North Carolina

Catawba

160,610
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Catawba

Catawba, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 8,862. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 160,610.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 6 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Ramseur's Mill, Action at Beattie's Ford, Battle of Beattie's Ford Feb 1 1781, and 66 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020160,610
2010154,358
2000141,685
1990118,412
1980105,208
197090,873
196073,191
195061,794
194051,653
193043,991
192033,839
191027,918
190022,133
189018,689
188014,946
187010,984
186010,729
18508,862
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Catawba

Military engagements that took place in Catawba, North Carolina.

Battle of Ramseur's Mill
1780
Action at Beattie's Ford
1781
Battle of Beattie's Ford Feb 1 1781
1781
Skirmish at Beattie's Ford NC — Civil War 1865
1865
Stoneman's Raid — Catawba Station NC
1865
Stoneman's Raid — Newton NC
1865

Historic places in Catawba

National Register of Historic Places listings in Catawba, North Carolina.

Sharpe-Gentry Farm
Propst Crossroads
Yoder's Mills Historic District
Hickory
Elliott-Carnegie Library
Hickory
Grace Reformed Church
Newton
Huffman, George, Farm
Conover
Houck's Chapel
Hickory
Reinhardt, William Pinckney, House
Maiden
Rock Barn Farm
Claremont
Piedmont Wagon Company
Hickory
St. Paul's Reformed Church
Startown
Balls Creek Campground
Bandy's Crossroads
Bost-Burris House
Newton
Whisnant Hosiery Mills
Hickory
St. Paul's Church and Cemetery
Newton
Bunker Hill Covered Bridge
Claremont
Highland School
Hickory
Claremont High School Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Hickory
Terrell Historic District
Terrell
North Main Avenue Historic District
Newton
Murray's Mill Historic District
Catawba
Warlick-Huffman Farm
Propst Crossroads
Catawba County Courthouse
Newton
Kenworth Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Hickory
Kenworth Historic District
Hickory
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Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Catawba County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Catawba County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Catawba

When does Catawba first appear in the US census?
Catawba, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 8,862.
What is the population of Catawba?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Catawba had a recorded population of 160,610.
Were any battles fought in Catawba?
6 documented military engagements took place in Catawba, including Battle of Ramseur's Mill, Action at Beattie's Ford, Battle of Beattie's Ford Feb 1 1781.
How many historic places are in Catawba?
66 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Catawba, North Carolina.
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