Burden is a city in Cowley County, Kansas, United States.

[3] In 1879, in anticipation of the coming of the Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern Railroad, a town was surveyed and laid out by a local company.

[4][5] The railroad, whose name changed to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, arrived on February 1, 1882, making Burden one of its stations and shipping points.

[8] A school that had been one mile north of Burden was relocated to the town in the summer of 1881.

[10] The 2020 United States census counted 512 people, 189 households, and 135 families in Burden.

There were 223 housing units at an average density of 431.3 per square mile (166.5/km2).

25.4% of households consisted of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 1.7% Native American, and 1.1% from two or more races.

23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The community is served by Central USD 462 public school district.