search RIDGEVIEW Breadcrumb Residents Neighborhoods Ridgeview Since its beginning, the Ridgeview community has been a strong neighborhood that focuses its existence around family, church, and its rich heritage. One hundred years ago, the community was known for pulling together to make things happen; this legacy holds true today. According to local tales, Ridgeview earned its name because of its perfect view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Located in parts of the southeast and southwest quadrants of the City, the Ridgeview Neighborhood is a section of single family residences, duplexes, multi-family housing, a library, recreation centers, public housing, churches, and businesses. Ridgeview historically has been, and continues to be, a predominantly African-American neighborhood. The neighborhood is surrounded by four heavily traveled roads: N.C. Highway 127 on the east, U.S. Highway 70 on the south, 4th Street SW on the west, and 2nd Avenue SE on the north. To the northwest of the Ridgeview Neighborhood sits Downtown Hickory, which is the Central Business District for the City. A public library was established in Ridgeview in 1940. As the neighborhood expanded, a new facility - Ridgeview Branch Library - was built in 1998 to accommodate the growing community. Ridgeview is also home to several recreation facilities, including Ridgeview Recreation Center, Brown Penn Recreation Center, Brown Penn Senior Center, and Taft Broome Park. In the early 1990’s, Ward 4 Councilwoman Z. Ann Hoyle made a push to increase the number of sidewalks in the Ridgeview community. Connectivity and walkability within the neighborhood will be further enhanced by the future Book Walk project, which will create a multi-purpose path connection from the City Walk at South Center Street and Main Avenue to Ridgeview Branch Library, and through the Ridgeview community to the Walmart Neighborhood Market on US Highway 70. Construction of the Book Walk is slated for 2019. A point of pride for the community is the athletic legacy of the old Ridgeview High School, which had one of the best football and basketball teams in the state in the early 1940’s until it closed in the 1960’s. The 1964 Ridgeview Panthers football team, better known as “The Untouchables” for its undefeated and unscored upon season, is still widely revered in the community today. Many professional athletes attended Ridgeview High School and they still have a vested interest in the Ridgeview community. Concerned Citizens of Ridgeview The Concerned Citizens of Ridgeview is the oldest established neighborhood association within the City. The group meets the fourth Monday of the month (except in May, if Memorial Day is the fourth Monday, and December) at 5:30 p.m. at the Ridgeview Recreation Center. The Ridgeview Redevelopment Plan was competed in 1999, to review it, click here. The neighborhood completed a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis in 2008. Neighborhood Liaison: Andrea Nixon, Senior Recreation Programmer Neighborhood Leader: Allen Mitchell, Jr. City of Hickory 76 North Center Street Hickory, North Carolina 28601 Phone: (828) 323-7400 Fax: (828) 323-7550 Life. Well Crafted. Hickory is for doers and makers seeking a well-rounded community, located between Charlotte and Asheville at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along I-40, where a collective spirit of craftsmanship strengthens any endeavor with detail, artistry, and quality. Stay Connected © 2021 City of Hickory, North Carolina. All Rights Reserved