Burke History Time Line
| 1820 | Samuel Burris, progenitor of the Burke Burrouses, settled at Burris Prairie, northeast of Burke near Bald Hill. |
| 1835 | Tom Bradley builds Indian trading post on what came to be called Bradley Prairie |
| Abt. 1847 | James Ashworth arrives from South Louisiana and begins to raise cattle in Pine Valley |
| Bef. 1856 | Jeptha Smith moves from Hancock Co., Mississippi to Pine Valley where he raises cattle. |
| Bef. 1856 | John Jackson Fairchild arrives at Bradley Prairie from Sabine Parish, Louisiana |
| 1859 | James Washington Guinn arrives from Alabama and settles at Homer, and his son Leonidas settles southwest of Bradley Prairie near what later became Ryan Chapel. Leonidas purchases a large tract of land that includes what later became the town of Burke. |
| Bef 1860 | Wiley Weeks settles north of Pine Valley |
| 1866 | Brothers Isaac and John Ryan arrive from Copiah County, Mississippi and found Ryan Chapel Methodist Church between Burke and Pine Valley |
| 1866 | Orange McCarty arrives from Clarke Co., Mississippi and settles on Jack Creek northwest of Bradley Prairie. |
| 1866 | Martin Vanburen Crager and son Francis arrive from Rapides Parish, Louisiana and settle in the Ryan Chapel area |
| Bef 1870 | William James Arrington arrives from Clarke Co., Mississippi and settle on the western edge of Bradley Prairie. |
| 1881 | Houston East & West Texas Railway arrives at Bradley Prairie and the town of Rhodes is born |
| 1882 | The town of Lufkin is born when the Houston East & West Texas Railway reaches Denman Springs |
| 1883 | Harris Rhodes appointed as postmater of the town of Rhodes |
| 1885 | The name of the town of Rhodes is changed to Burke in honor of railroad survey chief Ed Burke |
| 1885 | Bradley Prairie School founded at "Burke Station" by Arthur Arrington, Berry T. McCarty, and S. J. Havard |
| 1894 | The town of Diboll is founded when T. L. L. Temple arrives from Texarkana and starts Southern Pine Lumber Company |
| 1899 | Burke Methodist Church is organized |
| 1902 | Angelina County votes "dry" in a liquor election, and Burke's two saloons are forced to close |
| 1905 | Burke Baptist Church is organized |
| 1914 | Miss Ina McCall succeeds her father Daniel B. McCall as Burke Postmaster |
| 1920-30 | Robert Weisinger purchases Earl Kellow's garage |
| Abt 1925 | Texas Highway 35 built through Burke |
| Abt 1951 | U. S. Highway 59 built through Burke |
| 1955 | Burke post office downgraded to substation, and Postmaster Miss Ina McCall retires |
| 1964 | The Burke Independent School District is consolidated with Diboll Independent School District |
| 1966 | The City of Burke is incorporated |
| 1966 | The Burke Water Supply Corporation is created |
Sources:
- The History of Angelina County (Curtis Publishing)
- The Handbook of Texas Online, "Burke, Texas"
- The Handbook of Texas Online, "Lufkin, Texas"
- The Handbook of Texas Online, "Diboll, Texas"