Founded 1842 Population 154,810 (2013) | Area 1,070 km² Unemployment rate 5.2% (Apr 2015) | |
Website www.catawbacountync.gov Points of interest Bunker Hill Covered Bridge, Kiwanis Park, Riverbend Park ‑ Catawba, Henry Fork River Park, Hickory Museum of Art | ||
Catawba County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 154,810. Its county seat is Newton, and its largest city is Hickory.
Contents
- Map of Catawba County NC USA
- History
- Law and government
- Geography
- Adjacent counties
- Demographics
- Education
- Higher education
- Libraries
- Museums and libraries
- Sports and entertainment
- Music and performing arts
- Other attractions
- Air
- Mass transit
- Rail
- Communities
- Towns
- Census designated places
- Unincorporated communities
- Sports and entertainment figures
- Other
- References
Map of Catawba County, NC, USA
Catawba County is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Catawba County is part of the data center corridor. Maiden is home to the Apple iCloud data center, and Conover is home to the ncDataCampus, and the largest privately owned solar farm in the United States operated by Apple.
Conover is also home to the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn.
History
The county was formed in 1842 from Lincoln County. It was named for the Catawba tribe of Native Americans, who once inhabited the area. German Lutheran farmers settled the area in the 1700s.
Law and government
Catawba County is a member of the regional Western Piedmont Council of Governments.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 413 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 399 square miles (1,030 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (3.6%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 154,358 people, 55,533 households, and 39,095 families residing in the county. The population density was 354 people per square mile (137/km²). There were 59,919 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile (58/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.1% White, 8.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 1.14% from two or more races, 9.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 55,533 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,536, and the median income for a family was $47,474. Males had a median income of $30,822 versus $23,352 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,358. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Higher education
Libraries
Museums and libraries
Sports and entertainment
Music and performing arts
Other attractions
Air
The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Hickory Regional Airport.
Mass transit
Rail
With approximately twenty freight trains a day, Catawba County is a freight railroad transportation center. This is largely due to the areas strong manufacturing based economy, and its placement along the Norfolk Southern Railway line. The Caldwell County Railroad also serves the county and interchanges with Norfolk Southern in Hickory.
Conover has been designated as the Catawba County passenger rail stop for the Western North Carolina Railroad planned to run from Salisbury, NC to Asheville.
Communities
Cities