A conventional definition of Burke is the region served by the Burke post office, which is located in an unincorporated section of Fairfax County, Virginia, in the United States (Zip Code 22015), which is located near Fairfax, VA area. Burke is comprised of two census-designated places (CDPs): the Burke CDP, which had a population of 41,055 in 2010 and the Burke Centre CDP, which had a population of 17,326 in 2010.

The Fairfax County Public School System is responsible for the education of elementary and secondary school students in Burke. White Oaks, Terra Centre, Fairview, and Cherry Run are the primary elementary schools in Burke, however children also attend Ravensworth, Kings Park/Kings Glen, and Sangster. Many students in the district attend Robinson Secondary School, West Springfield High School, and South County Secondary School, however Lake Braddock Secondary School is the only secondary school in the town of Burke.

The Pohick Regional Library, the Burke Centre Library, and the Kings Park Library are all operated by the Fairfax County Public Library, which is located in the CDP.

Burke Lake Park, located along the borders of neighboring Fairfax Station, is an 888-acre (3.59 km2) park centered on a 218-acre (0.88 km2) recreational lake that spans the park’s perimeter. Campsites, a jogging trail, many picnic and sports areas, an 18-hole par-three golf course with driving range, a disc golf course, a miniature golf course, boat rentals, an amphitheater, an ice cream parlor, a carousel, and a miniature train ride are all available at the park.

Beginning in April and continuing until the end of December, the Burke Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Burke Centre VRE station from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Every September, the Burke Center conducts a two-day fall festival that takes place on the grounds of the center. Every October, Burke Nursery & Garden Center organizes a Pumpkin Playground for children.

It was once a component of the Burke CDP, but it is now a separate census-designated area. Burke Centre is a planned town that encompasses 1,700 acres. It is located west of Burke and is subdivided into five subcommunities: The Commons, The Landings, The Oaks, The Ponds, and The Woods. The Commons is the largest of the five subcommunities.

Rolling Valley West, Burke Village I & II, Lakepointe, Longwood Knolls, Burke Lake Meadows, Edgewater, Lake Braddock, Signal Hill, Crownleigh, and Cherry Run, as well as Burke Station Square, are some of the other significant neighborhoods in the Burke area.

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