Catawba County | |
|---|---|
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 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
| Motto: "Making. Living. Better." | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina | |
 North Carolina's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:35°40′N81°13′W / 35.66°N 81.21°W /35.66; -81.21 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1842 |
| Named after | Catawba Tribe |
| Seat | Newton |
| Largest community | Hickory |
| Area | |
• Total | 416.02 sq mi (1,077.5 km2) |
| • Land | 401.37 sq mi (1,039.5 km2) |
| • Water | 14.65 sq mi (37.9 km2) 3.52% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 160,610 |
• Estimate (2024) | 167,054 |
| • Density | 400.15/sq mi (154.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 10th |
| Website | www |
Catawba County (/kəˈtɔːbə/kuh-TAW-buh)[1] is acounty in the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 160,610.[2] Itscounty seat isNewton,[3] and its largest community isHickory.
The county is part of theHickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Catawba County, formed in 1842 fromLincoln County, was named after theCatawba River. The word "catawba" is rooted in theChoctaw soundkat'a pa, loosely translated as "to divide or separate, to break." However, scholars are fairly certain that this word was imposed from outside.[4] The Native Americans who once inhabited the region known as theCatawba people, were considered one of the most powerful SoutheasternSiouan-speaking tribes in the Carolina Piedmont. They now live along the border of North Carolina, near the city ofRock Hill, South Carolina.Scots-Irish andGerman colonial immigrants first settled in the Catawba River valley in the mid-18th century. An official history of the Scots-Irish and German settlement was documented in 1954, by Charles J. Preslar Jr,[5] and more recently by a series of three books by Gary Freeze, calledThe Catawbans.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 416.02 square miles (1,077.5 km2), of which 401.37 square miles (1,039.5 km2) is land and 14.65 square miles (37.9 km2) (3.52%) is water.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 8,862 | — | |
| 1860 | 10,729 | 21.1% | |
| 1870 | 10,984 | 2.4% | |
| 1880 | 14,946 | 36.1% | |
| 1890 | 18,689 | 25.0% | |
| 1900 | 22,133 | 18.4% | |
| 1910 | 27,918 | 26.1% | |
| 1920 | 33,839 | 21.2% | |
| 1930 | 43,991 | 30.0% | |
| 1940 | 54,653 | 24.2% | |
| 1950 | 61,794 | 13.1% | |
| 1960 | 73,191 | 18.4% | |
| 1970 | 90,873 | 24.2% | |
| 1980 | 105,208 | 15.8% | |
| 1990 | 118,412 | 12.6% | |
| 2000 | 141,685 | 19.7% | |
| 2010 | 154,358 | 8.9% | |
| 2020 | 160,610 | 4.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 167,054 | [7] | 4.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010[12] 2020[2] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 116,120 | 72.3% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 12,628 | 7.86% |
| Native American | 379 | 0.24% |
| Asian | 6,937 | 4.32% |
| Pacific Islander | 78 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 7,091 | 4.42% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 17,377 | 10.82% |
As of the2020 census, there were 160,610 people, 62,417 households, and 41,861 families residing in the county.
At the2010 census,[14] 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 people/km2). There were 59,919 housing units at an average density of 150 units per square mile (58 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.1%White, 8.5%Black orAfrican 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 wereHispanic orLatino 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 thepoverty line, including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.
The county has been represented primarily by Republicans sinceWorld War II: no Democratic presidential candidate has won Catawba County sinceFranklin D. Roosevelt in 1944.[15]Jimmy Carter is the last Democrat to manage even 40 percent of the county's vote.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 624 | 24.89% | 1,883 | 75.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 662 | 22.30% | 2,307 | 77.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1888 | 765 | 23.85% | 2,349 | 73.22% | 94 | 2.93% |
| 1892 | 705 | 20.85% | 1,711 | 50.59% | 966 | 28.56% |
| 1896 | 1,004 | 27.27% | 2,649 | 71.94% | 29 | 0.79% |
| 1900 | 1,522 | 46.23% | 1,612 | 48.97% | 158 | 4.80% |
| 1904 | 1,309 | 42.47% | 1,497 | 48.57% | 276 | 8.96% |
| 1908 | 2,010 | 51.42% | 1,864 | 47.68% | 35 | 0.90% |
| 1912 | 203 | 4.85% | 2,110 | 50.38% | 1,875 | 44.77% |
| 1916 | 2,624 | 50.39% | 2,569 | 49.34% | 14 | 0.27% |
| 1920 | 5,935 | 52.34% | 5,404 | 47.66% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 5,998 | 50.32% | 5,754 | 48.28% | 167 | 1.40% |
| 1928 | 7,556 | 60.58% | 4,916 | 39.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 5,817 | 40.56% | 8,446 | 58.90% | 77 | 0.54% |
| 1936 | 6,387 | 36.70% | 11,017 | 63.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 5,656 | 33.49% | 11,233 | 66.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 7,211 | 41.55% | 10,146 | 58.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 9,471 | 47.50% | 8,844 | 44.36% | 1,622 | 8.14% |
| 1952 | 16,814 | 59.27% | 11,554 | 40.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 19,246 | 62.75% | 11,424 | 37.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 19,135 | 58.65% | 13,491 | 41.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 17,116 | 51.98% | 15,814 | 48.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 18,393 | 56.33% | 6,974 | 21.36% | 7,285 | 22.31% |
| 1972 | 24,106 | 74.46% | 7,744 | 23.92% | 525 | 1.62% |
| 1976 | 18,696 | 52.36% | 16,862 | 47.22% | 150 | 0.42% |
| 1980 | 22,873 | 60.39% | 13,873 | 36.63% | 1,132 | 2.99% |
| 1984 | 31,476 | 72.78% | 11,700 | 27.05% | 74 | 0.17% |
| 1988 | 28,872 | 69.01% | 12,922 | 30.89% | 44 | 0.11% |
| 1992 | 25,466 | 51.54% | 16,334 | 33.06% | 7,609 | 15.40% |
| 1996 | 26,898 | 58.03% | 15,601 | 33.66% | 3,855 | 8.32% |
| 2000 | 34,244 | 67.36% | 16,246 | 31.95% | 351 | 0.69% |
| 2004 | 39,602 | 67.48% | 18,858 | 32.13% | 228 | 0.39% |
| 2008 | 42,993 | 61.90% | 25,656 | 36.94% | 802 | 1.15% |
| 2012 | 44,538 | 63.99% | 24,069 | 34.58% | 994 | 1.43% |
| 2016 | 48,324 | 66.79% | 21,216 | 29.32% | 2,811 | 3.89% |
| 2020 | 56,588 | 67.83% | 25,689 | 30.79% | 1,148 | 1.38% |
| 2024 | 59,577 | 68.39% | 26,569 | 30.50% | 963 | 1.11% |
Catawba County is governed by a five-member county board of commissioners, a seven-member school board, and five supervisors on the water and soil conservation district. The county's judiciary is represented by two superior court judges and six district court judges. Other offices include the district attorney, county clerk, sheriff, and register of deeds.
| Office[17] | Holder | Party | Term expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Commissioner (chair) | Randy Isenhower | Republican | 2026 |
| County Commissioner (vice-chair) | Austin Allran | Republican | 2028 |
| County Commissioner | Robert Abernethy, Jr. | Republican | 2026 |
| County Commissioner | Barbara Beatty | Republican | 2028 |
| County Commissioner | Cole Setzer | Republican | 2026 |
| District[18] | Representative | Party | Term expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Mark Hollo | Republican | 2027 |
| District[18] | Representative | Party | Term expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Mitchell S. Setzer | Republican | 2027 |
| 96 | Jay Adams | Republican | 2027 |
| Senator[19] | Party | Term expires |
|---|---|---|
| Ted Budd | Republican | 2029 |
| Thom Tillis | Republican | 2027 |
| District[20] | Representative | Party | Term expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | Pat Harrigan | Republican | 2027 |
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 theNorfolk Southern Railway line. TheCaldwell County Railroad also serves the county and interchanges with Norfolk Southern in Hickory.[21]
Conover has been designated as the Catawba County passenger rail stop for the Western North Carolina Railroad planned to run fromSalisbury, toAsheville.
The Greenway Public Transportation bus service serves the cities ofConover,Hickory, andNewton.[22]
Catawba County is part of the "North Carolina Data Center Corridor" in western North Carolina.[23] The town ofMaiden is home to theApple iCloud data center and is the largest privately owned solar farm in the United States (operated byApple). As of 2017, the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation controls a 55-acre business park inConover designed for data centers and office use.[24]CommScope, Inc., andCorning Corp., manufacturers of fiber optic cabling, became the region's largest employers in the late 1990s. The city of Hickory is home toLenoir–Rhyne University, theHickory Motor Speedway, and the minor league baseball team theHickory Crawdads. The town of Conover is home to theGreater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn.
The school districts are as follows:[25]
Geographic data related toCatawba County, North Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Catawba County, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofCatawba County, North Carolina,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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