Catawba County, North Carolina

Catawba County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 154,810.[1] Its county seat is Newton,[2] and its largest city is Hickory. The county is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Catawba County
U.S. county
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°40′N 81°13′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1842
Named forCatawba tribe
SeatNewton
Largest cityHickory
Area
 • Total413 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Land399 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  3.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
159,551
 • Density387/sq mi (149/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts5th, 10th
Websitewww.catawbacountync.gov


History

The county, formed in 1842 from Lincoln County, was named for the Catawba River. The word "catawba" is rooted in the Choctaw sound kat'a pa, loosely translated as "to divide or separate, to break." However, scholars are fairly certain that this word was imposed from outside.[3] The Native Americans known as the Catawba people, a tribe of indigenous people who once inhabited the region, were once considered one of the most powerful Southeastern Siouan-speaking tribes in the Carolina Piedmont. They now live along the border of North Carolina near the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina. German and Scots-Irish colonial immigrants first settled in the Catawba River valley in the mid-18th century. An official history of the German and Scots-Irish settlement was documented in 1954 by Charles J. Preslar, Jr.[4] and more recently by a series of three books by Gary Freeze, called The Catawbans.

Economy

Catawba County is part of the "North Carolina Data Center Corridor" in western North Carolina.[5] The town of Maiden is home to the Apple iCloud data center and is the largest privately owned solar farm in the United States (operated by Apple). As of 2017, the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation controls a 55-acre business park in Conover designed for data centers and office use.[6] CommScope, Inc., and Corning Corp., manufacturers of fiber optic cabling, became the region’s largest employers in the late 1990s. The city of Hickory is home to Lenoir–Rhyne University, the Hickory Motor Speedway, and the minor league baseball team the Hickory Crawdads. The town of Conover is home to the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn.

Government, law, and public safety

Catawba County is a member of the regional Western Piedmont Council of Governments. The county has been represented primarily by Republicans since the 1950s: no Democratic Presidential candidate has won Catawba County since Harry S. Truman in 1948.[7]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[8]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 66.8% 48,324 29.3% 21,216 3.9% 2,811
2012 64.0% 44,538 34.6% 24,069 1.4% 994
2008 61.9% 42,993 36.9% 25,656 1.2% 802
2004 67.5% 39,602 32.1% 18,858 0.4% 228
2000 67.4% 34,244 32.0% 16,246 0.7% 351
1996 58.0% 26,898 33.7% 15,601 8.3% 3,855
1992 51.5% 25,466 33.1% 16,334 15.4% 7,609
1988 69.0% 28,872 30.9% 12,922 0.1% 44
1984 72.8% 31,476 27.1% 11,700 0.2% 74
1980 60.4% 22,873 36.6% 13,873 3.0% 1,132
1976 52.4% 18,696 47.2% 16,862 0.4% 150
1972 74.5% 24,106 23.9% 7,744 1.6% 525
1968 56.3% 18,393 21.4% 6,974 22.3% 7,285
1964 52.0% 17,116 48.0% 15,814
1960 58.7% 19,135 41.4% 13,491
1956 62.8% 19,246 37.3% 11,424
1952 59.3% 16,814 40.7% 11,554
1948 44.73% 8,471 46.7% 8,844 8.5% 1,622
1944 41.6% 7,211 58.5% 10,146
1940 33.5% 5,656 66.5% 11,233
1936 36.7% 6,387 63.3% 11,017
1932 40.6% 5,817 58.9% 8,446 0.5% 77
1928 60.6% 7,556 39.4% 4,916
1924 50.3% 5,998 48.3% 5,754 1.4% 167
1920 52.3% 5,935 47.7% 5,404
1916 50.4% 2,624 49.3% 2,569 0.3% 14
1912 4.9% 203 50.4% 2,110 44.8% 1,875

County officers

Board of Commissioners
Office[9]HolderPartyTerm expires
County Commissioner (Chairman)Randy IsenhowerRepublican2022
County Commissioner (Vice Chair)Barbara BeattyRepublican2020
County CommissionerKitty BarnesRepublican2022
County CommissionerSherry ButlerRepublican2022
County CommissionerDan HunsuckerRepublican2020

Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors
Holder[9]Term expires
David Caldwell2020
Julia Elmore2022
Laura Parnell2022
Susie DevineAppointed (2020)
Steve KillianAppointed (2022)

Superior Court Judges
Office[10]HolderPartyTerm expires
Senior Resident Superior Court JudgeNathaniel J. PooveyRepublican2026
Resident Superior Court JudgeGreg R. HayesRepublican2022

District Court Judges
Office[10]HolderPartyTerm expires
Chief District Court JudgeBurford A. CherryRepublican2020
District Court JudgeDavid W. AycockRepublican2022
District Court JudgeWes W. BarkleyRepublican2022
District Court JudgeSherri W. ElliotRepublican2022
District Court JudgeRichard S. HollowayRepublican2020
District Court JudgeMark L. KillianRepublican2022
District Court JudgeRobert A. Mullinax, Jr.Republican2022
District Court JudgeClifton H. SmithRepublican2022
District Court JudgeAmy Sigmon WalkerRepublican2022

Catawba County Sheriff

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office consists of 198 Deputies and Employees. It provides court protection, jail administration, patrol and detective services for all unincorporated county areas, serves civil process and criminal papers, provides School Resource Officers at County High and Middle Schools and CV Community College, and narcotics crime investigation. Newton, Hickory, Conover, and Maiden have municipal police departments. The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, the SBI, provides investigative assistance to local law enforcement agencies when requested by the sheriff, local police departments, the district attorney, or judges.[11]

Other offices
Office[9][10]HolderPartyTerm expires
SheriffDon BrownRepublican2022
Register of DeedsDonna SpencerRepublican2020
District AttorneyScott ReillyRepublican2022
Clerk of Superior CourtKim SigmonRepublican2022

North Carolina General Assembly

North Carolina House of Representatives
District[12]RepresentativePartyTerm expires
89Michael SetzerRepublican2020
96Jay AdamsRepublican2020

North Carolina Senate
District[12]RepresentativePartyTerm expires
42Andy WellsRepublican2020

Federal offices

Senate
SenatorPartyTerm expires
Richard BurrRepublican2022
Thom TillisRepublican2020

House of Representatives
District[13]RepresentativePartyTerm expires
5thVirginia FoxxRepublican2020
10thPatrick McHenryRepublican2020

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.[14]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18508,862—
186010,72921.1%
187010,9842.4%
188014,94636.1%
189018,68925.0%
190022,13318.4%
191027,91826.1%
192033,83921.2%
193043,99130.0%
194054,65324.2%
195061,79413.1%
196073,19118.4%
197090,87324.2%
1980105,20815.8%
1990118,41212.6%
2000141,68519.7%
2010154,3588.9%
Est. 2019159,551[15]3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010-2019[1]

As of the census[20] 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
  • The Catawba County Library System serves the residents of Catawba County. The library system operates 7 libraries throughout the county.
  • The Hickory Public Library System serves the residents of Hickory. The library system operates 2 libraries: The Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and the Ridgeview Library.

Points of Interest

Museums and historical sites

Sports and entertainment

Music and performing arts
  • Newton-Conover Auditorium
  • The Green-Room Theatre
  • Western Piedmont Symphony
  • Hickory Community Theatre

Other attractions

Transportation

Major highways

Air

The county's primary general 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.[21]

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
Map of Catawba County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Incorporated cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships
  • Bandy's
  • Caldwell
  • Catawba
  • Clines
  • Hickory
  • Jacobs Fork
  • Mountain Creek
  • Newton

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Freeze, Gary (1995). The Catawbans: Crafters of a North Carolina County. Catawba County Historical Association. pp. 11–13.
  4. Preslar, Charles J. , Jr (1954). A History of Catawba County (First ed.). Rowan Publishing Co.
  5. "North Carolina's Data Center Corridor: From Fiber to Servers | Data Center Knowledge". Data Center Knowledge. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  6. "ncDataCampus - Catawba EDC". www.catawbaedc.org. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  7. "26 Nov 1948, Page 27 - Asheville Citizen-Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  8. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  9. http://www.catawbacountync.gov/site/assets/files/3336/county_elected_officials.pdf
  10. http://www.catawbacountync.gov/site/assets/files/3336/judicial_elected.pdf
  11. Hickory PD, Maiden PD, Newton PD, Conover PD, SBI websites.
  12. http://www.catawbacountync.gov/site/assets/files/3336/state_elected_officials.pdf
  13. http://www.catawbacountync.gov/site/assets/files/2911/1-federal_officials.pdf
  14. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  15. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  16. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  18. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  19. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  20. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  21. Infrastructure, Caldwell County Economic Development Commission (retrieved 16 June 2014)

Further reading
  • Freeze, Gary R. The Catawbans: Crafters of a North Carolina County, 1747-1900 Catawba County Historical Association, 1995. ISBN 0-9702776-2-8.
  • Freeze, Gary R. The Catawbans: Pioneers in Progress, Vol. 2. Catawba County Historical Association, 2002.

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