Where is Hickory, North Carolina, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Hickory Located? - Hickory is a city located in the Catawba, Burke, Caldwell County of North Carolina, United States. Hickory lies between 36.9033581 Degrees North latitudes and 104.4391532 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Hickory, North Carolina

Where is Hickory, North Carolina

Hickory Map, North Carolina, USA

Where is Hickory?: The Google Map showing the location of Hickory in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

Where is Hickory Located?

Hickory is a city located in the Catawba, Burke, Caldwell County of North Carolina, United States. Hickory lies between 36.9033581 Degrees North latitudes and 104.4391532 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Hickory city is 43490 people and the city has a total area of 29.64 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Hickory, North Carolina Quick Facts

PropertyInformation
CityHickory
CountyCatawba County (primarily), Burke County, Caldwell County
StateNorth Carolina
State CapitalRaleigh
US RegionSouthern United States
Latitude35.7345° N
Longitude81.3445° W
Elevation1,188 ft (362 m)
Land Area30.73 sq mi
Water Area0.47 sq mi
Total Area31.20 sq mi
Population (latest Census year)43,490 (2020 Census)
Population Density (per sq mi)1,415
ZIP Codes28601, 28602, 28603
Area Code828
Time Zone StandardEastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−5)
Time Zone DaylightEastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code37-31060
Congressional DistrictNorth Carolina's 10th Congressional District

Transportation and Connectivity in Hickory, North Carolina

Category Information
Airport NameHickory Regional Airport
IATA CodeHKY
PortNot Applicable
Major HighwaysInterstate 40, U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 321, NC Highway 127
Train/Amtrak ServiceNo passenger rail service; nearest Amtrak station is Charlotte
Local Bus/Transit ServiceGreenway Public Transportation
  • Interstate 40 is the primary east-west corridor connecting Hickory with Asheville, Statesville, Winston-Salem, and the Piedmont region.
  • U.S. Route 321 links the city with Lenoir, Blowing Rock, Gastonia, and Interstate 85.
  • U.S. Route 70 provides regional access to Conover, Newton, Marion, and neighboring communities.
  • North Carolina Highway 127 serves as a major north-south route through Hickory's commercial and residential districts.

Top Places to Visit in Hickory, North Carolina

Landmark Name Type
Hickory Museum of ArtArt Museum
Catawba Science CenterScience Museum
Baker's Mountain ParkNature Park
Glenn C. Hilton Jr. Memorial ParkCommunity Park
Lake HickoryLake
Hickory Aviation MuseumMuseum
Union SquareDowntown District
L.P. Frans StadiumSports Venue
SALT BlockArts and Cultural Center
Riverbend ParkPark

Driving Distances from Hickory, North Carolina to Nearby Cities

City State Distance (mi) Approx. Drive Time
ConoverNorth Carolina510 min
NewtonNorth Carolina1015 min
LenoirNorth Carolina1825 min
MorgantonNorth Carolina2430 min
LincolntonNorth Carolina3140 min
StatesvilleNorth Carolina3235 min
BooneNorth Carolina491 hr
GastoniaNorth Carolina521 hr
CharlotteNorth Carolina581 hr
AshevilleNorth Carolina771 hr 20 min

Colleges and Universities in Hickory, North Carolina

Institution Name Type Level Notable For
Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityPrivateUniversityLiberal arts, business, and health sciences
Catawba Valley Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeCareer, technical, and transfer programs
Appalachian State University – Hickory CampusPublicUniversityGraduate and professional education
Gardner-Webb University – Hickory CampusPrivateUniversityAdult, graduate, and professional programs
Catawba County SchoolsPublicK–12 DistrictPrimary and secondary public education

Waterbodies in Hickory, North Carolina

Lake Hickory, Catawba River, Henry Fork River, Lower Creek, Gunpowder Creek, Lake Rhodhiss, Oxford Reservoir, Glenn C. Hilton Lake.

Golf Courses in Hickory, North Carolina

Rock Barn Country Club & Spa, Lake Hickory Country Club, Catawba Country Club, Oliver's Landing Golf Club, Hampton Heights Golf Course, Glen Oaks Golf Club.

Hickory, North Carolina — Key Historical Facts

  • Hickory was founded in the mid-nineteenth century around a tavern built near a large hickory tree, from which the community received its name.
  • The arrival of the Western North Carolina Railroad in the 1850s transformed Hickory into an important transportation and manufacturing center.
  • During the twentieth century, the city became nationally recognized for its furniture manufacturing, textile production, and fiber-optic industries.
  • Hickory gained national attention in the 1940s through the "Miracle of Hickory," when the community rapidly built and operated an emergency hospital during the polio epidemic.
  • Today, Hickory is a major economic and cultural hub of western North Carolina, known for advanced manufacturing, higher education, outdoor recreation, and its vibrant downtown district.

References

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