Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | June 15, 2025

 

 

This week I did a three deep dives into issues that truly impact the Economic Social and cultural dynamics of our region. Below is a quick summary of each, along with a 500 word synopsis and a link to the full deep dive if you have not already read it.


 The Forgotten Grid: Towns That Industry Left Behind - June 10, 2025 - Drexel, Hildebran, and Valdese once thrived on industry—but global shifts left them behind. Now marked by aging populations, empty mills, and stalled growth, these towns embody the human cost of economic abandonment. This report examines their rise, fall, and quiet resilience—asking whether modern planning will continue to ignore them, or finally bring them back into the fold.

 500 word summary of this article

 

The Center Cannot Hold: Hickory’s Uneven Growth in a Fractured County
- June 10, 2025: Hickory’s downtown revival masks deeper fractures in Catawba County. While new trails and tech jobs signal progress, aging infrastructure, school disparities, and uneven investment reveal a region divided. From Mountain View to Maiden, the foundation is straining. This report examines whether Hickory’s growth story can truly hold—before the cracks at the edges pull the center apart.
500 word summary of this article

 

Keep the Crawdads: Strategic Intelligence Report on Hickory’s Baseball Future - June 12, 2025:  Hickory’s Crawdads face uncertain ownership, regional neglect, and mounting pressure from MLB contraction trends. This strategic report lays out the stakes, from economic impact to civic identity, calling for proactive local action. Lose the Crawdads, and Hickory risks more than a team—it risks surrendering its place in America’s baseball fabric. The time to act is now.
500 word summary of this article.


You Don't Lose Baseball in a Day

Hickory, Don't let the Dads be the next Oakland A's

Hickory, You’re Gonna Lose the Crawdads

 
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 Rachel A.I. on the Hound's message since the reboot - Three Months In: What the Hickory Hound Has Exposed Since Its Return

 

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Not Broken. Not Bought. Not Theirs.
A Field Manual for the Self-Educated Builder

1. You Weren’t the Problem

There are people who were never meant to thrive in the system they were born into. Not because they lacked intelligence or will—but because the structure around them was never designed to cultivate either. If you didn’t fall in line, if you didn’t flatter the right gatekeepers, if your questions cut too deep—you were labeled. Disruptive. Difficult. Broken.

I wasn’t broken. I just wasn’t theirs.

Public school was a machine that punished difference. It rewarded submission and left little room for the curious, the restless, or the strategic. It wasn’t about mastery. It was about conformity. I didn’t evolve into who I am through their system. I have survived it, despite everything it took from me. My education started the moment I stopped seeking their approval.

I live in a cold war with the society that thought it could diagnose me into silence.

2. The System Was Working Exactly As Intended

If it ever seemed like the system failed people like us, it’s because it was never built to serve us in the first place. Its purpose isn’t enlightenment. It’s hierarchy. The goal isn’t to teach—it’s to sort.

What they call "education" is often credential inflation and cultural grooming. They train managers, not builders. Repeaters, not originators. The deeper you think, the harder you fall through their cracks. People stopped learning because the system trained them to believe their degree was the finish line.

The "educated" class talks a lot, but listens little. They confuse resume polish for insight. Meanwhile, the world changes beneath their feet, and they don’t even notice until their institutions start to collapse.

They didn't outgrow the old world. They ignored the new one. And now they think their failure to evolve is your failure.

3. The Tools Finally Came

For most of my life, I could see more than I could say. I had ideas that didn’t fit into their formats, questions they wouldn't tolerate, insights no one had a place for. Then the tools arrived. AI. Open platforms. Self-publishing. The collapse of gatekeepers.

I didn't suddenly become smarter. The world just finally offered tools sharp enough to match my mind. I didn’t get louder. The noise around me finally cracked enough for my voice to get through.

Now I write the truths I was punished for asking. I build frameworks the planners never considered. I analyze the local economy, the cultural decay, the civic breakdown—and I don’t need anyone's permission to do it.

You can call it journalism. You can call it strategy. I call it survival.

4. What I’m Building

The Hickory Hound isn’t a blog. It’s a navigation system. A decoded map for people who know something’s wrong but can't get the signal through the noise. I’m tracking water conflicts, minor league team relocations, collapsing infrastructure, and regional economic patterns because those things matter. Not in theory—in day-to-day life.

Our civic class doesn’t want to confront reality. They want applause for incrementalism while the floorboards rot underneath. But I don’t write to flatter the officials. I write to warn the people.

Every story is a pressure point. Every data point is a clue. Every article is a piece of the map for people who still believe in rebuilding, even if they’ve been pushed to the margins.

I’m not here to entertain. I’m here to equip.

5. We Are Not Broken

If you’ve ever been told you ask too many questions, that you care too much, that you expect too much clarity—you’re not alone.

You’re not broken. You’re just not theirs.

The world is changing. The gatekeepers are slipping. The Normies who've always mocked the idea of collapse now live in its early chapters. And those of us who were forced to figure things out the hard way—we're not the problem.

We’re the blueprint.

And we’re not waiting for permission to keep building.

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Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | June 8, 2025

 

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Hickory, NC: Economic Transformation (2011-2025)

 

Hickory 2025: A City Transformed or Just Treading Water

From the ashes of post-industrial decline, Hickory has clawed its way toward a new identity. Once marred by economic stagnation and a fading manufacturing legacy, this North Carolina foothills city faced a critical turning point in 2011. At the time, local thought leaders issued a challenge: evolve or fade into obscurity. Fourteen years later, we assess whether that call to action sparked real transformation—or simply rebranded the same old challenges.

 “A community once defined by fading furniture factories is now wired with fiber optics and humming with data servers—but has Hickory, North Carolina truly reinvented itself or just put on a fresh coat of paint?”

 This article evaluates Hickory’s evolution from 2011 to 2025, comparing past forecasts with current realities across five pillars: economy, governance, infrastructure, education, and cultural identity. It serves as a performance audit of long-term strategic decisions while identifying gaps that still need addressing. The intended audience includes civic stakeholders, economic planners, local entrepreneurs, and engaged residents.

 

Economic Transformation: From Wood and Textiles to Fiber and Silicon

 In 2011, Hickory was reeling from the collapse of its traditional industries. Furniture and textiles had once anchored over half the workforce—but by 2009, that figure had plummeted to 28%. The call then was clear: diversify or die. Fast forward to 2025, and the numbers suggest the city responded.

Manufacturing now accounts for 30% of the workforce, but the composition has changed dramatically. Corning Optical and CommScope are now among the largest employers, driving fiber-optic production. Meanwhile, Apple’s massive data center in nearby Maiden and Microsoft’s $1 billion investment into four new centers mark Hickory as a vital node in the Southeast’s Data Center Corridor. Although Hickory hasn't become a new Silicon Valley, it has made steady, strategic moves to rewire its economic DNA—aligning closely with the 2011 vision for modernization.

 

Leadership: Incremental Progress with Lingering Disconnect

Back in 2011, local leadership was criticized for being risk-averse and disconnected. Today, the picture is more nuanced.

The 2014 $45 million bond referendum funded transformative amenities—parks, trails, pedestrian walkways, and housing—enhancing public spaces and signaling a shift toward proactive urban planning. The Catawba County Economic Development Corporation has been aggressive in branding Hickory’s low business costs and skilled labor force, earning the area top rankings from Forbes and NerdWallet.

Yet for all this, the county still sits in Tier 2 for economic distress as of 2025, suggesting that meaningful progress coexists with structural fragility. The discontent that once simmered beneath the surface hasn’t fully disappeared—it’s just more polished now.

 

Infrastructure & Housing: Stabilizing What Was Once Fragile

One of the more accurate predictions from 2011 was the overbuilt housing market. Back then, occupancy had fallen sharply, and the fear was collapse. But the opposite happened: stabilization.

While housing values remain modest, they’ve held firm without the bubble-burst some anticipated. More importantly, investments in public spaces have increased livability. The Riverwalk, new greenways, and enhanced downtown aesthetics have paid dividends—Hickory now ranks #3 in both Best Places to Live and Best Places to Retire in North Carolina. What was once overcapacity has now become community capital. The city didn’t bulldoze its excess—it activated it.

 

Education & Workforce Development: The CVCC Effect

If Hickory has a secret weapon, it’s Catawba Valley Community College. The Workforce Solutions Complex is a shining example of targeted investment. From advanced manufacturing to healthcare and information technology, CVCC’s programs are feeding the very industries reshaping the local economy. The 2011 suggestion that education should anchor the city’s reinvention has clearly borne fruit here.

Still, the vision of Hickory as a fully integrated “open center for knowledge” remains aspirational. Lenoir-Rhyne University has contributed to the city’s intellectual footprint, but broader innovation ecosystems like tech incubators or startup hubs haven’t taken root.

 

Culture and Diversity: Moving, But at a Crawl

Hickory’s cultural scene was once criticized as sterile and corporate. Chains dominated, and diversity—cultural or entrepreneurial—was thin. There’s some progress in 2025. Craft breweries, small-batch goods, and local artisans are gaining footholds. A trickle of remote workers and retirees has nudged demographic change, and Hickory is now ranked #9 for in-bound migration.

But let’s not overstate the shift. Hickory still lags behind peer cities like Asheville or Durham in cultural vibrancy. Minority-owned businesses remain limited. Immigrant communities are small. Public events and nightlife lean conservative and traditional.  Diversity is growing—but it’s not yet thriving.      

 

Reputation: From “Bottom of the List” to National Recognition

In 2011, Hickory was often cited in negative national rankings—low educational attainment, weak job growth, and poor quality of life. Today, those rankings tell a different story.

• #3 Best Places to Live in NC (U.S. News & World Report)
• #4 Best Places to Start a Business (NerdWallet)
• #9 for Inbound Migration (United Van Lines, 2024)

Local leadership has made a concerted effort to “reverse engineer” studies, proactively promoting affordability, workforce readiness, and quality of life. That rebranding has helped reshape Hickory’s image, even if real socioeconomic hurdles remain.

The Hound’s Comment: They learned a lot about this kind of thing from the hot days of this blog back from ( 2009-2014ish). Here on the back nine we’re going to take this to another level. I haven’t always agreed with their specific projects and mindsets but they do deserve credit for taking action. Now you have to follow through. We need to grab ahold of re-industrialization that will depend on A.I. and robotics.

 

Where the 2011 Predictions Landed

Nailed It:

• Shift to advanced manufacturing and tech
• Housing stabilization and investment in public spaces
• Education’s central role via CVCC

Half Right:

• Leadership progress—real gains but ongoing gaps
• Cultural diversity—improved, still behind

Way Off:     

• No mass exodus—people are actually moving in
• Chronicle didn’t rise—Hickory remains the regional anchor
• No “savior” company—progress came from broad, steady diversification

 

Key Economic Indicators (2011 vs 2025)

Metric	2011	2025
Manufacturing Workforce	28%	30% (Advanced sectors)
Housing Occupancy	85.4% (2009)	Stabilized, modest values
Economic Distress Tier	Not listed	Tier 2 (2025)
Livability Rankings	Bottom of studies	Top 3 in NC (U.S. News)
Data Center Investment	Minimal	Apple, Microsoft expansion
Inbound Migration Rank	Not listed	#9 (United Van Lines, 2024)

 

Conclusion: A City in Measured Transformation

Hickory has not become a utopia. But it’s no longer a city in freefall either. It has recalibrated, stabilized, and in many ways, reimagined its identity. The road from 2011 to 2025 has been neither straight nor smooth—but the direction is undeniably forward.

For Hickory, the lesson is this: resilience isn’t about a sudden leap—it’s about not standing still. The next chapter will depend on whether the city can turn slow gains into a lasting legacy.

 

Key Citations

• City of Hickory Business Development page with economic initiatives
• Catawba County Economic Development Corporation overview
• North Carolina economic development tier designations for 2025
• Business North Carolina article on industrial parks in NC
• Wikipedia page for Hickory, North Carolina, with economic history

Thursday, January 27, 2011 - The State Of Hickory 2011

Hickory’s Evolution: From 2010 to 2025 and Beyond

 

The State of Hickory - January 2010

The Hound: I asked the A.I. to address issues towards the Primary Provider of the family. That is the person that a community wants to rectuit and win over. If your community can show that person that they have a lot to offer, then they have a good chance of attracting these potentially high value families. With the assistance of Grok and ChatGPT, I have taken my old article and extrapolated through the past 15 years to today and these are the results:

Where We Were: Hickory in 2010

In January 2010, your "State of Hickory" article painted a community at a crossroads. Reeling from the furniture industry’s decline, Hickory faced a stagnant economy—unemployment at 12.5%, median household income at $40,000, and a bleak outlook mirroring 2009’s recession scars. You identified critical issues: a lack of jobs and job quality, youth exodus (median age 38-40), ineffective leadership (8.5% voter turnout), and pervasive blight from absentee-owned buildings. Local government leaned on external aid (40% of NC’s 2009 economic dollars) while blaming Raleigh and Washington, showing a passive mindset you decried. The Hickory Young Professionals (HYP) were underutilized, media stifled debate, and the city fixated on retirees over youth, risking irrelevance against Charlotte’s dynamism. Your call was clear: bold action—new economic regions, micro-lending, urban renewal—was needed to secure a future for families like yours, prioritizing economic vitality, community engagement, and long-term stability.

 

The Interim Years: 2011-2024

The interim years marked a gradual awakening, driven by necessity and external catalysts. The 2011 launch of Apple’s data center signaled tech potential, though broadband lagged. By 2014, a $40 million bond referendum (70% voter approval) injected momentum—funding the Hickory Trail, convention center upgrades, and Trivium Corporate Center—shifting from inertia to action. Unemployment fell to 7-8% by mid-decade (BLS data), reflecting recovery, while the Catawba County EDC pivoted to diversify beyond furniture, targeting healthcare and manufacturing. The 2016 K-64 initiative linked education to jobs, and HYP grew into a modest network, though youth outmigration persisted (5-10% annually).

Urban renewal gained traction—Operation No Vacancy and Brownfields cleared blight (20-30% reduction by 2020)—but disparities lingered in south Hickory. Leadership evolved under figures like City Manager Warren Wood, with $58 million in grants/bonds by 2020 fueling infrastructure. Broadband leapt forward with Metronet’s 2022 fiber-optic rollout, hitting 80-90% coverage by 2024. Economic indicators improved—median income rose to $60,000 by 2020 (ACS)—but job quality gaps (high-skill $70,000 vs. service $30,000) echoed your 2010 critique. Voter turnout crept to 10-12%, signaling slight civic thaw, yet Charlotte’s shadow ($197 billion GDP, 2022) loomed larger. The interim years were a bridge—reactive progress, not the bold vision you sought.

 

Evolution to Present Day: Hickory in April 2025

By April 2025, Hickory stands transformed yet incomplete, a resilient mid-tier city (population 45,000, MSA GDP $16-$18 billion). Economic opportunities have grown—unemployment at 4-5%, median income at $66,000-$68,000—driven by tech (Apple’s $1 billion expansion, 2024), healthcare (Catawba Valley Medical Center), and manufacturing (Siemens, 2023). Fiber-optic access (gigabit speeds, 85-90% coverage) supports remote work and startups, though service jobs lag at $30,000-$50,000, validating your job quality focus. Cost of living remains a strength—6% below national average, homes at $270,000-$300,000, rents at $1,400—stretching family budgets.

 Safety has improved—violent crime down to 400-450 per 100,000, property crime to 3,000 (from 540 and 4,000)—but exceeds national averages (366 and 1,900), with safer enclaves like Viewmont ideal for families. Education holds steady—Hickory Public Schools (4,100 students) are above average, bolstered by K-64 and colleges (CVCC, Lenoir-Rhyne)—though funding trails urban peers. Healthcare shines—8% below national costs, enhanced by telehealth and 2023 Medicaid expansion—securing family health needs. Community values remain conservative and family-oriented, with trails and festivals fostering connection, though voter turnout (12-15%) reflects lingering apathy.

Leadership has shed 2010’s “tone-deaf” label, delivering $115 million in bonds/grants and a 2025 budget of $144.8 million for infrastructure and growth. Blight is down 20-30% (200-300 vacant buildings left), but disparities persist. Youth engagement via HYP (200+ members) counters exodus (median age 43-45), yet Charlotte’s pull (GDP $220-$240 billion) keeps Hickory a secondary player. Sustainability emerges—green trails, solar projects—but lacks family focus. For your family, 2025 Hickory offers affordability, stability, and opportunity, tempered by safety and youth vitality gaps.

Trends Heading into the Next Decade: 2025-2035

Looking to 2035, Hickory’s trends suggest a trajectory of steady growth with pivotal choices ahead, shaped by 2010-2025 evolution:

 

1. Economic Opportunities: Tech and clean energy (NC’s 70% emissions reduction goal by 2030) could add 2,000-3,000 jobs, pushing median income to $80,000-$85,000 (adjusted). Remote work, fueled by broadband, may attract young families, but job quality gaps will persist without bold investment—your 2010 call remains relevant. Families like yours will need skills to thrive; otherwise, Charlotte beckons.

2. Cost of Living: Affordability should hold—projected 5-7% below national average—as leadership prioritizes low taxes. Homes may hit $350,000-$400,000, still competitive, supporting family stability unless urban sprawl from Charlotte inflates costs.

3. Safety: Crime could align closer to national averages (350 violent, 2,500 property) with sustained renewal and youth programs reducing risks. Safer neighborhoods will remain key for families, requiring vigilance.

4. Education: Schools may improve with tech integration, potentially matching urban peers if K-64 scales. Colleges could draw more students, enhancing opportunities for your kids, though funding boosts are critical—your 2010 push for action applies here.

5. Healthcare Access: Continued affordability (5-10% below national) and telehealth expansion will solidify this strength, ensuring family resilience as healthcare evolves.

6. Community Values: A slow shift toward inclusivity may raise turnout to 20%, with youth leadership (e.g., HYP) fostering vibrancy. Hickory’s family-friendly core will endure, appealing to your values if engagement grows.

7. Long-Term Stability: GDP could reach $22-$25 billion by 2035, with resilience tied to sustainability (e.g., green housing, transit). Yet, an aging median (45-47) risks stagnation unless youth retention accelerates—your 2010 “Cocoon” warning looms as a fork in the road.

 

Logical Sequential Conclusions

From 2010’s stagnation, Hickory navigated the interim years with reactive progress—bonds, tech, renewal—evolving into a 2025 hub of affordability and opportunity, though secondary to Charlotte. You were right on job quality, dependence, and apathy; mostly right on youth and leadership focus; more wrong on government effectiveness and irrelevance; and off on stagnation and blight’s dominance. The next decade hinges on amplifying 2025’s gains—proposals like “Hickory Next” (youth empowerment), “Hickory Thrive” (resilience), and “Hickory Renaissance” (dynamism) could realize your 2010 vision.

For your family, Hickory offers a stable, cost-effective base with growing prospects—ideal if you’re skilled in tech/healthcare and prioritize affordability over urban buzz. Safety and education are solid, not exceptional, and stability trends upward, contingent on youth and sustainability. By 2035, Hickory could be a thriving mid-tier city or a retiree haven—your 2010 call for bold action remains the deciding factor.