established_date2  = 1784
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 49.84
| area_total_sq_mi   = 19.24
| area_land_km2      = 49.84
| area_land_sq_mi    = 19.24
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 17474
| population_metro   = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_km2 = 350.59
| population_density_sq_mi = 908.02
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;5
| timezone_DST       = Eastern
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;4
| coordinates        = {{coord|35|44|27|N|81|42|01|W|region:US-NC_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 1175
| website            = {{URL|www.ci.morganton.nc.us}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 28655, 28680
| area_code          = [[Area code 828|828]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 37-44400<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2404304<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404304}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| population_footnotes = 
}}

'''Morganton''' is a city in and [[county seat]] of [[Burke County, North Carolina]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|access-date=2011-06-07}}</ref> It is located in the foothills of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] along the [[Catawba River]].

The population was 17,474 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="census.gov">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Morganton city, North Carolina |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/morgantoncitynorthcarolina/PST045223 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref> Morganton is approximately {{convert|75|mi|km}} northwest of [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] and 57 miles (92&nbsp;km) east of [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]]. It is one of the principal cities in the [[The Unifour|Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
[[File:Morganton Village - NARA - 281093.jpg|thumb|right|Morganton Village, 1939]]

An influx of European settlers over the Blue Ridge Mountains led Morganton to become the first chartered town in western North Carolina in 1784.<ref>{{Cite web|title=April 19, 1784: Morganton, first town in WNC, chartered {{!}} Asheville Museum of History |url=https://wnchistory.org/april-19-1784-morganton-first-town-in-wnc-chartered/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On April 17, 1865 there was a small skirmish fought in Morganton, as part of [[Stoneman's 1865 raid]] through North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web |last1=FLEMING |first1=BRIANNE |title=History Museum of Burke County remembers Stoneman's Raid |url=https://morganton.com/news/history-museum-of-burke-county-remembers-stonemans-raid/article_0a5c3afc-e50a-11e4-a99f-3f6106fd4674.html |website=Morganton.com - The News Herald |access-date=19 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

Public welfare facilities, such as the [[North Carolina School for the Deaf|North Carolina School for the Deaf: Main Building]] and [[Broughton Hospital|Western North Carolina Insane Asylum]], were first authorized by the state legislature in the late 19th century.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In the early 20th century, textile mills were developed in the Piedmont as industry left union-dominated areas of the Northeast United States. During the century, however, these industrial jobs gradually moved offshore.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In the late 20th century, Morganton and Burke County, was still largely rural and with big poultry farms, which became locations for industrial-scale poultry processing plants. These jobs attracted many new immigrants to the state from [[Central America]], leading to an increase in the [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] population in the area.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In 2006, an explosion at Synthron, a paint additive chemical manufacturer in Morganton,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov/synthron-chemical-explosion/ |title=Synthron Chemical Explosion - Investigations &#124; the U.S. Chemical Safety Board |publisher=Csb.gov |access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref><ref name="aristatek1">{{cite web|url=http://www.aristatek.com/Newsletter/JAN08/JAN08ts.aspx |title=The First Responder |publisher=Aristatek.com |access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref> left 13 injured and one dead.<ref name="autogenerated2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.icis.com/Articles/2007/07/31/9049443/maintenance-failures-behind-synthron-blast-csb.html |title=Maintenance failures behind Synthron blast - CSB |publisher=Icis.com |access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref>

A {{convert|9|ft|m|adj=on}}-tall bronze statue of a Confederate soldier&mdash;erected in 1918&mdash;is located atop a stone pedestal in the Old Burke County Courthouse square.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Queen |first=Marty |date=2023-09-30 |title=Did monument honor Confederate veterans or symbolize white supremacy? |url=https://www.thepaper.media/news/did-monument-honor-confederate-veterans-or-symbolize-white-supremacy/article_ff4e0bac-d96b-5d57-a6a8-f1624440aab3.html |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=The Paper |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
Morganton is located in central Burke County in the [[Catawba River]] valley in the foothills of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]], and is part of [[Appalachia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allison |first=Dusty |date=2015-06-04 |title=48 Hours in Morganton, NC |url=https://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/48-hours/48-hours-in-morganton-nc/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Appalachian Counties Served by ARC |url=https://www.arc.gov/appalachian-counties-served-by-arc/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Appalachian Regional Commission |language=en-US}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Morganton has a total area of {{convert|49.6|km2|order=flip}}, all  land.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Morganton city, North Carolina |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3744400 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212193843/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3744400 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=February 13, 2014 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder}}</ref>

===Climate===
Morganton has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') and is located in [[hardiness zone]] 7b.

{{Weather box
|location = Morganton, North Carolina, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 81
|Feb record high F = 81
|Mar record high F = 92
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 104
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 80

|Jan avg record high F = 69.1
|Feb avg record high F = 71.9
|Mar avg record high F = 79.6
|Apr avg record high F = 85.5
|May avg record high F = 89.2
|Jun avg record high F = 93.7
|Jul avg record high F = 95.5
|Aug avg record high F = 94.3
|Sep avg record high F = 90.2
|Oct avg record high F = 84.5
|Nov avg record high F = 76.4
|Dec avg record high F = 69.6
|year avg record high F = 96.5

|Jan high F = 49.4
|Feb high F = 53.4
|Mar high F = 60.8
|Apr high F = 70.6
|May high F = 77.9
|Jun high F = 84.5
|Jul high F = 87.7
|Aug high F = 85.9
|Sep high F = 80.0
|Oct high F = 70.9
|Nov high F = 60.6
|Dec high F = 51.8
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 38.7
|Feb mean F = 41.8
|Mar mean F = 48.7
|Apr mean F = 57.7
|May mean F = 65.8
|Jun mean F = 73.3
|Jul mean F = 76.9
|Aug mean F = 75.4
|Sep mean F = 69.3
|Oct mean F = 58.5
|Nov mean F = 47.9
|Dec mean F = 41.1
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 27.9
|Feb low F = 30.3
|Mar low F = 36.6
|Apr low F = 44.9
|May low F = 53.7
|Jun low F = 62.2
|Jul low F = 66.0
|Aug low F = 64.9
|Sep low F = 58.5
|Oct low F = 46.2
|Nov low F = 35.2
|Dec low F = 30.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 11.0
|Feb avg record low F = 16.1
|Mar avg record low F = 21.0
|Apr avg record low F = 29.8
|May avg record low F = 38.6
|Jun avg record low F = 50.6
|Jul avg record low F = 57.5
|Aug avg record low F = 55.6
|Sep avg record low F = 45.1
|Oct avg record low F = 30.8
|Nov avg record low F = 22.0
|Dec avg record low F = 16.8
|year avg record low F = 9.4

|Jan record low F = -9
|Feb record low F = -1
|Mar record low F = 0
|Apr record low F = 20
|May record low F = 29
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 46
|Aug record low F = 42
|Sep record low F = 33
|Oct record low F = 19
|Nov record low F = 9
|Dec record low F = -10

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.30
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.67
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.38
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.29
|May precipitation inch = 4.11
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.80
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.41
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.80
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.59
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.77
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.75
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.66
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.0
|Feb precipitation days = 9.4
|Mar precipitation days = 10.7
|Apr precipitation days = 9.4
|May precipitation days = 11.2
|Jun precipitation days = 11.4
|Jul precipitation days = 12.4
|Aug precipitation days = 11.2
|Sep precipitation days = 9.1
|Oct precipitation days = 8.0
|Nov precipitation days = 8.3
|Dec precipitation days = 10.3

|Jan snow inch = 1.0
|Feb snow inch = 0.3
|Mar snow inch = 1.6
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 1.6
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.3
|Feb snow days = 0.5
|Mar snow days = 0.4
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.3

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00315838&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Morganton, NC
|access-date = February 24, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gsp
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Greenville
|access-date = February 24, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 558
|1870= 554
|1880= 861
|1890= 1557
|1900= 1938
|1910= 2712
|1920= 2867
|1930= 6001
|1940= 7670
|1950= 8311
|1960= 9186
|1970= 13625
|1980= 13763
|1990= 15085
|2000= 17310
|2010= 16918
|2020= 17474
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Morganton racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3744400&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 10,489
| 60.03%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 1,665
| 9.53%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 48
| 0.27%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 383
| 2.19%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 28
| 0.16%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 753
| 4.31%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 4,108
| 23.51%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 17,474 people, 6,181 households, and 3,907 families residing in the city.

The median household income is $47,715 with an owner-occupied housing rate of 51.6%.<ref name="census.gov"/>

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 16,918 people, 7,618 households, and 4,117 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|953.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,313 housing units at an average density of {{convert|402.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial composition of the city was: 75.67% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 12.76% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American]], 11.16% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino American]], 1.99% [[Asian American]], 0.55% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.81% [[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander American|Other Pacific Islander]], 6.64% [[Race (United States Census)|some other race]], and 1.58% [[Multiracial American|two or more races]].

There were 7,618 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,836, and the median income for a family was $42,687. Males had a median income of $29,118 versus $24,723 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,906. About 9.7% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
State-operated facilities in Morganton include [[Broughton Hospital]] (a psychiatric hospital), the [[North Carolina School for the Deaf]], J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center, and the second campus of the [[North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics]]. Other employers include furniture manufacturing facilities and tourists traveling on [[Interstate 40]] to attractions in the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Founded in 2015, the Industrial Commons is an incubator in Morganton for regional co-ops and service programs working to revive the textile and furniture industries in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Jeffrey |date=2022-06-23 |title=NC's Industrial Commons creates thriving new communities from the ashes of old industries |url=https://shareablenet-production.mystagingwebsite.com/this-southern-appalachian-town-uses-co-ops-to-build-new-communities-around-old-industries/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Shareable |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
===National Register of Historic Places===
{{main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Burke County, North Carolina}}

=== Events and venues ===
Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church hosts an annual Parish Food Festival in the first week of November.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vannoppen |first=Allen |title=Annual food festival draws a thousand with international tastings |url=https://www.thepaper.media/stories/annual-food-festival-draws-a-thousand-with-international-tastings,12209 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=The Paper |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-31 |title=19th Annual Parish Food Festival |url=https://www.thepaper.media/stories/19th-annual-parish-food-festival,11984 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=The Paper |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=HERALD |first=SPECIAL TO THE NEWS |date=2023-10-28 |title=St. Charles Borromeo in Morganton to host food festival |url=https://morganton.com/st-charles-borromeo-in-morganton-to-host-food-festival/article_bdeb476e-b69e-5118-bbf1-9944cc1da89b.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=News Herald |language=en}}</ref>

The Morganton Festival takes place the weekend after Labor Day, featuring local vendors and live music.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Page |url=https://morgantonfest.org/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Historic Morganton Festival |language=en-US}}</ref>

The City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium is a public auditorium that hosts performances and events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commaonline.org/ |title=Welcome to CoMMA! "25 Years and Still Lovin' it" |website=Commaonline.org |date=2012-05-07 |access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.morganton.nc.us/index.php/departments/comma|title=CoMMA|work=morganton.nc.us|access-date=14 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518103745/http://www.ci.morganton.nc.us/index.php/departments/comma|archive-date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

Morganton hosts summer concerts on the Burke County Courthouse Square, featuring local and regional performers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TGIF |url=https://morgantonfest.org/tgif-concert-series/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Historic Morganton Festival |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
*Catawba Meadows Park is very close to downtown Morganton and has several baseball diamonds, beach volleyball courts, and other facilities.
*Martha's Park in downtown Morganton features a splash pad, playground, and picnic area.<ref>{{cite web | title = Martha's Park | publisher = Burke County Tourism Development Authority | url = http://discoverburkecounty.com/venue/marthas-park/ | access-date = March 16, 2016 | archive-date = May 1, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160501203845/http://discoverburkecounty.com/venue/marthas-park/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
*Freedom Park, adjacent to Freedom High School in Morganton, is a 30-acre park with multiple sports practice facilities (sand volleyball, football, soccer, baseball/softball), lighted tennis court, picnic shelters with grills, and a one-mile lighted track.<ref>{{cite web|title=Freedom Park|url=https://morgantonnc.gov/index.php/government/parks-recreation/parks/49-freedom-park|access-date=August 11, 2020|publisher=City of Morganton|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922151615/https://morgantonnc.gov/index.php/government/parks-recreation/parks/49-freedom-park|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Golf courses===
* Silver Creek Golf Club
* Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club

==Education==
===Colleges and universities===
* [[Western Piedmont Community College]] 
* Foothills Higher Education Center, occupied by Western Piedmont Community College's Division of Continuing Education and serves as a satellite campus for certain courses of study offered by [[Appalachian State University]], [[Lees-McRae College]], [[Montreat College]] and [[Western Carolina University]].

===Public schools===
* [[Freedom High School (North Carolina)|Freedom High School]]
* [[Robert Logan Patton High School|Robert L. Patton High School]]
* Table Rock Middle School
* Liberty Middle School
* Walter R. Johnson Middle School
* Glen Alpine Elementary School
* Mull Elementary School
* Hillcrest Elementary School
* Chesterfield Elementary School
* W. A. Young Elementary School
* Burke Alternative School
* College Street Academy
* Salem Elementary School
* Forest Hill Elementary School
* Oak Hill Elementary School
* Burke Middle College
* Mountain View Elementary School
* East Burke High School
* Draughn High School

===Private schools===
* Morganton Day School
* Silver Creek Adventist School

===Charter schools===
* New Dimensions Charter School

===Specialized STEM schools===
* [[North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics]]

===Special education===
* [[North Carolina School for the Deaf]]
* North Liberty Middle School

===Other institutions===
* J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center

==Media==
===Radio===

* WCIS / 760 AM / Religious
* WMNC / 1430 AM / Country
* WMNC / 92.1 FM / Country 
* WHGW / 100.3 FM / Religious

===Print===

* The ''Morganton News Herald'' is a [[Newspaper#Daily|daily newspaper]] (circulation 12,000).
* ''The Paper'' is a community-owned weekly newspaper dedicated exclusively to covering Burke County news, founded in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=VanNoppen |first=Allen |date=2023-02-03 |title=Welcome to The Paper! |url=https://www.thepaper.media/stories/welcome-to-the-paper-premiere-morganton-nc-burke-county-first-issue-newspaper,7283 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=The Paper |language=en}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Highways===
*[[Interstate 40 in North Carolina|Interstate 40]]
*[[U.S. Route 70 in North Carolina|U.S. Route 70]]
*[[U.S. Route 64 in North Carolina|U.S. Route 64]]

==Notable people==
* [[W. Ted Alexander]], member of the [[North Carolina Senate]]
* [[Alphonso Calhoun Avery]], jurist, military officer, and politician
* [[Isaac E. Avery]], most remembered for the blood-stained note he wrote to his father before dying at [[Battle of Gettysburg|Gettysburg]] during the [[American Civil War]]
* [[William Waightstill Avery]], North Carolina politician and lawyer; brother of Isaac E. Avery<ref name="Marquis 1607–1896">{{Cite book| title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | year = 1963}}</ref>
* [[Etta Baker]], guitarist and singer of the [[Piedmont Blues]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Etta Baker, 93, Blues Guitarist, Dies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/arts/music/26baker.html?_r=1&|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120717060610/http://www.ncarts.org/artistpage.cfm?ser=24115&num=23615]</ref>
* [[Johnny Bristol]], musician and [[Motown]] producer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://northcarolinamusichalloffame.org/inductee-johnny-bristol/ |title=Inductee - Johnny Bristol |publisher=North Carolina Music Hall of Fame |date=2009-10-03 |access-date=2014-02-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130704090304/http://northcarolinamusichalloffame.org/inductee-johnny-bristol/ |archive-date=2013-07-04 }}</ref>
* [[Donald Brown (Canadian football)|Donald Brown]], former [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] defensive back
* [[Tod Robinson Caldwell]], governor of North Carolina from 1871 to 1874
* [[Joe Cheves]], professional golfer and member of the [[North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncshof.org/2012/03/09/joe-cheves/ |title=Joe Cheves &#124; NC Sports Hall of Fame |publisher=Ncshof.org |date=2012-03-09 |access-date=2014-02-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192916/http://www.ncshof.org/2012/03/09/joe-cheves/ |archive-date=2014-01-02 }}</ref>
* [[Warren Daniel]], North Carolina State Senator
* [[Kony Ealy]], [[NFL]] defensive end
* [[Robert C. Ervin]], North Carolina Superior Court judge
* [[Sam Ervin]], U.S. senator from 1954 to 1974, notable during the Joseph McCarthy hearings and Watergate hearings<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.samervinlibrary.org/ |title=Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. Library and Museum |publisher=Samervinlibrary.org |date=1990-10-17 |access-date=2014-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128080909/http://www.samervinlibrary.org/ |archive-date=2014-01-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Kerri Gardin]], [[WNBA]] player
* [[Alfreda Gerald]], vocalist and recording artist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pinterest.com/pin/109775309639116000/ |title=Morganton, NC native Alfreda Gerald is in ... &#124; Film Industry &#124; NC & … |publisher=Pinterest.com |access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref>
* [[Leon Johnson (running back)|Leon Johnson]], former NFL running back for the [[New York Jets]], [[Chicago Bears]], and [[San Diego Chargers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnLe00.htm |title=Leon Johnson NFL Football Statistics |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |date=1974-07-13 |access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref>
* [[Gray Leadbetter]], racing driver
* [[Dwayne Ledford]], former NFL offensive lineman and current offensive line coach for the [[Atlanta Falcons]]
* [[Bill Leslie (journalist)|Bill Leslie]], TV anchor [[WRAL-TV|WRAL News]], New Age recording artist<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.ccucc.net/node/1546 |title=A Morning with Bill Leslie &#124; Chatham Chamber of Commerce |publisher=Ccucc.net |date=2013-02-23 |access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=|url=http://www.wral.com/rs/bio/1013363/ |title=Bill Leslie |website=Wral.com |access-date=2014-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009133749/http://www.wral.com/rs/bio/1013363/ |archive-date=2017-10-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Chad Lawson]], classical and jazz pianist<ref name="MainlyPiano">{{Cite web|url=https://mainlypiano.com/interviews/chad-lawson-2010-august |title=Interview with Chad Lawson, August 2010 |date=August 2010 |website=Mainly Piano |last=Parsons |first=Kathy |access-date=August 18, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Billy Joe Patton]], amateur golfer and member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web |url=http://golfweek.com/news/2011/jan/02/career-amateur-patton-dies-88/?print |title=Career amateur Billy Joe Patton dies at 88 |website=Golfweek.com |date=2011-01-02 |access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/010311aaa.html |title=Former Wake Forest Golfer Billy Joe Patton Passes - The Official Site of Wake Forest Demon Deacon Athletics |website=Wakeforestsports.com |access-date=2014-02-09 |archive-date=2014-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191650/http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/010311aaa.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Woody Rich]], former [[MLB]] player for the [[Boston Red Sox]] and [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/17104/|title=Woody Rich - Stats |website=Thebaseballcube.com|access-date=11 March 2023}}</ref>
* [[Tommy Giles Rogers Jr.]], lead singer and keyboardist for the metal band [[Between the Buried and Me]]
* [[Siiickbrain]], singer and model<ref>{{cite web |last1=Samtani |first1=Natasha |title=Caroline Miner Smith (aka @siiickbrain), Model & Writer |url=https://www.thefemword.world/her-story/siiickbrain |website=The Fem Word |access-date=December 30, 2023 |date=August 12, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Frankie Silver]], the first white woman to be capitally executed in North Carolina<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/nchistory/jul2004/index.html |title=This Month in North Carolina History - Frankie Silver |publisher=Lib.unc.edu |date=2009-06-04 |access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/fko/NIE/TwistedTarHeelTales/frankiesilver.pdf |title=North Carolina Museum of History homepage |publisher=Ncmuseumofhistory.org |access-date=2014-02-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715210244/http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/fko/NIE/TwistedTarHeelTales/frankiesilver.pdf |archive-date=2012-07-15 }}</ref>
* [[Paige Summers]], model<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3485441/mediaindex|title = Paige Summers on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more|website = [[IMDb]]}}</ref>
* [[Isaac M. Taylor]], physician and academic; father of musician [[James Taylor]]
* [[Gladys Avery Tillett]], political organizer, active in [[UNESCO]] and [[Equal Rights Amendment]] activism<ref name="NCPedia">Carolyn Roff, [http://www.ncpedia.org/biography/tillett-gladys-love-avery "Gladys Love Avery Tillett"] ''Dictionary of North Carolina Biography'', edited by William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press 1996).</ref>
* [[Copperhead (Southern rock band)|Copperhead]], [[southern rock]] band signed to [[Mercury Records]], featured in the movies [[Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man]] and [[Dr. Giggles]].<ref name="Band Bio: Copperhead (90s Southern rock band)">{{cite web |title=Band Bio: Copperhead (90s Southern rock band) |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2798490-Copperhead-2 |website=discogs.com |publisher=Mercury Records |access-date=6 May 2025}}</ref>
* Jonathan Bryd, former [[guitarist]] for the rock band A Course of Action.<ref name="Band Biography: A Course of Action">{{cite web |title=Band Biography: A Course of Action |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/3848416-A-Course-Of-Action |website=Discogs |publisher=Staff |access-date=20 April 2025}}</ref>
* [[Neil Carswell]] - [[singer-songwriter]], best known as lead singer for the [[southern rock]] band, [[Copperhead (Southern rock band)|Copperhead]].<ref name="Neil passed away peacefully in his hometown of Morganton, North Carolina at the age of 55 in January 2024.">{{cite web |title=Neil passed away peacefully in his hometown of Morganton, North Carolina at the age of 55 in January 2024. |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250509155119/https://www.neilcarswell.com/ |website=Neil Carswell |access-date=12 May 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.ci.morganton.nc.us/ City website]

{{Morganton}}
{{Burke County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Burke County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:County seats in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Spanish colonization of the Americas]]
[[Category:Native American history of North Carolina]]
[[Category:North Carolina populated places on the Catawba River]]