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Morganton, North Carolina
Morganton is a city of 17,646 people in Burke County, North Carolina, founded in 1777.
Why visit Morganton
Townapedia lists 38 museums and landmarks, 20 parks and trails, 96 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Hunting Creek Railroad Bridge, Marquee Cinemas, North Carolina School for the Deaf and Alphonse Calhoun Avery House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 28°F.
Weather in Morganton
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Morganton
Morganton is a city in and the county seat of Burke County, North Carolina, United States. It is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Catawba River.
From the Wikipedia article Morganton, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Hunting Creek Railroad Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Bridge located at Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina
Marquee Cinemas
Cinema and theater · 0.8 mi
103 South Green Street, Morganton
Morganton Farmers Market
Farm and orchard · 1.1 mi
300 Beach Street, Morganton
May-Oct Sa 08:00-12:00
18 Porduce & Garden Center
Farm and orchard · 2.3 mi
2088 South Sterling Street, Morganton
Museums and landmarks38
North Carolina School for the Deaf
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
High school in North Carolina, United States
Alphonse Calhoun Avery House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Photograph of Calhon Avery House
Avery Avenue Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Avery Avenue School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic school building in North Carolina, United States
Bellevue
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic plantation home near Morganton, North Carolina, United States
Burke County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Courthouse in North Carolina, United States
Creekside
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Dr. Joseph Bennett Riddle House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Dunavant Cotton Manufacturing Company
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic cotton mill in Morganton, North Carolina, active 1888-1949
Franklin Pierce Tate House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Gaither House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in Morganton, North Carolina, United States
Garrou-Morganton Full-Fashioned Hosiery Mills
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Textile factory in Morganton, United States of America
26 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds20
Martin Luther King Jr. Park
Park · 0.8 mi
One of the City of Morganton's active use parks. It contains playground equipment, picnic shelters, and tennis courts and is currently...
111 Alphabet Lane, Morganton
Cascade Park
Park · 0.9 mi
One of the City of Morganton's passive use parks. It contains walking trails and a scenic waterfall.
East Union Street Park
Park · 1.0 mi
One of the City of Morganton's "pocket parks". It consists of a pergola, benches, and a floral garden.
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Hiking and trails · 0.9 mi
204 Avery Avenue, Morganton
McCombs Park
Park · 1.0 mi
One of the City of Morganton's "pocket parks". It contains several art displays in the form of benches and bike racks as well as some...
8 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes96
Boulevard Barbeque
Restaurant · American, Barbecue · 1.2 mi
810 South College Street, Morganton
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Uncle Eees Formerly Jakes Hamburgers Morganton, NC
Restaurant · 0.8 mi
160 South Sterling Street, Morganton
Mo-Sa 10:30-18:00; Su 11:00-18:00
Great China
Restaurant · Asian · 2.7 mi
584 East Fleming Drive, Morganton
10:30-22:30
Oishii Japanese Restaurant
Restaurant · Japanese · 1.2 mi
917 North Green Street, Morganton
Su 11:00-18:00; Mo-Sa 11:00-21:30
84 more on the map.
History
An influx of European settlers over the Blue Ridge Mountains, led Morganton to become the first chartered town in western North Carolina in 1784.
On April 17, 1865, there was a small skirmish fought in Morganton, as part of Stoneman's 1865 raid through North Carolina.
Public welfare facilities, such as the North Carolina School for the Deaf: Main Building and Western North Carolina Insane Asylum, were first authorized by the state legislature in the late 19th century.
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.
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 Latino population in the area.
In 2006, an explosion at Synthron, a paint additive chemical manufacturer in Morganton, left 13 injured and one dead.
A 9-foot (2.7 m)-tall bronze statue of a Confederate soldier—erected in 1918—is located atop a stone pedestal in the Old Burke County Courthouse square.
From the History section of Morganton, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Fairfield Inn & Suites Morganton Historic Downtown
Motel and hotel · 0.7 mi
400 North Green Street, Morganton
Riverside Golf And RV Park
Campground · 1.3 mi
611 Independence Boulevard, Morganton
Churches and places of worship34
Gaston Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Gilboa Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Morganton Wesleyan Church
Church · Wesleyan · 1.8 mi
305 Bethel Street, Morganton
Shopping24
Gas and EV charging17
Schools, colleges and libraries37
North Carolina School of Science and Math - Morganton Campus
School · 1.1 mi
901 Burkemont Avenue, Morganton
Western Piedmont Community College - Jim Richardson Complex
School · 1.8 mi
Healthcare10
Broughton Hospital
Hospital · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
1000 South Sterling Street, Morganton
UNC Health Blue Ridge Urgent Care - Morganton
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.8 mi
695 West Fleming Drive, Morganton
Urgent Care of Mountain View, Morganton
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.4 mi
1101 North Green Street, Morganton
Foothills Family Dermatology
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.1 mi
109 East Fleming Drive, Morganton
Map of Morganton
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 28°F | 4.3 in | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 53°F | 30°F | 3.7 in | 0.3 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 37°F | 4.4 in | 1.6 in |
| Apr | 71°F | 45°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 78°F | 54°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 62°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 66°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 58°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 71°F | 46°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 61°F | 35°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 52°F | 30°F | 4.7 in | 1.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Morganton Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Burke County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-28: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2021-03-03: Tropical Storm Eta (Severe Storm)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Foothills Regional Airport (MRN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Lenoir 15 mi northeast, about 25 min by car
- Hickory 21 mi east, about 34 min by car
- Lincolnton 32 mi southeast, about 51 min by car
- Boone 33 mi north, about 53 min by car
- Kings Mountain 40 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Gastonia 45 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Lake Norman of Iredell 45 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Asheville 49 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Mooresville 50 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Cornelius 50 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Train Depot, Morganton, North Carolina (2008), Ron Reiring, CC BY 2.0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010301291), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010508322), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49009769713), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49009770038), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010507387), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49009770733), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010303241), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC (49010304726), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49009767813), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010305356), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49009772083), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC (49010305776), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC, Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC (49009771363), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC (49010513107), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC (49010307011), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC (49010514187), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC (49009775018), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49009767478), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010299996), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010514987), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010516047), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC (49009766948), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Mountain View, Morganton, NC (49009766643), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010515477), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010505607), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010516582), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010310531), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010517962), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010299051), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010505047), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010312551), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49009780213), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49009779408), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49009778893), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- Union Street, Morganton, NC (49010519787), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- First Baptist Church, Morganton, NC (49010520642), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- First Baptist Church, Morganton, NC (49010313661), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
- First Baptist Church, Morganton, NC (49010504762), Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States, CC0
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