Region:Piedmont County Seat:Newton (1845) Population:141,6851 Towns & Cities: Brookford, Catawba, Claremont, Conover, Hickory, Long View, Maiden
Catawba
was formed from Lincoln County in 1842. It was named for an Indian tribe
which lived in that section of the State. It is in the west central section
of the State and is bounded by Iredell, Burke, Lincoln, Caldwell and Alexander
counties.2
Catawba County is the center of a heavily industrialized area. It is known world wide as a furniture manufacturing center, has internationally known showrooms such as the Hickory Furniture Mart, and has been unofficially proclaimed as the "Furniture Capital of the World." Its traditional industries of furniture, hosiery and textiles have been joined by industries of the technological age. It is the nation's center for the manufacture and development of fiber optics and telecommunications cable. Alcatel, NA, the world's largest manufacturer of telecommunications cable products and the second-largest telephone equipment company, is headquartered in Hickory, the County's largest city. Siecor Corporation, the world's largest independent manufacturer of fiber optics cables is based in Hickory. Two of the largest printers and publishers in the State are located in Catawba County.3
Additional County History
