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Interesting Facts
- Resting at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hickory incorporates not only part of Catawba County but portions of nearby Caldwell and Burke Counties. The city proper has a population of over 50,000, although the numbers rise to almost 350,000 when you factor in nearby towns for the metropolitan count. When lumped with its adjacent counties, Hickory is often referred to as the Unifour area.
- In the late 18th-century, an early settler acquired a parcel of land in what would later become Catawba County. There, he established a log-cabin tavern, which came to be called Hickory Tavern, after either the logs themselves or after a tree that stood nearby. Over time, travelers came to know the area by that name, and the town that grew up around it took the tavern's moniker as its own. Eventually, the latter part of the name was dropped, and Hickory officially became a city in the 1880s.
- For many years, Hickory has been known for industries centered around furniture-making, textiles, and hosiery. Those businesses still maintain a strong presence in the region, helping the Unifour achieve a ranking of fourth-largest metropolitan area in the state.
- Hickory's streets maintain a bit of small town charm, which can be disarming to newcomers. One-way routes in downtown can at times be trying, and the fact that many streets bear similar names (differentiated only by Court, Lane, Drive, Street, or a directional suffix) can cause some consternation as well. Still, it's not hard to get assistance from friendly residents. The only drawback is that their directions may depend on knowledge of landmarks like churches, crossroads, and the like!
- Among the Catawba Valley's many furniture manufacturers is Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams. The successful, start-up company tapped into the slipcover craze early on and has since become affiliated with such home-furnishings heavyweights as Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams stands as one of the newer additions to Hickory's manufacturing scene, which includes Hancock & Moore, Broyhill, Hickory Chair, and King Hickory.
- A unique feature of local religion in Catawba County is the prominence of camp meetings. Affiliated with the Methodist faith, these gatherings originated in the 19th century, when ministers were not as common as they are today. Folks chose a location to gather, worship, and socialize for a week or two in the summer, coming together to share their beliefs and community. Now, more than a hundred years later, camp meetings are still held each August, and anyone interested may attend. Permanent quarters have been built at many of the sites, which include Balls Creek, Motts Grove, and McKenzie's Grove Campgrounds.
- Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory's hometown school, was founded in 1891 and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The private institution provides a liberal arts education to its 1600 students, along with a 100-acre, park-like campus. Over sixty undergraduate majors are available, along with a handful of masters degree concentrations. Athletic teams participate in NCAA Division II's South Atlantic Conference.
- Along with Hickory's many claims to fame is Margaret Sparkman. Known fondly as "the gourd lady," she has garnered a reputation for her ability to paint gourds, transforming them into folk-art conversation pieces. For decades now, Margaret has delighted folks with this unusual hobby and her own magnanimous personality. She's even been featured on local news shows and on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.
- Who says technology is only the domain of large cities? Hickory's public library has the distinction of being the first such facility in North America to capitalize on smart-card technology. The card not only lets you check out books but controls money in your account, allows Internet access, and holds in its memory computer-surfing preferences. First used in athletic arenas, it's a great source of independence for patrons and library staff alike.
- Through the years, many organizations and publications have confirmed what local residents already know – that Hickory's a great place to live! The community has twice been named an "All-America City" and has been noted by Reader's Digest as one of the ten best places to live in the nation. In addition, the Unifour area has been designated by "Inc." magazine as a great place to start a business. In the words of the city's past motto, Hickory is indeed a "best balanced city."
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