N.C. Personal Injury Attorney
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina encompasses 28 square miles and occupies a portion of Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties. As of the 2000 Census, Hickory had a population of 37,222. Hickory ranks among NC's fastest growing cities. Such notable residents as Dale Jarrett and Matthew Settle have called Hickory their home at one time or another.
Hickory stakes claim to the busy corridor where Interstate 40, US Highway 70 and US Highway 321 converge. This strategic location includes easy access to many busy commercial markets in the region. Hickory lies just 50 miles northwest of Charlotte, 70 miles east of Asheville and 90 miles west of Greensboro.
Hickory anchors the economic and geographic heart of the Greater Hickory Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (population 341,000). This heavily concentrated industrial region houses the headquarters of 40 firms, which bring in more than $500 million in sales each year. According to Reader’s Digest, the Hickory Metro Area ranks as the nation's 10th Best Place to Live and Raise a Family.
Hickory and the surrounding 200-mile radius once supplied nearly 60% of the country's furniture needs. Widely known companies such as Broyhill, Classic Leather and Drexel Heritage operate facilities in this region. Such a broad concentration of furniture related businesses earned Hickory the title of "Furniture Capital of the World."
In addition to the furniture manufacturing sites, Hickory provides potential buyers with some of the nation's finest furniture shopping opportunities. Downtown Hickory boasts numerous specialty shops, such as the Hickory Antiques Mall. The Hickory Furniture Mart hosts more than 100 retailers, earning a ranking among the top furniture shopping sites in the region. In addition, more than 40% of the world's fiber optic cable originates in the Hickory area.
Hickory lies within the Western Piedmont region, with the foothills of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. Hickory teems with cultural and recreational activities. Hickory also has a temperate climate with an average year-round temperature of 69 degrees, which, when combined with the recreational opportunities, leads the way to a strong tourist industry.
Popular destinations include the renowned Blue Ridge Parkway, the Catawba Science Center, events at the Hickory Motor Speedway, Hickory Museum of Art, Lake Hickory and the performances of the Western Piedmont Symphony. Hickory is also a PGA Tour stop for the Greater Hickory Classic held at the Rock Barn Golf and Spa each year.
Citizens of Hickory enjoy all the amenities of a bustling urban community, with excellent schools and their choice of three higher learning facilities. These include Catawba Valley Community College, Lenoir-Rhyne University and Hickory Metro Higher Ed Center, a center for higher learning that hosts the programs of regional universities. Hickory also boasts crime rates that fall below NC's average and a reasonable cost of living.
Hickory, North Carolina provides an idyllic locale for vacationing, while catering to the diverse needs of those who live and work here. Renowned for southern hospitality and an impressive selection of furniture wares, this Blue Ridge Mountain community has carved a solid and unique niche for itself.
