1784Government
== 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.
1865Culture
On April 17, 1865, there was a small skirmish fought in Morganton, as part of Stoneman's 1865 raid through North Carolina.
1918Military
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.
2006Disaster
In 2006, an explosion at Synthron, a paint additive chemical manufacturer in Morganton, left 13 injured and one dead.
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,918 people, 7,618 households, and 4,117 families residing in the city.
2015Government
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.
2020History
== Demographics ==
=== 2020 census ===
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,474 people, 6,181 households, and 3,907 families residing in the city.
2023Government
The Paper is a community-owned weekly newspaper dedicated exclusively to covering Burke County news, founded in 2023.