Golf, tennis, water sports, organized athletic programs for young people and adults, hiking, camping, horseback riding, and hunting are popular activities. High school and college athletics and stock car racing top the list of spectator sports.
Water sports are among the top recreational pursuits for an obvious reason.
A series of lakes formed by the Catawba River border half the county. Fishing, water skiing, power boating, sail boating, swimming, and camping are among popular lake centered activities. Click for the Current Hickory Weather . There are over 200 churches in the county representing a wide variety of denominations. The oldest church, Old St. Paul's Lutheran Church, was established in 1771.