Morganton, NC

Morganton is a Burke County city in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along the Catawba River. European settlers moving over the mountains helped make Morganton the first chartered town in western North Carolina, giving it an older civic role than many nearby communities. Today it has a courthouse-town center, medical and state institutions, historic neighborhoods, and mountain access. Local events such as Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church's annual Parish Food Festival add community texture. Morganton feels like a true foothills hub.