Burke

Formed June 3, 1910 (48^th county)

Burke County (2,211), Bowbells (294), Powers Lake (388)

The dark red brick Federalist courthouse was constructed in 1927.  It sits at Main and Soo streets.  North Dakota State Highway 8 is Main Street in the town.  Tolz, King, & Day are the architects.  The county was created on June 3, 1910 as the 48^th county.  Bowbells has always been the county seat.  Burke County is named for Governor John Burke.  The county seat is named for the bells of the London church Saint Mary-le-Bow. 

Burke County government consists of a recorder, a sheriff, an attorney, and a treasurer (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Five District Court Judges serve Burke, Mountrail, and Ward counties and a court clerk serves Burke County (judicial.)  Burke County is on the northern border with Canada.  Minot, North Dakota is southeast and Bismarck, North Dakota is also southeast of the county.  The county center is 11.7 miles West-Southwest of Bowbells nearer Coteau.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Canada and Renville, Ward, Mountrail, Williams, and Divide counties. 

The area of the county is 1104 square miles.  It is 33 out of 53 in the state.  It ranks 43 out of 53 in population in the state.  It has a density of 2.0 persons per square mile making it 45 out of 53 in the state.  Burke County has 51.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 52 originates and heads southeast into Ward County.  Burke County is shaped like a fat pistol.  Bowbells is located in the eastern quarter of the county.  Bowbells is the county seat and Powers Lake is the largest city.  Bowbells is 13.3% of the county population and Powers Lake is 17.6% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced BOE-BELS.