Where is Morganton, North Carolina, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Morganton Located? - Morganton is a city located in the Fannin County of North Carolina, United States. Morganton lies between 40.3042778 Degrees North latitudes and 73.9923596 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Morganton, North Carolina

Where is Morganton, North Carolina

Morganton Map, North Carolina, USA

Where is Morganton?: The Google Map showing the location of Morganton in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

Where is Morganton Located?

Morganton is a city located in the Fannin County of North Carolina, United States. Morganton lies between 40.3042778 Degrees North latitudes and 73.9923596 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Morganton city is 17474 people and the city has a total area of 19.24 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

Most Viewed US Maps

USA Sttae MapUSA Region MapUSA Road Map
USA County MapWhere is USA in World Map?US ZIP Code Map
USA Time Zones MapUS State and Capitals MapUSA Physical Map
Looking for a U.S. City?
Find 3,000+ U.S. Cities by State - Explore Their Locations and Get Detailed Information

Morganton, North Carolina Quick Facts

AttributeInformation
CityMorganton
CountyBurke County
StateNorth Carolina
State CapitalRaleigh
US RegionSouth Atlantic
Latitude35.7454° N
Longitude81.6848° W
Elevation1,049 ft (320 m)
Land Area19.59 sq mi
Water Area0.12 sq mi
Total Area19.71 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)17,474
Population DensityApproximately 892 per sq mi
ZIP Codes28655
Area Code828
Time Zone StandardEastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−5)
Time Zone DaylightEastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code37-44540
Congressional DistrictNorth Carolina's 5th Congressional District

Transportation and Connectivity in Morganton

CategoryInformation
Airport NameCharlotte Douglas International Airport
IATA CodeCLT
PortPort of Wilmington (regional access)
Major HighwaysInterstate 40, U.S. Highway 70, U.S. Highway 64, North Carolina Highway 18
Train/Amtrak ServiceNearest Amtrak service available in Salisbury and Asheville
Local Bus/Transit ServiceGreenway Public Transportation
  • Interstate 40 – Major east–west interstate connecting Morganton with Asheville, Hickory, and Charlotte.
  • U.S. Highway 70 – Historic route providing access through western North Carolina.
  • U.S. Highway 64 – Regional highway connecting Morganton with surrounding mountain communities.
  • North Carolina Highway 18 – Local and regional route serving Burke County areas.

Top Places to Visit in Morganton, North Carolina

Landmark NameType
Catawba Meadows ParkPark
Historic Downtown MorgantonHistoric District
Silver Creek PlantationGolf Course
Morganton Community HouseHistoric Building
Quaker Meadows PlantationHistoric Site
Lake James State ParkState Park
South Mountains State ParkState Park
Fonta Flora State TrailRecreation Trail
Burke County Historical MuseumMuseum
Morganton Railroad DepotHistoric Landmark

Driving Distances from Morganton, North Carolina to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
HickoryNorth Carolina2025 minutes
LenoirNorth Carolina2535 minutes
AshevilleNorth Carolina601 hour
CharlotteNorth Carolina701 hour 15 minutes
BooneNorth Carolina751 hour 30 minutes
Winston-SalemNorth Carolina851 hour 30 minutes
GreensboroNorth Carolina1102 hours
RaleighNorth Carolina1803 hours
KnoxvilleTennessee1452 hours 30 minutes
AtlantaGeorgia2403 hours 45 minutes

Colleges and Universities in Morganton, North Carolina

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Western Piedmont Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeTechnical education, workforce training, and associate degrees
Appalachian State UniversityPublicUniversityEducation, business, and Appalachian studies
Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityPrivateUniversityLiberal arts, nursing, and professional programs
Catawba Valley Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeCareer programs and technology education
University of North Carolina at AshevillePublicUniversityLiberal arts and undergraduate research

Waterbodies in Morganton, North Carolina

Catawba River, Lake James, Catawba Meadows River, Silver Creek, South Mountains streams, Hunting Creek, Johns River, Lake Rhodhiss.

Stadiums in Morganton

Morganton High School Stadium, Freedom High School Stadium, Patton High School Stadium, Catawba Meadows Park Sports Complex, Lenoir-Rhyne University Moretz Stadium.

Morganton, North Carolina — Key Historical Facts

  • Morganton was established in the eighteenth century and became the county seat of Burke County in 1784.
  • The city was named after Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, a hero of the American Revolutionary War.
  • Morganton developed as a regional center for agriculture, trade, and manufacturing in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
  • The arrival of railroads in the nineteenth century helped expand the city's economy and connections with other North Carolina communities.
  • Today, Morganton is known for its historic downtown, outdoor recreation, healthcare services, manufacturing, and location near the Blue Ridge Mountains.

References

North Carolina Maps and Info

North Carolina MapNorth Carolina County MapNorth Carolina Cities Map
North Carolina ZipcodesWhere is North CarolinaWhere is Charlotte
North Carolina Area CodesNorth Carolina Blank MapNorth Carolina River Map
North Carolina Physical MapNorth Carolina Road MapWhere is Durham
Where is FayettevilleWhere is GreensboroWhere is Raleigh.