Hickory, North Carolina is a three-time All-America City and the regional hub of a metropolitan area of 365,376 people. Hickory and the metro area have strong transportation, utility, higher education, cultural, and workforce development networks that have produced a robust manufacturing base and extensive medical, retail, service, and residential development. The City and its departments focus on collaborating with existing and new businesses in the development process with an economic development goal to foster economic growth, job creation, and quality of life through attracting and retaining business and industry, providing resources to promote small business development, encouraging tourism, and supporting community revitalization. Visit our Business Development page where we help connect you to resources, such as available properties and development programs.