Hickory is located in the western part of the State of North Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 50 miles northwest of Charlotte, 80 miles east of Asheville and 35 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The central city of North Carolina's fourth largest MSA (estimated 2003 population - 348,360), Hickory's current population is estimated to be 39,018. The City spans approximately 28 square miles and resides in the prime juncture of Interstate 40 and US 321 that makes it an excellent location for industrial, retail and residential development. Citizens enjoy the advantages of a setting that allows easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Catawba chain of lakes, including Hickory, James, Rhodhiss, Lookout Shoals and Norman, a mild climate, and excellent interstate, rail and air access. The City enjoys a top rated library system and an unparalleled cultural offerings for a city of this size. For more information about Hickory please consult the resources on our web site, visit the on line offerings of our tourism and cultural partners, or contact Todd Hefner, Economic Development Manager.

File: Hickory MSA 2000 Census Demographics
File: Catawba County 2000 Census Demographics
File: City of Hickory 2000 Census Demographics
File: List of Websites to Other Data & Variety of Topics
File: Supplementary Information on Hickory

For information on Arts & History - see the links below.