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AHistory
History · Burke

Burke dates to 1782, and 25% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 91% of U.S. towns. What drives it

3 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 40 buildings. Below: maps from 1951 on and the census since 1800.

1782founded
3on the National Register
25%homes built before 1940
3famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Burke began

When was Burke founded?

1782

Burke dates its founding to 1782 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1800.

First census: 108 in 18002020 census: 1,651244 years

How historic is Burke?

A

More historic than 91% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1811.
History grade

What drives Burke’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Burke is more historic than 91% of U.S. towns. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its age lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Burke’s overall grade.
Founding era1782, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194025.3% of homes (±5.5) · typical VT town 22.4% · U.S. 8.4%A−National Register3 listings, 42 historic buildings, 319 per 10,000 residents · typical VT town 147 · U.S. 2.4A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 91%
NewerOlder

Vermont towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Vermont town has 147 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Burke’s 319 sits above most of its state (79% of Vermont towns have fewer) while its 42 historic buildings outnumber those of 84% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1782.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±5.5 points).

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Burke’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Burke are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.A historic districtThe Darling Estate Historic District takes in 40 historic buildings.Deep rootsEstablished in 1782: 244 years of Burke.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Burke’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Burke’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the National Register

3 listings protect 42 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
3
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
42
each building in a district counts
first listed
2006
Toll House
Toll HouseUnion Meeting HouseDarling Estate Historic District
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Adirondack Rustic1
Federal1
Greek Revival1
Colonial Revival1
Toll HouseAdirondack Rustic
Union Meeting HouseFederal
Darling Estate Historic DistrictGreek Revival

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Timeline

Burke, 1782 to 1951

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1782
    FoundingBurke is established
  3. 19th century
  4. 1811Post officeThe Burke post office opens
  5. 1823Born hereJohn Q. Farmer is born here
  6. 1841Born hereHenrietta A. Bingham is born here
  7. 1845Born hereCharles Woodruff is born here
  8. 1847Post officeThe East Burke post office opens
  9. 1853Post officeThe West Burke post office opens
  10. 20th century
  11. 1935Post officeThe Burke post office closes
  12. 1951On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
The story so far

Burke, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Burke yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Burke is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,651 at the 2020 census. The town contains the villages of East Burke, West Burke and Burke Hollow. The town is home to Burke Mountain and Burke Mountain Academy.

Burke was established in 1782. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 1,753 to 1,651 (-6%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

Burke, decade by decade

Today12 recent
Burke Hollow VT 9-21-252025Burke Hollow VT 9-21-25Burke Hollow VT 12-03-20252025Burke Hollow VT 12-03-2025Log pile along VT Rte 114 Burke VT March 20192019Log pile along VT Rte 114 Burke VT March 2019Clark Ranger 664 VT Rte 114 Burke VT April 20192019Clark Ranger 664 VT Rte 114 Burke VT April 2019Clark 664 Ranger VT Rte 114 Burke VT March 20192019Clark 664 Ranger VT Rte 114 Burke VT March 2019Burke Hollow Softball Field entrance Burke VT April 20192019Burke Hollow Softball Field entrance Burke VT April 2…Moose crossing sign VT Rte 114 Burke VT June 20182018Moose crossing sign VT Rte 114 Burke VT June 2018BurkeVT TollHouse22016BurkeVT TollHouse2BurkeVT TollHouse12016BurkeVT TollHouse1Burke-mountain-summit-view2009Burke-mountain-summit-viewUnion Meeting House2007Union Meeting HouseBurke vt highlight2004Burke vt highlight
On the map

Burke on the map, 1951 to 1988

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Burke. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Burke on the 1951 USGS mapBurke on the 1988 USGS map1951Burke sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Burke.

People over time

Burke, census by census

02004006008001,0001,2001,4001,6001,80018001850190019502000Peak: 1,753

Between 108 and 1,753 people in every census since 1800.

23 censuses, 1800–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Burke’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

3 famous people were born in Burke

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Henrietta A. BinghamAmerican writer, editor, preceptress · b. 1841
Charles WoodruffBrigadier General · b. 1845
John Q. FarmerAmerican politician · b. 1823
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds

Burke had its own post office from 1811 to 1935.

Burke
1811–1935
East Burke
1847–today
West Burke
1853–today
18101920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Burke HollowEast BurkeWest Burke
4cemeteries and burying grounds inside Burke
Burke GreenHillsideHowlandWoodmont

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

SuttonIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townKirbyIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townLyndon10 historic placesA−East HavenIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townNewarkIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townVictoryIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Burke’s history

What year was Burke founded?

In 1782, according to Wikidata. Burke’s post office opened in 1811, and the census of 1800 counted 108 people here.

How does Burke rank for history?

Burke is more historic than 91% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Burke?

Three places: the Toll House (listed 2006), the Union Meeting House (2008) and the Darling Estate Historic District (2011).

How old are the homes in Burke?

25% of Burke’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.5 points), against a typical 22% for a Vermont town; the median home was built in 1981.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (12), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (3), Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.