The City of Hickory is located in the western portion of North Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 50 miles northwest of Charlotte, 80 miles east of Asheville, and 35 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The anchor city of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton MSA (2023 population of 370,030), Hickory’s population was 44,415 according to US Census Bureau QuickFacts July 1, 2024 (V2024) estimates.

Hickory’s daytime population swells to an average of over 176,000 daily visitors spending at least a half an hour in the City limits, according to estimates from Placer.ai, a service that estimates foot traffic and migration patterns.

Our trade area has 2 million people that live within a 60 minute drive of Hickory. (source: Placer.ai). 

Hickory spans approximately 30 square miles and resides at the prime juncture of I-40 and U.S. 321, which makes it an excellent location for industrial, retail, and residential development. Citizens enjoy the advantages of a setting that allows easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains; the Catawba chain of lakes, including Hickory, James, Rhodhiss, Lookout Shoals, and Norman; a mild climate; and excellent interstate, rail, and air access. The City operates a top-rated library system and provides unparalleled cultural offerings for a city of this size.

This data was updated in April 2025. For more recent statistics, please contact the Office of Business Development at (828) 323-7414.