Hickory

Hickory is a city at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, spanning three counties. The area includes 26 parks connected by bike paths that bring green space into developed neighborhoods.

The settlement grew around a tavern built beneath a hickory tree during the 1850s. In 1889 it gained official city status and developed into a furniture manufacturing center.

Local heritage shows in the furniture-making workshops that still operate in former industrial buildings downtown. Residents gather at farmers markets and community events that reflect the city's long connection to craftsmanship and regional agriculture.

Several fixed bus routes operated by Greenway Public Transportation connect different parts of town and neighboring communities. The bike trails linking parks provide an alternative way to move around and orient yourself within the city.

During a polio outbreak in 1944, residents built an emergency hospital in fewer than 54 hours. This rapid community mobilization showed how local cooperation responded to a public health crisis.

Location: Catawba County

Location: Caldwell County

Inception: 1870

Elevation above the sea: 362 m

Website: https://hickorync.gov

GPS coordinates: 35.73333,-81.34429

Latest update: December 14, 2025 22:15