Hickory is a city located in Catawba County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a Metropolitan Statistical Area of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The Hickory area serves as the home of Bernhardt, Broyhill, Boyles, Classic Leather, Drexel Heritage, Henredon, Hickory Chair and Mitchell Gold furniture companies. Hickory is also headquarters to optical fiber cable makers Corning Cable Systems and Commscope.
Hickory is located at 35°44'16" North, 81°19'42" West (35.737682, -81.328372).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 72.7 km2 (28.1 mi2). 72.7 km2 (28.1 mi2) of it is land and 0.04% is water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 37,222 people, 15,372 households, and 9,361 families residing in the city. The population density is 512.0/km2 (1,326.1/mi2). There are 16,571 housing units at an average density of 227.9/km2 (590.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 77.23% White, 14.09% African American, 0.19% Native American, 3.90% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.08% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. 7.69% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 15,372 households out of which 27.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% are married couples living together, 12.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% are non-families. 32.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.35 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,236, and the median income for a family is $47,522. Males have a median income of $31,486 versus $23,666 for females. The per capita income for the city is $23,263. 11.3% of the population and 8.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Hickory is one of the fastest growing cities in North Carolina other than Durham and High Point.
In the 1790s, a tavern was built in the northwest section of Catawba county. This area became known as Hickory Tavern. This name remained intact for almost 100 years. The city of Hickory was established in 1870. Over 38,000 people reside in this city today. Hickory is the economic, social, and cultural center of the Catawba Valley. As the recipient of numerous awards, including the 1998 Money Magazine's "most livable place to live" (ranked 16th among medium-sized southern cities) and twice-named an "All American City," Hickory continues to attract tourists, families, and industries to this part of the state.
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 epicenter 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 Dimes 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 offical 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.
Source:
HickoryNorthCarolina.com
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