[3] The county is named for Edward Burleson, a general and statesman of the Texas Revolution.

Burleson County is part of the College Station-Bryan Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 16,470 people, 6,363 households, and 4,574 families residing in the county.

18.8% were of German, 11.3% American, 10.7% Czech and 6.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.