LendingTree named Catawba Valley Community the 3rd best community college in the country for "Transferring from Community College to University". (September 2019)

SmartAsset named Catawba Valley Community College 3rd best community college in America. (July 2019)

Newton-Conover City School's Discovery High School in Newton received a silver medal from U.S. News & World Report's May 2018 ranking of the top U.S. public high schools. The publication evaluated more than 20,500 public high schools across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, awarding gold, silver and bronze medals to 6,000 of those schools.  Discovery High School was ranked in the top third of those schools and in the top 10% of all schools across the nation. 

Business North Carolina's February 2018 issue features Catawba County. From K-64, to recent economic development announcements, to the Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover, to Maiden as home of Apple's east coast data campus, Catawba County delivers on its promises and is Making. Living. Better.  (Feb. 2018)

Charlotte Magazine published an article on the thriving business climate in the Hickory Metro featuring Chamber Shareholders and Investors, Century Furniture, the Hickory Furniture Mart, Transportation Insight, Hatch Sandwich Bar, Hickory Tree Furniture Consignment, and Highland Avenue Restaurant, among a few other local businesses.  (Jan. 2018)

National Geographic listed Hickory in the top 30 best small cities in the U.S. noting its hipster-friendly offerings, from tattoo parlors to vintage clothing boutiques. Craft-beer enthusiasts gather at the popular annual Hickory Hops festival featuring more than 50 microbreweries and live music.  (Jan. 2018)

WTVI PBS Charlotte featured downtown Newton in a January episode of Carolina Impact showcasing the Catawba County Museum of History, the Old Post Office Playhouse and the historic Newton Depot and Museum.  (Jan. 2018)

USA Today rated Hickory the third biggest economic gainer of 2017, after rising 64 places to No. 103 on Milken Institute’s list of Best-Performing Cities in America.  (Jan. 2018)

Pottery Barn’s January 2018 catalog gives a much-deserved shout out to all of the talented men and women who craft their beautiful line of upholstered furniture at Sutter Street Manufacturing Inc. in Claremont.  (Jan. 2018)

SmartAsset, a financial technology company, ranked Hickory as the 9th best place to raise a family in North Carolina. The study considered 10 different factors, including data on median home values, violent and property crime rates, unemployment rates, housing costs, percent of families in poverty, high school graduation rate, and median household income.  (Oct. 2017)

The Kiplinger Letter included Hickory in the top 10 best places to retire in the U.S. in August 2017. It detailed our moderate weather and location, low cost of living, vibrant arts scene, access to quality health care, and revitalization efforts as evidence of a thriving quality of life.  (Aug. 2017)

Safehome.org ranked Hickory the No. 20 safest city in North Carolina, based on low violent crime and property crime rates, as well as the best citizen-to-officer ratio.  (Apr. 2017)

Safewise.com counted Conover, Newton, Hickory and Long View in the top 100 Safest Cities in NC in 2017.  (Apr. 2017)