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Hickory, North Carolina

City · Population 45,081 · #26 in North Carolina · #913 in the US
Hickory, North Carolina

Hickory is a city in western North Carolina primarily located in Catawba County. The 25th most populous city in the state, it is located approximately 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Charlotte..

Photo & intro: Wikipedia

About Hickory

Set in the western part of North Carolina, Hickory is a thriving city with an estimated population of 45,081.

Officially, Hickory is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 32.29 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,396 residents per square mile.

📰 Hickory News Today

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Hickory Unique

  • One of 5 places in the US named Hickory — but the North Carolina one has a character all its own.
  • Positioned in western North Carolina, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
  • Part of the fabric of North Carolina — one of 776 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

  • The sweet spot: real amenities without big-city congestion.
  • Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 45,081.
  • Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 4 miles.

📍 Neighborhoods in Hickory

Click a neighborhood to see it on the map.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Hickory

  • Casa Aguilar — mexican
  • Granny's Country Kitchen
  • Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings — sandwich
  • Kickback Jack's — american
  • Main Chick Jammin’ Biscuits — breakfast
  • Pho-Topia — vietnamese
  • Starbucks — coffee shop (café)
  • Taste Full Beans — coffee shop (café)
  • The Hickory Cafe & Arcade — american (café)
  • Windy City Grill — brunch

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

  • Catawba Science Center · Museum
  • Hickory Museum of Art · Art gallery
  • Arts & Science Center · Museum
  • Harper House/Hickory History Center · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Hickory

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Hickory

  • Challenger Early College High
  • Clyde Campbell Elementary
  • Grandview Middle
  • Harry M Arndt Middle
  • Hickory High
  • Longview Elementary
  • Mountain View Elementary
  • Northview Middle
  • Oakwood Elementary
  • Ray Childers Elementary
  • Saint Stephens High
  • Snow Creek Elementary
  • W M Jenkins Elementary
  • Webb A Murray Elementary

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

  • Frye Regional Medical Center ★★ (2/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER
  • Catawba Valley Medical Center ★★ (2/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

TypeCity
Population (2024)45,081
Rank in state#26 of 549
Land area32.29 sq mi
Density1,396/sq mi
Coordinates35.7397, -81.3202

🗺️ Map of Hickory