Pick your place.
Catawba County is home to a variety of communities and neighborhoods that provide great places to live, raise a family and retire. Whether you’re seeking city life, suburban connectivity, historic character or a few quiet acres in the countryside, you’ll find it in Catawba County. Learn more about our cities and towns below.
Cities and Towns
City of Hickory
If you are looking for a life that’s well crafted, Hickory is the place to be. From delectable farm-to-table restaurants, outdoor adventures on Lake Hickory, and eclectic downtown shops, to a growing craft beer scene and an arts and cultural community to rival that of cities more than twice its size, Hickory offers a unique experience that enthralls residents and attracts visitors from all around.
The regional hub for commerce and recreation, Hickory continues to evolve and reinvent itself, capturing the attention and affection of people and publications far beyond its borders. Hickory was recently recognized by National Geographic Travel as one of the Best Small Cities in America for 2018 and by Forbes Magazine for being ranked first in the nation for lowest business costs, at 23% below the U.S. average. Hickory is located between Charlotte and Asheville at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along I-40, where a collective spirit of craftsmanship strengthens any endeavor with detail, artistry, and quality.
Hickory has a history of craftsmanship. Hickory's past and future prospects have drawn to this place a people with an eye for detail and a hand for hard work, a passion for making something of themselves and of the future. A city for doers and makers seeking a well-rounded community, Hickory is the perfect place to work, live, and raise a family.
Hickory truly offers the perfect balance of large city amenities and small town charm. From furniture capitol to fiber optic center, natural wonder to fine arts splendor, recreational heaven to entertainment haven, small town values to big city drive… the people of Hickory have crafted a living and a life that's rich in both tradition and promise. Hickory is Life. Well Crafted!
City of Newton
Celebrating its Brilliant Legacy + Bright Future, Newton has created an enviable living environment offering friendly neighborhoods and hospitable businesses, shops, and restaurants. The city embraces effective public-private collaboration to promote business development and preserve the friendly atmosphere of the downtown business district, which is experiencing a major streetscape revitalization to include widened sidewalks, an outdoor amphitheatre, bike lanes, and improved outdoor spaces that will make the heart of the city even more engaging.
On the 1924 Courthouse Square in the downtown area, visitors can get a sense of Newton’s past at the Catawba County Museum of History, where the region’s story is artfully displayed in the unique setting of the former Catawba County Courthouse, an imposing National Register Renaissance Revival structure. Other attractions include the Old Post Office Playhouse, the Historic Newton Depot and Museum, and the Newton-Conover Auditorium. The Newton Parks and Recreation Department helps advance the attractiveness of the community and its quality of life through a diverse and comprehensive program of recreational, educational, and cultural programs for both old and young alike.
City of Conover
Conover was founded in 1876 as the “Y” intersection of the railroad traversing North Carolina. The City has a rich industrial heritage with a clear focus on innovation for the future. Conover’s central location in Catawba County, as well is its excellent accessibility to major thoroughfares, makes it a favorable location for residents, commerce, manufacturing, and logistic operations. Conover works to deliver excellent services and maintain a clean and attractive city.
In recent years, Conover has strived to be a leader in revitalization and improving citizen quality of life. Several major projects have taken place, including the award-winning redevelopment of a downtown former factory into Conover Station. The project includes a six-acre environmental educational public park with playgrounds, trails, and an interactive splash pad. Just next door in a LEED certified, 1918 renovated former mill building is the Conover Branch Library, community center, and the NC Works Career Center. With a focus on recreation, Conover has more than doubled its public park space in recent years, added over two miles of walking trail/greenway to the Carolina Thread Trail system, and established bike lanes through the heart of town.
Home to a number of regular events such as a summer evening concert series “Conover Alive” as well as 5k races and other community gatherings, families will find many opportunities to enjoy the City of Conover.
City of Claremont
Situated on the eastern side of Catawba County, Claremont is a progressive city dedicated to preserving small-town values while planning for the future. The City was founded in 1893 and is proud to provide exceptional and cost-effective services with a welcoming atmosphere for business growth. In Claremont, you will find a skilled workforce with a rich manufacturing heritage and a world-class support system of education and business.
Claremont is a great place to Live, Work and Play. We pride ourselves on having free, fun-filled family events throughout the year in the City Park, on Main Street and around our beautiful Fire Department. The events kick-off with an annual Easter Egg Hunt in the City Park where over 6,000 eggs are stuffed with goodies along with face painting, inflatables and other spring-time fun. Touch-A-Truck is held in April with kids and adults gathering to explore vehicles like fire trucks, ambulances, tractors and construction equipment. Beautiful Memorial and Veterans Day services are held at the City’s memorial wall in the park, spring and fall city-wide yard sales happen every year and seniors are treated to a Christmas dinner every December. Claremont Daze is the largest of the yearly events lasting two days in October. Vendors of all kinds fill Main Street, and two stages host some of the area’s best gospel, beach, popular, bluegrass and country music. The last two events of the year, a Halloween Festival and a very popular Christmas Parade, help Claremont see almost triple its population on those days. The citizens and neighbors of Claremont love to get out and about at all of the events in the city!
The City of Claremont is a logistical hub providing all the big city services you want and need, with a healthy dose of small-town charm. Claremont’s International Business Park is served by Norfolk Southern Rail and boasts a variety of large manufacturing companies. Large industries include CommScope, CertainTeed, Prysmian, Poppelman Plastics, Advance Pierre Foods, Williams-Sonoma and Cargo Transporters. The City has plans to expand into a second phase with a 187-acre Claremont International Rail Park site. The City is proud of its impressive manufacturing footprint.
If you are looking for the perfect place to raise a family, you can find that in Claremont with its wonderful neighbors and small-town charm. While Claremont has a residential population of approximately 1,400, the City’s large industrial presence results in a daytime population of almost 5,000. Claremont’s focus on recreational activities, our large industrial presence, and our commitment to quality services make it the perfect place to Live, Work and Play.
Town of Brookford
Brookford is bordered by the City of Hickory and the Mountain View community. The town is located on hills on the north side of the Henry Fork River. The historic Brookford Community Building is a central gathering point for community events.
Town of Maiden
Maiden is a quaint small town where residents enjoy the advantages of living in a small, close-knit community that is easily accessible to larger-city amenities. With safe streets and welcoming establishments, Maiden is known for its historic neighborhoods, community gatherings, and Friday night football games. It’s also home to Siri (well, not really, but it is home to an Apple data center) and many other large companies who benefit from the Town’s convenient location. The Town coordinates year-round recreational opportunities, festivals, parades, and other town-wide events that bring the community together.
Town of Long View
The town of Long View is located in northwestern Catawba County and extends into Burke County.The Town of Long View was thought to have been named by Sam D. Campbell, a prominent contractor and real estate dealer who helped build the old Piedmont Wagon Company building in Hickory. The story goes that one day while standing at his former home, where the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company building is today, Mr. Campbell gazed down the Southern Railway track toward Hickory and remarked, "It's a long view." The name stuck.
The Town of Long View is a mix of businesses and neighborhoods with a variety of housing options. The Long View Recreation Center offers community programs and hosts an annual May Day Festival featuring food, family activities, children’s rides, bands, and craft vendors.
Town of Catawba
Catawba is a small town in the heart of Catawba County and is one of only two municipalities in Catawba County bordering the Catawba River. Surrounded by outlying neighborhoods and farms, its charming downtown gives Catawba its distinctive, historic character. Downtown is central to community gatherings as well, including annual holiday and Veterans Day celebrations. Catawba offers something for everyone – whether you enjoy a nice picnic in the park, boating on the Catawba River, a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, or a delicious southern-style meal.
Unincorporated Areas
Mountain View
Mountain View is an unincorporated suburban-rural area in western Catawba County bordered by the towns of Brookford and Long View. The area is comprised of a variety of neighborhoods, businesses, retail centers and farms and is home to Mountain View Elementary School. The area is conveniently located near the juncture of Interstate 40 and Highway 321. Mountain View is so named due to the presence of Bakers Mountain, the highest elevation point in Catawba County and home to 189 acres of dedicated County parkland.
St. Stephens
St. Stephens is located in in northern Catawba County. It is bordered on the west by the City of Hickory, on the south by the City of Conover, and on the north by the Catawba River and Alexander County. The area is primarily residential with easy access to schools, retail and nearby cities.
Southeastern Catawba County
Southeastern Catawba County is comprised of the unincorporated communities of Sherrills Ford, Terrell, Monbo, and Long Island. The area is located along the Catawba River and contains many miles of Lake Norman shoreline. Bordered by Highway 150 and Highway 16, this part of the County is just north of Lincoln County and across the lake from the City of Mooresville in Iredell County. With several neighborhoods and homes on Lake Norman, the Sherrills Ford area contains the highest-income census tracts in the county.
Considered a bedroom community of Charlotte due to its interstate proximity, this area is currently enjoying a boom in housing and retail development including the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Library, the new Bridgewater DR Horton neighborhood, and the Village at Sherrills Ford retail center. This area is also home to Catawba County’s future Mountain Creek Park, a nearly 600-acre recreational space being developed on the tip of Lake Norman featuring mountain biking and hiking trails, canoe and kayak access, and other amenities.
Southwestern Catawba County: Vale
The Vale area, centered across the western border in Lincoln County, extends into southwestern Catawba County. Its makeup is primarily rural, featuring homes, acreage, and large sprawling farms nestled among rolling hills. One of Vale’s most notable assets it Hart Square, the country’s largest collection of original, historical log structures. Its annual festival is among the best-attended in the area.
