Burke, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Burke, Virginia
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Houses in Burke in October 2016
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Location of Burke in Fairfax County, Virginia
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 Burke, Virginia
Location in Northern Virginia
Burke, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Burke, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| County | Fairfax |
| Named for | Silas Burke |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.7 sq mi (22.6 km2) |
| • Land | 8.6 sq mi (22.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 256 ft (78 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 42,312 |
| • Density | 4,771/sq mi (1,842.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
22009, 22015
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| Area code(s) | 703, 571 |
| FIPS code | 51-11464 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1494192 |
Burke is a community in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the United States. It's not an official city, but rather an "unincorporated area." This means it's a community that doesn't have its own local government, but is part of the larger county.
Burke is known for its friendly neighborhoods and many parks. It's a great place to live and learn. The area is served by the Burke post office. In 2020, the population of the main Burke area was over 42,000 people. Another part of Burke, called Burke Centre, had about 17,500 people.
Contents
History of Burke
Early Beginnings
Burke is named after Silas Burke (1796–1854). He was a landowner, farmer, and local leader in the 1800s. Around 1824, he built a house on a hill overlooking Pohick Creek. Silas Burke was also a judge and sheriff. He helped lead several local companies, like the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company. His old house is still standing today.
When the Orange and Alexandria Railroad was built in the late 1840s, a train station was placed near Silas Burke's land. It was named "Burke's Station" because he owned the land and allowed the railroad to pass through. A post office opened in the community in 1852. Today, the same train tracks are used by the Norfolk Southern Railway. They are also part of the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter train system. There are two VRE stations in the Burke area: Rolling Road and Burke Centre. The original Burke Station building is still in the community.
Civil War and Growth
During the American Civil War, Union soldiers guarded the railway station. In 1862, Confederate cavalry, led by General J.E.B. Stuart, raided the station. Stuart took supplies and destroyed a nearby bridge. He even sent a famous telegram to a Union general, joking about the quality of the captured mules!
In 1903, a wealthy man named Henry C. Copperthite bought the Burke House. He changed the post office name from Burke's Station to Burke. Copperthite built a racetrack for horses and expanded the local general store. Burke became a popular summer spot. People came to enjoy fairs, horse races, and baseball games. Trains brought visitors from many cities, including Washington, D.C. Copperthite also installed the first telephones in Burke.
Modern Development
Burke remained mostly rural until the mid-1900s. After World War I, more people moved to Burke. Many were federal government workers who wanted to live close to Washington, D.C.
In 1951, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration planned to build a large airport in Burke. However, local residents worked hard to stop it. In 1958, the government chose a different location, which became Washington Dulles International Airport. The land that was supposed to be for the airport in Burke was later used to create Burke Lake Park and the planned community of Burke Centre.
Starting in the 1960s, many new neighborhoods were built. This changed Burke into a busy suburban community.
There are also historic markers in Burke. One marks the Huldah Coffer House, owned by an important local resident. Another shows the site of the former Lee Chapel Methodist church.
Historic Sites
Burke has several interesting historic places:
- Mulberry Hill (built around 1790)
- Silas Burke House (original around 1820; rebuilt around 1853)
- Burke Methodist Church/Burke Station (built around 1857)
- Little Zion Baptist Church and Cemetery (built in 1891)
Geography and Climate
Burke is located in the southern part of Fairfax County. It is surrounded by other communities like Burke Centre, Kings Park West, and West Springfield.
Burke covers about 8.7 square miles (22.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water from ponds and lakes.
Weather in Burke
Burke experiences all four seasons. Summers are warm, and winters are cool.
| Climate data for Burke | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44 (7) |
49 (9) |
58 (14) |
69 (21) |
78 (26) |
85 (29) |
89 (32) |
87 (31) |
81 (27) |
70 (21) |
59 (15) |
48 (9) |
68 (20) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24 (−4) |
26 (−3) |
33 (1) |
42 (6) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
66 (19) |
65 (18) |
58 (14) |
45 (7) |
36 (2) |
28 (−2) |
45 (7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.48 (88) |
3.01 (76) |
4.13 (105) |
3.54 (90) |
4.42 (112) |
3.69 (94) |
4.26 (108) |
3.98 (101) |
4.30 (109) |
3.48 (88) |
3.41 (87) |
3.41 (87) |
45.11 (1,145) |
| Source: Weather.com | |||||||||||||
People of Burke
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 33,835 | — | |
| 1990 | 57,734 | 70.6% | |
| 2000 | 57,737 | 0.0% | |
| 2010 | 41,055 | −28.9% | |
| 2020 | 42,312 | 3.1% | |
In 2020, Burke had 42,312 people living there. The community is very diverse. About 56% of residents were White, 18% Asian, and 7% African American. About 14% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Most households in Burke are families. The average family has about 3.4 people. The median age in Burke is around 39.6 years old. About 26% of the people are under 18. Many residents (35%) speak a language other than English at home. Also, about 25% of the people were born outside the United States.
The average household income in Burke is quite high, around $172,432 per year. Many adults (65%) have a college degree or higher. Only a small percentage of the population (2%) lives below the poverty line.
Education in Burke
Schools
Students in Burke attend schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools system.
- Elementary Schools: White Oaks, Terra Centre, Fairview, Cherry Run, Ravensworth, Kings Park, Kings Glen, and Sangster.
- Secondary Schools: Burke is home to Lake Braddock Secondary School. Many students also attend Robinson Secondary School, West Springfield High School, and South County High School.
Libraries
The Fairfax County Public Library system has several branches in the Burke area. These include the Pohick Regional Library, the Burke Centre Library, and the Kings Park Library.
Transportation
Burke has good transportation options.
- Trains: Two Virginia Railway Express (VRE) stations, Burke Centre and Rolling Road, serve the area. These are on the Manassas Line. The Burke Centre station is also an Amtrak station.
- Buses: The Washington Metrobus system also serves Burke. Buses connect residents to places like the Pentagon and Springfield Metro stations during rush hour.
Fun in Burke
Recreation
Burke Lake Park is a large park near Burke. It covers 888 acres (about 3.6 square kilometers). The park has a 218-acre (0.88 square kilometer) lake. It's a great place for outdoor activities!
- Activities: The park has a jogging trail, campsites, picnic areas, and sports fields. You can also find an 18-hole golf course, a disc golf course, and miniature golf.
- Lake Fun: You can rent boats on Burke Lake.
- Family Fun: The park also has an amphitheater, an ice cream parlor, a carousel, and a miniature train ride.
Events
- Burke Farmers Market: From April to December, a farmers market is held every Saturday morning. You can find it in the Burke Centre VRE station parking lot.
- Burke Centre Festival: Burke Centre hosts a fall festival for two days every September.
Communities in Burke
Burke Centre is a large planned community. It covers 1,700 acres (about 6.9 square kilometers). It used to be part of Burke but is now a separate area. Burke Centre has five smaller communities: The Commons, The Landings, The Oaks, The Ponds, and The Woods.
Other well-known communities in the Burke area include Rolling Valley West, Lakepointe, and Lake Braddock.
Nearby Places
Here are some towns and communities close to Burke:
- Annandale (5 miles northeast)
- Clifton (8 miles west)
- Fairfax (5 miles northwest)
- Lorton (9 miles southeast)
- Springfield (6 miles east)
Famous People from Burke
Many talented people have connections to Burke:
- Hubert Davis, a former professional basketball player and college coach.
- Glennon Doyle, a popular blogger and author.
- Tiffany Dupont, an actress.
- Mia Hamm, a famous retired soccer player who won two Olympic gold medals. She went to Lake Braddock Secondary School.
- Allen Johnson, an Olympic gold medalist in hurdles and a four-time world champion. He also attended Lake Braddock Secondary School.
- David W. Marsden, a Virginia state senator.
- Byron Saxton, a WWE announcer.
- Ronald J. Shurer, a US Army special forces medic and Medal of Honor recipient.
- Justin Spring, an Olympic medal-winning gymnast.
See also
In Spanish: Burke (Virginia) para niños
