Burke County’s population grew by nearly 1,800 people, 2 percent, between 2000 and 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s official decennial count announced this week.
Higher numbers of Hispanics and Latinos accounted for much of the population increase in Burke County and across North Carolina. The Census Bureau counted 4,634 Hispanics or Latinos (the government doesn’t make a distinction between the two) in 2010 in Burke County compared to 3,180 in 2000.
The county also aged in 10 years. In 2000, fewer than 67,800 people or 76 percent were 18 or older. In 2010, more than 70,700 or nearly 78 percent were 18 or older. Detailed age breakdowns weren’t immediately available, but the loss of school-aged children in the past decade is forcing the Burke County School District to close and consolidate schools.
The city of Morganton lost population during the decade, falling to about 16,920 people in 2010 from 17,310 in 2000. The Census Bureau also found fewer occupied housing units in the city, 6,640 in 2010 compared to more than 6,830 in 2000, and the number of vacant units doubled. The statistics on housing units confirm earlier anecdotal reports of people leaving the city in search of economic opportunities elsewhere.
As in the county, Morganton recorded an increase in Hispanics and Latinos, who now make up more than 16 percent of the population (nearly 2,800 people).
The population of the second-largest municipality, Valdese, was almost unchanged after 10 years. There were 4,490 people in 2010 compared to 4,485 in 2000. Valdese’s Hispanic and Latino population, never large, fell by half during the decade to fewer than 120.
Some other towns, mostly on the eastern side of the county, registered significant population increases during the decade.
Rhodhiss went from 560 in 2000 to 1,070 in 2010 — up 510 people for a 91 percent increase.
Hildebran went from 1,472 in 2000 to 2,023 in 2010 —up 551 people for a 37 percent gain.
Rutherford College went from 1,293 in 2000 to 1,341 in 2010 — up 48 or 3.7 percent.
In western Burke County, however, Glen Alpine saw a nearly 40 percent increase in population from 1,090 in 2000 to 1,517 at the time of the 2010 census.
Other towns lost people. Connelly Springs’ population dropped to 1,669 from 1,814 a decade ago, down 8.0 percent. Drexel fell to 1,858 from 1,938, down 4.1 percent.
Icard, which is a census-designated places (CDP), not an incorporated municipality, had a net loss of about 3 percent of its population, dropping to 2,664 from 2,734.
Salem, another CDP, fell 24 percent from 2,923 to 2,218 in 2010.
The Census Bureau is pouring North Carolina statistics onto its website. People can analyze data themselves by using the American FactFinder at http://www.factfinder2.census.gov.
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