Catawba County, North Carolina

Catawba County, North Carolina
Motto: 
"Making. Living. Better."
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Interactive map of Catawba County, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°40′N 81°13′W / 35.66°N 81.21°W / 35.66; -81.21
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1842
Named afterCatawba Tribe
SeatNewton
Largest communityHickory
Area
 • Total
416.02 sq mi (1,077.5 km2)
 • Land401.37 sq mi (1,039.5 km2)
 • Water14.65 sq mi (37.9 km2)  3.52%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
160,610
 • Estimate 
(2024)
167,054
 • Density400.15/sq mi (154.50/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district10th
Websitewww.catawbacountync.gov

Catawba County (/kəˈtɔːbə/ kuh-TAW-buh) is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 160,610. Its county seat is Newton, and its largest community is Hickory.

The county is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.