On January 3, 2020, the City of Hickory will officially celebrate its 150th anniversary.
Hickory History
In the 1850’s, Henry Robinson built a tavern of logs beneath a huge hickory tree near a stagecoach junction. The inn was known as “Hickory Tavern.” The community of Hickory Tavern had its first Charter drawn on December 12, 1863, with the “corporate limits to be one square mile, having its center the depot of Western North Carolina Railroad.” The Town of Hickory Tavern was officially established on January 3, 1870.
The name of the community was changed to the Town of Hickory in 1873, and later to the City of Hickory in 1889.
Today, Hickory is home to almost 41,000 residents and serves as the regional hub of over 365,000 people for commerce and recreation.
A Year of Celebration
To kick off the City’s yearlong celebration of this historic milestone, Hickory Mayor Hank Guess will present a proclamation in the City’s honor at noon on Union Square on January 3. The City invites residents, visitors, businesses, and local organizations to join in celebrating Hickory’s 150th year.
The Sesquicentennial Committee is planning several great events, and also working with community partners to celebrate this milestone throughout the year. Mark your calendars for the following events:
ROCK THE BLOCK BIRTHDAY BASH
When: Thursday, June 4 5:30 p.m.
Where: The Salt Block
Rock the SALT Block with an entire day of fun. Food trucks and vendors will be on-site starting at 5:30 p.m., and The Extraordinaires will perform from 7 - 9:30 p.m.
SAILS ORIGINAL MUSIC SERIES
When: Friday, June 5, 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Sails on the Square
Enjoy live, original music in the heart of Downtown Hickory. Stay tuned to the Sails Original Music Series Facebook page for band and event information.
CITY WALK SUMMER CELEBRATION
When: Saturday, June 6th, Time TBD
Where: Union Square
Join the Hickory Downtown Development Association in celebrating the construction of the City Walk and the renovated Union Square.
HKY 150TH NIGHT AT THE CRAWDADS
When: Saturday, June 6th, 6:30 p.m.
Where: L.P. Frans Stadium
Cheer on the Hickory Crawdads baseball team and celebrate Hickory’s 150th Anniversary with fireworks after the game.
150TH-THEMED CHRISTMAS PARADE & TREE LIGHTING
When: Friday, November 20, 6 p.m.
Where: Downtown Hickory.
Kick off the holiday season with this annual favorite.
“The City of Hickory has a long history of craftsmanship, resiliency, and reinvention. The Latin motto of ‘vestigia nulla retrorsum’ is featured in the original City seal and means ‘no steps backwards.’ Those words have certainly served as a guiding message for the City of Hickory and its residents over the years,” said Mayor Hank Guess. “With all of the positive momentum that the City of Hickory is currently experiencing with the bond program and other initiatives, how fitting that we celebrate 150 years of progress in 2020.”
In order to help community members share their Hickory pride, City of Hickory and 150th Anniversary apparel and merchandise will be available for purchase online at www.MyHKYGear.com and at Custom Design Group’s retail store located at 391 10th Avenue Drive NE.
For more information about Hickory’s history and 150th events, please visit www.HKY150.com.
