Catawba County History partially takes place when it was formed on December 12 1842 from Lincoln County . It was named for the Catawba tribe of Native Americans, who once inhabited the area. In March 1, 1937 Catawba County became of the first counties of the 100 counties in North Carolina to adopt the county manager form of government.

Today Catawba County is 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 .

Contact information:

Catawba County Museum of History
30 N. College Ave. , Newton , NC
Phone: (828) 465 - 0383

Catawba County Museum of History
PO Box 73
Newton , NC 28658
Harper House/Hickory History Center
Phone: (828) 324 - 7294