Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city of 44,258 people in Burke County, North Carolina, founded in 1870.
Why visit Hickory
Townapedia lists 35 museums and landmarks, 26 parks and trails, 117 places to eat, 15 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC Hickory 15, Lenoir–Rhyne University, Bolick Historic District and Bost-Burris House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 30°F.
Weather in Hickory
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Hickory
Hickory is a city in western North Carolina primarily located in Catawba County. The 25th most populous city in the state, it is located approximately 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Charlotte.
From the Wikipedia article Hickory, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Lenoir–Rhyne University
School
Private Lutheran university in North Carolina, USA
675 7th Avenue Northeast, Hickory
Carolina Movie Theater
Cinema and theater · 1.2 mi
222 1st Avenue Northwest, Hickory
Hickory Community Theater
Cinema and theater · 1.3 mi
30 3rd Street Northwest, Hickory
Museums and landmarks35
Bolick Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.3 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Bost-Burris House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.3 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Claremont High School Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in Hickory, North Carolina, United States
Clement Geitner House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Dr. Glenn R. Frye House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Elliott–Carnegie Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Carnegie library in North Carolina, US
George Huffman Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Historic farm in North Carolina, United States
Harris Arcade
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic building in North Carolina, US
Hickory Municipal Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic building in North Carolina, US
Hickory Southwest Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Highland School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Listed on the NRHP in Catawba County, North Carolina
Hollar Hosiery Mills-Knit Sox Knitting Mills
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic knitting mill located at Hickory, North Carolina, United Sates
23 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds26
14 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes117
Chili's
Restaurant · Tex-Mex · 2.7 mi
2181 US 70 Southeast, Hickory
Mo 11:00-23:00; Tu 11:00-21:30; We-Su 11:00-23:00
Crosswind Cafe
Cafe · American · 3.9 mi
3101 9th Avenue Drive Northwest, Hickory
Mo-Fr 08:00-15:00; Sa 08:00-14:00
Jim 'N Nick's
Restaurant · Barbecue · 2.1 mi
1687 US 70 SE, Hickory
Mo-Su 11:00-14:30; Mo-Su 16:30-21:00
King Fish & Oyster Bar
Restaurant · Seafood, Burger · 4.2 mi
1607 Fairgrove Church Rd Southeast
Mo off; Tu-Th,Su 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-23:00; Sa 15:00-23:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.6 mi
1186 Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard, Hickory
Mo-Sa 05:00-21:00; Su 05:30-21:00
Taste Full Beans
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Tea · 1.2 mi
29 2nd Street Northwest
Mo-Fr 07:00-18:00; Sa-Su 08:00-18:00
Twin Brother’s Pizza
Restaurant · Burger, American, Pizza, Hot Dog · 4.6 mi
1159 Players Ridge Road
Mo off; Tu-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 11:00-15:00
105 more on the map.
History
Hickory owes its name to the Hickory Tavern, a log structure built in the 1790s underneath a hickory tree. A monument built by the Hickory Tavern chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, resembling an old fireplace with an informational plaque marks the spot today. Per the monument, the tavern stood on a 640-acre tract of land surveyed by Col Christopher W. Beekman on 8 June 1779 and was granted to William McMullen on 28 Oct 1783. The Tavern sat on the north side of a road to Salisbury by way of Sherrill's Ford that had been petitioned by the inhabitants of Rowan County and approved on 10 May 1769 by a meeting of the Rowan County Court.
Henry Link bought the first lot in the area for $45 in 1858. The house he built was later adapted as The 1859 Cafe, a restaurant which closed in 2011.
The first train operated near Hickory Tavern in 1859. In 1868, Dr. Jeremiah Ingold, pastor of Corinth Reformed Church (then known as German Reformed Grace Church), established the Free Academy, the first school in the area. Hickory Tavern was incorporated as a town in 1870. Three years later, its name was officially changed to Hickory. In 1889, it became the City of Hickory.
From the History section of Hickory, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay15
Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hickory
Motel and hotel · 2.9 mi
1725 13th Avenue Drive Northwest, Hickory
Days Inn by Wyndham Conover-Hickory
Motel and hotel · 4.2 mi
1710 Fairgrove Church Road Southeast, Conover
Holiday Inn Express Hickory-Hickory Mart
Motel and hotel · 2.8 mi
2250 US Highway 70 Southeast, Hickory
Churches and places of worship39
First Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Houck's Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
St. Paul's Church and Cemetery
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 6.1 mi
First United Methodist Church of Hickory
Church · United Methodist · 0.7 mi
311 3rd Avenue Northeast, Hickory
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 2.1 mi
750 21st Street Drive Southeast, Hickory
Faith Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.6 mi
2310 16th Street Northeast, Hickory
New Hope Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.8 mi
410 26th Avenue Northeast, Hickory
Shopping30
Gas and EV charging30
Sam's Club Fuel Center
Gas station · 3.2 mi
2435 US 70 Southeast, Hickory
Schools, colleges and libraries40
Healthcare13
Walmart Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.9 mi
2415 Springs Road Northeast, Hickory
Map of Hickory
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 30°F | 3.8 in |
| Feb | 53°F | 33°F | 3.2 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 40°F | 4.1 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 48°F | 4.1 in |
| May | 77°F | 56°F | 3.9 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 4.3 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 68°F | 4.3 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 67°F | 4.6 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 61°F | 3.9 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 49°F | 3.5 in |
| Nov | 60°F | 39°F | 3.6 in |
| Dec | 52°F | 33°F | 3.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Hickory Faa Ap 72301 (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Burke County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-28: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2021-03-03: Tropical Storm Eta (Severe Storm)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- St. Stephens 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- Cornelius 31 mi southeast, about 49 min by car
- Davidson 33 mi southeast, about 53 min by car
- Huntersville 34 mi southeast, about 55 min by car
- Gastonia 35 mi south, about 56 min by car
- Boone 38 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
- Belmont 39 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Concord 45 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Charlotte 46 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Harrisburg 48 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Highland School, Hickory North Carolina, Tyler Grove, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Entrance to Kenworth Historic District Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shuford House Monument, Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shuford House Front, Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lyerly Full Fashioned Mill Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- House in Kenworth Historic District Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Glenn Frye House Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lee and Helen George House Hickory North Carolina, Tyler Grove, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Presbyterian Church, Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Harris Arcade, Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oakwood Cemetery Entrance Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hickory Southwest Downtown Historic District Hickory NC, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hickory Municipal Building Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oakwood Elementary School Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Elliott Carnegie Library, Hickory, North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- John Lentz House Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Piedmont Wagon Company Building Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Moretz House Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- US 70-Blue Star-Hickory NC, Washuotaku, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kroger Sav-On US 70 Hickory, NC (8203822685), Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Houck's Chapel Hickory North Carolina, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hollar Hosiery Mills, Nyttend, Public domain
- 2006-BMW-M5-014 (34676367113), Zafar Khan, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Whisnant Hosiery Mills, Nyttend, Public domain
- Claremont High School Historic District, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Yellow fire hydrant in dirt, Everestnc, CC BY 4.0
- A pink rose September 2026, Everestnc, CC BY 4.0
- Maple Grove (8634530443), Government & Heritage Library, State Library of NC from Raleigh, NC, United States, Public domain
- 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance Steering wheel and pedals, Everestnc, CC BY 4.0
- Ridgeview Public Library former building, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ridgeview Library, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Clement Geitner House, Tylerg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Porsche Macan, Wagon Master Johnson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Piedmont Wagon Company Building (1), William Keener, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Piedmont Wagon Company Building (2), William Keener, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.