| |
|
 |
Hickory
began as a small piedmont city whose growth and development
moved it from a late nineteenth-century trading center on
the Western North Carolina Railroad to a thriving twentieth-century
manufacturing center for furniture, hosiery, and textiles.The
history and development of Hickory has been divided into five
stages of growth. The earliest phase began at the end of the
eighteenth century and ended with the outbreak of the Civil
War (1769-1860).
The second phase began when the Civil War ended, as the city's
population and economy expanded as well as increased development
in cultural and educational facilities (1861-1900).
This second phase lasted until around 1901, when the establishment
of the first large-scale furniture plant made permanent changes
in the manufacturing business. From 1901 until the onset of
World War I in 1917, many furniture factories as well as hosiery
and textile mills were built in the city's realm resulting
in a rise in population, service industries, and building
activity.
|
During
World War I, construction in the city declined only to
be followed by a large increase in population and housing
needs, growth of businesses and manufacturing companies,
and the extension of public services rendered by local
government (1918-1940).
Growth since 1940- After World War II Hickory continued
growing and by 1961 the city boasted forty-six furniture
plants, eight-nine hosiery mills, twenty-seven other manufactories,
and a population of 37,000 people. A vast urban renewal
project as well as continual redevelopment also accompanied
this period of growth. Much of the historic fabric of
Hickory's downtown was removed or drastically altered
in the 1960s and 1970s, leaving gaping holes in the urban
landscape. Yet, this period also saw the emergence of
historic preservation efforts in Hickory, a trend that
has grown in scope by instilling pride in the city's past
by encouraging the appreciation, preservation, and continued
use of Hickory's historic resources.
Currently, the City of Hickory has been awarded a grant
to conduct a survey of the city's historic resources.
The grant will allow the Historic Preservation Commission
to hire a certified historic resource professional to
identify historic structures along the boundaries of established
historic districts. The survey will be used to consider
future expansion of Hickory's historic districts. The
last survey, conducted in 1979, indicated that there were
168 historical sites within Hickory's city limits. Since
this survey was completed, it has been estimated that
about 32 of these structures have been demolished. Hopefully,
the survey will help the Commission develop a long range
historic preservation plan for the City of Hickory, it
will also serve as a catalyst for other projects designed
to promote, educate, and preserve Hickory's historic treasures.
|
|
Area
Sites |
| |
Sport
Fishing and Miscellaneous
sites |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
