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Catawba County
countyCatawba County, North Carolina
Overview
- Classification
- County
- FIPS Code
- 37035
- Country
- United States
- County
- County
Geography
- Region
- Western Piedmont, foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains
- Elevation
- 995 ft
- Total Area
- 416.02 sq mi
- Land Area
- 401.37 sq mi
- Water Area
- 14.65 sq mi
- Latitude
- 35.66
- Longitude
- -81.21
- Climate
- Humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Sheltered by mountains, moderating temperatures and providing breezes.
- Notable Features
- Catawba River · Lake Norman · Lake Hickory · Lake Lookout Shoals · Blue Ridge Mountains foothills
- Neighboring Areas
- Alexander County · Iredell County · Lincoln County · Caldwell County · Burke County
Demographics
- Population (2020)
- 160,610
- Est. Population (2026)
- 171,252
- Median Age
- 42.1
- Median Income
- $64,544
- Poverty Rate
- 13%
- Family Households
- 68.1%
- Owner-Occupied
- 72.7%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- 72.6% White (Non-Hispanic), 7.93% Black or African American (Non-Hispanic), 4.12% Asian (Non-Hispanic), 3.97% Other (Hispanic), and 3.25% White (Hispanic). 11.1% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Governance
- Government Type
- County Manager form of government
- Governing Body
- Board of Commissioners
- Body Size
- 5 members
- School District
- Catawba County Schools
- Municipal Services
- Law Enforcement · Emergency Services · Public Health · Social Services · Parks and Recreation · Public Works · Library Services
Economy
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.1%
- Economic Profile
- Diversified manufacturing base · Growing retail sector
- Employment Sectors
- Manufacturing · Healthcare & Social Assistance · Retail Trade
- Major Employers
- CommScope · Corning · Catawba Valley Medical Center · Frye Regional Medical Center · Whirlpool · Alex Lee, Inc.
Education
- Schools
- 45
- Students
- 22,551
- Teachers
- 1,009
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16:1
- Graduation Rate
- 86.70%
- School Districts
- Catawba County Schools
- Colleges & Universities
- Catawba Valley Community College · Lenoir-Rhyne University
Infrastructure
- Transportation
- Interstate 40 · US Highway 321 · Norfolk Southern Railway line · Greenway Public Transportation (bus service)
- Utilities
- Municipal water · Electricity · Natural gas · Fiber/broadband internet
- Major Facilities
- Catawba Valley Medical Center · Frye Regional Medical Center · Hickory Regional Airport · Catawba County Courthouse
Recreation
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Major Recreation Areas
- Lake Norman · Lake Hickory · Lake Lookout Shoals · Mountain Creek Park · Bunker Hill Covered Bridge
- Parks & Trails
- Catawba County Parks · Local Greenway systems
History
- Founded
- 1842
- Incorporated
- 1855
- Named After
- Catawba Indian tribe
- Historical Significance
- Catawba County has a rich history rooted in Native American heritage, early European settlement, and industrial development, particularly in furniture and textiles.
- Key Events
- Settled by German and Scotch-Irish immigrants in the mid-18th century · Gold mining boom in the early 19th century · Response to the polio epidemic in the 1940s · Completion of Interstate 40 in the mid 1970s