This forest type was once one of the predominant community types in the Piedmont. Most of this type is now in agriculture, urban development, or is occupied by successional pine stands after past agriculture. What was not cleared was subject to long term selective cutting and to livestock foraging. This forest occurs on ridgetops, upper slopes, steep south-facing slopes and other relatively dry upland areas on acidic soils. Pines are often an important component and may occasionally even be dominant.
Herbs are generally sparse.
Areas that were cultivated are generally dominated by even-aged pine stands, which are replaced by the climax oaks and hickories only as the pines die. Heavily logged areas may have a mixture of hardwoods and pines. Under natural conditions these forests are uneven-aged, with old trees present. Reproduction occurs primarily in the canopy gaps. The dry to mesic nature of the Oak-Hickory Forests determines the types of animals found.