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The economy of the city of Lenoir is in the crapper. Most of the furniture factories have closed and the jobs have gone overseas.
From I-40 to one mile north of Gastonia US321 is a limited access highway from there you take I-85 north to the airport. It is about 55-60 miles and should take about an hour and a half.
I recently moved from MA to the Grace Chapel area of Hickory.
Very nice area, lower taxes as mentioned before.
I travel to the Charlotte airport on a regular basis. It takes me an hour. I go 321 south to 85N. A very easy ride.
If you have any other questions about the Hickory area, oor specifically the Grace Chapel area, please let me know.
Would welcome comments, suggestions, etc. regarding Hickory NC from residents such as nice subdivisions or neighborhoods? How is the economy around Hickory? Do you see planned growth there? How is the weather in the winter?
Ill touch on the growth issue for you. Hickory is growing, but at a good pace. Not nearly as quickly as other NC cities. Not because it cant grow at the same rate, but that the city government plans for its growth carefully, and denying developers the right to build on a whim when it might cause stress on the roads and infrastructure of the city and citizens.
Hickory and its surrounding communities employed mainly middle class people up until 5 - 10 years ago when alot of the factories and plants of the textile and manufacturing industry closed. Hickory lacked the "money" many other cities and suburbs had. On the same note, Hickory has always been the only 'major' city in between Asheville and Statesville, which drew alot of people to the city.
Now, the Hickory area has begun to recover and the population explosion NC is experiencing hadnt really hit Hickory until recently. Google announced plans last week to build a service center in nearby Lenoir adding 250 jobs, and Target Corp. will build a facility in neighboring Newton adding 400 jobs.
Hickory has a well kept up downtown area, that has kept its old fashioned businesses which gives the city a hometown feel.
So bottom line, where is Hickory going? I have heard Hickory is trying to reinvent itself as a retirement type of city.
Many of the older shopping centers have gone under redevelopment phases totally revamping them with new shopping stores. There is plenty of available land in the Hickory area for business and homes, and quite a bit cheaper than Lake Norman.
Just thought Id lend some of my insight for you. I also think people should realize that other areas of NC exist besides the suburbs of Raleigh or Charlotte.
Hickory is growing, but at a good pace. ..the city government plans for its growth carefully, and denying developers the right to build on a whim when it might cause stress on the roads and infrastructure of the city and citizens.... There is plenty of available land in the Hickory area for business and homes, and quite a bit cheaper than Lake Norman. ....
... I also think people should realize that other areas of NC exist besides the suburbs of Raleigh or Charlotte.
Absolutely true, plus has excellent schools, universities, and community college!
Hickory is an attractive town, but the job opportunities are very poor.
Yes, but the job situation is the same as Huntersville, Mooreville, Davidson, as it is in Hickory. Except the only real jobs there is working in retail, besides the Lowes Corp. in Mooresville.
The difference is the proximity to Charlotte. The Lake Norman area cities are within driving distance of Charlotte. Hickory is the Charlotte of the Catawba Valley.
The area is not doing as bad as people are suggesting.
Google just announced they are opening up a headquarters right in Lenoir and this will be creating jobs for that city and a boom in real estate. I forget how many Google executives and staff are going to be relocating, as well as there need for new employees.
I live 15 minutes away in Taylorsville, it takes me about 25 minutes to get to Hickory.
A new furniture/upholestery plant (bought by a Chinese company, weird as we are sending all our work there) will open in a few months right here in Taylorsville.
Paragon films just opened last year here in an industrial park in Taylorsville, and Shurtape and Commscope are big employers in the area.
With the prices around Charlotte for housing being so expensive, and the crowded subdivisions and traffic, people are moving south towards Hickory, Statesville, Taylorsville and Bethlehem.
While the economy went down with the furniture business it is going up. There is talk of a BioTech firm opening up between Taylorsville and Statesville as well.
As far as raising kids, we are from Florida and my son and daughter dreaded moving, now, they love it so much here they don't want to leave as we are being relocated again with my husband's job.
It is a VERY Christian area, and the kids are not as advanced in other areas which is good.
Many activities revolve around the area churches, 4-H Clubs and schools.
There is many homeschool groups and co-ops in the area as well.
It is definitely a laid back, quieter life, and things revolve around nature, hiking, biking, fishing.
I felt out of place when we moved here, and it was a big adjustment, but we love it now.
Considering a move 'home' and was wondering what the job market vs the cost of living is like or where to look for that information? How easy is find a rental with 3 dogs, a Mastiff & 2 Pit bull?
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Hickory
