LOCATION
WHAT'S OUR 20?
Catawba County is located northwest of Charlotte in the State of North Carolina and covers 405 square miles (656.10 Km). The central county of North Carolina’s 8th largest MSA (2016 population – 367,364), Catawba County’s 2016 population of 156,473 includes the inhabitants of its eight municipalities. These municipalities include Brookford, Catawba, Claremont, Conover, Hickory, Long View, Maiden, and Newton, the county seat of Catawba County.
Catawba County's three lakes and its location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains exert a strong influence on the County's climate and ambiance. The County is sheltered by mountains that moderate winter temperatures and provide refreshing summer breezes. Elevation ranges from 705 to 1780 feet, averaging 995 feet. Its average year round temperature is 58.6 Fahrenheit. Its three large lakes are strikingly backdropped against the wooded shorelines. Lake Hickory covers 4,100 acres and 272.1 miles of shoreline, Lake Lookout Shoals covers 1,270 acres and 39.1 miles of shoreline, and Lake Norman covers 32,510 acres and 520 miles of shoreline.
Interstate-40 runs east to west through Catawba County. Accessible via US Highway 321, Interstate-85 is reachable in approximately 30 minutes. Interstate-77 is also reachable in 30 minutes via Interstate-40.
Catawba County is located within one hour of the City of Charlotte, home of the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and headquarters of Bank of America. The Appalachian resort areas of Boone and Blowing Rock are within an hour’s drive. The City of Asheville, home of the Biltmore Estate, lies less than an hour and a half to the West. Winston-Salem and Greensboro lie an hour and a half to the East, respectively.
CLIMATE
The gently rolling terrain blends into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains offering residents an abundance of scenic attractions, a wealth of recreational options, and a temperate climate with four seasons that are as distinct as they are mild.
The shelter of the mountains moderate winter temperatures and provides refreshing summer breezes providing an environment and ambiance favorable for year-round outdoor activities.