Hickory is a city in Catawba County,
North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties...
. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a
Metropolitan Statistical AreaThe Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties in the Catawba Valley region of western North Carolina...
population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222 at the
2000 censusThe Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The MSA, which includes Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba counties, is often referred to as the "Unifour," although this name is largely unknown outside the region.
In the 1850s, under a huge Hickory Tree, a man by the name of Henry Robinson built a tavern of logs.
Hickory is a city in Catawba County,
North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties...
. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a
Metropolitan Statistical AreaThe Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties in the Catawba Valley region of western North Carolina...
population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222 at the
2000 censusThe Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The MSA, which includes Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba counties, is often referred to as the "Unifour," although this name is largely unknown outside the region.
History
In the 1850s, under a huge Hickory Tree, a man by the name of Henry Robinson built a tavern of logs. The city of "Hickory Tavern" was established in 1863 and the name was eventually changed to "Hickory" in 1873.
The first train operated in the city of "Hickory Tavern" in 1859. The first lot was sold to Henry Link for $45.00 in 1858. His house is now known as "The 1859 Cafe." The community of Hickory was the first for many things in North Carolina including the council-manager form of government it adopted in 1913. Hickory was also one of the first towns to install electric lights in 1888 and a complete sewage system in 1904.
In 1868, Dr. Jeremiah Ingold, pastor of the German Reformed Grace Charge, established Hickory's first school, the Free Academy.
In 1891, Lenoir-Rhyne University (then Highland Academy) was founded by four Lutheran pastors with 12 initial students.
Hickory is also home to one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in the United States that is still located and operated on the original site. Hickory White, formerly known as Hickory Manufacturing Company, was built in 1902 and has been in continuous operation ever since. During
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the factory made ammunition boxes for the U.S. Military instead of furniture.
Hickory was known in the years after World War II for the "Miracle of Hickory." In 1944 the area around Hickory (the Catawba Valley) became the center of one of the worst outbreaks of polio ever recorded. Residents who were then children recall summers of not being allowed to play outside or visit friends for fear of contracting the disease. Since local facilities were inadequate to treat the victims, the citizens of Hickory and the
March of DimesMarch of Dimes is a United States health charity whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality....
decided to build a hospital to care for the children of the region. From the time the decision was made until equipment, doctors, and patients were in a new facility, took less than 54 hours. Several more buildings were quickly added. A Red Cross official on the scene praised the project "as the most outstanding example of cooperative effort he has ever seen." (Hickory Daily Record, June 30, 1944) Although few good references are available online, an interesting side to this story is found
here.
Hickory is home to the
Hickory CrawdadsThe Hickory Crawdads are a Minor League Baseball team in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2009. Previously, they were a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Crawdads play home games...
, an affiliate of baseball's
Texas RangersThe Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Rangers have played in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, located in...
, in the Class-A
South Atlantic LeagueThe South Atlantic League, or "Sally League," is a minor league baseball league which operates mostly in the southeastern United States, although it has a team in New Jersey...
Geography
Hickory is located at (35.737682, -81.328372).
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 28.1 square miles (72.7 km²), of which, 28.1 square miles (72.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04% is water.
Economy
The Hickory area is home to many leading manufacturers of furniture and fiber optic cable. It is estimated that 60% of the nation's furniture used to be produced within a radius of Hickory. Forty percent of the world's fiber optic cable is made in the Hickory area.
Awards and recognition
Hickory has been named an "All-America City" three times. The All-America City Award is given annually to only ten cities in the United States. It is a very prestigious award that represents a communities ability to work together and achieve critical local issues. Hickory won this award in 2007, as well as, 1967 and 1987.
The Hickory Metro area has also been named the 10th best place to live and raise a family in the United States by Readers Digest.
The MSA (Hickory, Lenoir, Morganton) has been named 3rd best MSA in the country for business cost by Forbes Magazine.
Colleges and universities
- Catawba Valley Community College
Catawba Valley Community College is a public community college in Hickory, North Carolina. The college, established April 3, 1958, is part of the North Carolina Community College System...
- Lenoir-Rhyne University
- HMHEC
HMHEC was a collaborative partnership of colleges and universities in western North Carolina. HMHEC's mission was to support and enhance the educational attainment and economic development of the region by offering a broad range of programming in targeted areas of study for students of all ages...
- Higher education center hosting regional universities' programs
Public schools
- Catawba County Schools
Catawba County Schools, also known as The Catawba County Schools Administrative Unit, is a school district in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States.-High schools:*Bandys High School*Bunker Hill High School*Catawba Rosenwald Education Center...
- Hickory Public Schools
- Newton-Conover City Schools
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 37,222 people, 15,372 households, and 9,361 families residing in the city. There were 16,571 housing units at an average density of 640.4/sq mi (227.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.23% White, 14.09% Black, 0.19% Native American, 3.90% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.08% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.69% of the population.
There were 15,372 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,236, and the median income for a family was $47,522. Males had a median income of $31,486 versus $23,666 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $23,263. About 8.4% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
364,759 people live within of Hickory; 1.8 million people within of Hickory.
Media
- Catawba Valley Citizen is an online news service, based in Hickory.
- The Hickory Daily Record
Hickory Daily Record is a newspaper based in Hickory, North Carolina. It is owned by Media General.
...
is published 7 days a week.
- Focus Newspaper is a weekly publication that is distributed freely and focuses on entertainment in the area.
- WHKY, 1290 AM, is a radio station that features a news-talk format.
- WAIZ
WAIZ is a radio station broadcasting a Oldies format to the Hickory, North Carolina, USA area. The station is currently owned by Newton-Conover Communications, Inc....
, "63 Big Ways", 630 AM, is a radio station that features 50's and 60's oldies and recreates the format of Charlotte Top 40 legend "61 Big Ways"
- Local television station is WHKY-TV
WHKY-TV is an independent television station based out of Hickory, North Carolina. It broadcasts on UHF digital channel 40 and is seen on cable channel 7 on Charter Communications cable systems and channel 18 on Time Warner Cable systems in the Charlotte area. It is owned and operated by Long...
, channel 14.
Notable residents
The following notable people are or have been residents of the Hickory area:
- James Best
James Best is an American actor best known for his role as bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the CBS television series The Dukes of Hazzard.-Career:...
- actor
- Eric Church
Kenneth Eric Church is a country music artist. Signed to Capitol Records in 2006, Church released his debut album Sinners Like Me that year. This album produced three Top 20 country hits in "How 'Bout You", "Two Pink Lines" and "Guys Like Me", as well as a #51 in its title track...
- country musicCountry music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains...
singer
- Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver. He is the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion and the son of two-time NASCAR Grand National Champion Ned Jarrett. He is the younger brother of Glenn Jarrett, a former NASCAR driver himself and pit commentator. He is also the father of former...
- NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Driver
- Daniel Johnson
Daniel H. Johnson is a former assistant district attorney in Wake County, North Carolina and a veteran of the United States Navy who received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for saving the life of a crewmate on the USS Blue Ridge in 1999...
, recipient of the Navy/Marine Corps Medal and former candidate for Congress
- Pauletta Pearson Washington
Pauletta Pearson Washington is an American actress.In 1983, she married actor Denzel Washington, whom she met on the set of the 1977 made-for-television movie Wilma....
- wife of actor Denzel WashingtonDenzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director and film producer. He has garnered much critical acclaim for his work in film since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures, such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin Carter, Melvin B...
- Jon Reep
Jon Reep is an American stand-up comedian and actor, known as the "That thing got a Hemi?" guy in Dodge commercials, and more recently as the winner of the fifth season of Last Comic Standing on NBC.-Early life:...
- comedian
- Matthew Settle
Jeffrey Matthew Settle is an American actor best known for playing Captain Ronald Speirs on the HBO show Band of Brothers and Rufus Humphrey on Gossip Girl.-Career:...
- actor
- Jim Shumate - fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, including the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
r, BluegrassBluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of country music. It has roots in Irish, West African, Scottish, Welsh and English traditional music. Bluegrass was inspired by the music of immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland , and African-Americans, particularly...
music pioneer
- Ryan Succop
Ryan B. Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft....
- footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
player for the Kansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
- Madison Bumgarner
Madison Bumgarner is a left-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Bumgarner is listed 6'4" and 215 pounds and has a fastball that has been clocked between 89-95 MPH...
- Pitcher for San Francisco Giants
Sister cities
The Western Piedmont region, including Hickory, is sister city to
AltenburgAltenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
, Germany.
External links