Burke, Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Burke is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2000 census, Burke had a total population of 57,737.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
- 3.1 Population history from the U.S. Census Bureau
4 Schools
5 Communities
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Geography

Burke is located at 38°46′53″N, 77°16′15″W (38.781480, -77.270750)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 30.2 km² (11.6 mi²). 29.9 km² (11.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.03%) is water.

Burke Lake Park is a large recreational park featuring a golf course and a man-made lake, operated by the Fairfax County parks department.

[edit] Demographics

By national standards, Burke is an upper-middle class town.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 57,737 people, 19,215 households, and 15,756 families residing in the community. Burke is the largest community in Virginia recognized by the Census Bureau, other than counties and incorporated cities (although 11 cities and Arlington, Virginia have greater populations). The population density was 1,933.4/km² (5,008.0/mi²). There were 19,367 housing units at an average density of 648.5/km² (1,679.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 74.36% White, 14.66% Asian, 5.04% African American, 3.27% from two or more races, 0.21% Native American, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 2.37% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.43% of the population.

There were 19,215 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 13.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.30.

The population distribution by age is 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in Burke is $93,561, and the median income for a family was $99,487. Males had a median income of $66,149 versus $41,933 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $34,936. About 1.5% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

The area of Fairfax County known as Burke is named for Silas Burke (1796–1854), a 19th century farmer, merchant, and local politician who built a house on a hill overlooking the valley of Pohick Creek in approximately 1824. The house is still standing. When the Orange and Alexandria Railroad was constructed in the late 1840s, the railroad station at the base of that hill was named Burke's Station after Burke, who owned the land in the area and donated a right-of-way to the railroad company. The community that grew up around the railroad station acquired a post office branch in 1852. Currently, railroad tracks on the same historical line are owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway and form part of the Manassas line of the Virginia Railway Express commuter rail system, of which two stations lie in the Burke area.

During the American Civil War, the railway station was garrisoned by Union troops. On December 28, 1862, Confederate cavalry under General J.E.B. Stuart raided the station. Stuart seized supplies from the area, destroyed a nearby bridge, monitored Union messages passing over the telegraph lines, and then famously sent a telegram to Union Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs complaining of the poor quality of the mules he had captured.

In 1903, the name of the post office was changed from Burke's Station to "Burke."

The area remained predominantly rural well into the mid-20th century. After World War I, some employees of the Federal Government began moving into the area, and commuted to Washington, D.C. by train.

In 1951, the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Administration announced plans to condemn 4,520 acres of land in Burke to construct a second airport to serve the Washington metropolitan area. After a lengthy lobbying campaign by area residents, the government in 1958 selected a site near Chantilly, Virginia, which is now Washington Dulles International Airport, instead of Burke.

The first large subdivision in the vicinity, Kings Park, was constructed beginning in 1960, and was followed by many others over the next two decades, converting Burke into a densely-populated suburban community.

[edit] Population history from the U.S. Census Bureau

1980...33,835
1990...57,734
2000...57,737

[edit] Schools

Elementary and secondary school students in Burke are served by the Fairfax County Public School System. The elementary schools in Burke are White Oaks, Terra Centre, and Cherry Run. Burke is home to Lake Braddock Secondary School, though many students within the district attend Robinson Secondary School.

[edit] Communities

One of the largest developments in Burke is Burke Centre, a 1,700 acre planned community, which is divided into five subcommunities, The Commons, The Landings, The Oaks, The Ponds and The Woods. Other notable communities in the Burke area include Burke Lake Meadows, Edgewater, Lake Braddock, Signal Hill, Crownleigh, and Cherry Run along with Burke Station Square.