Prudential Hickory Metro Real Estate

Conover NC Area Guide

Conover, North Carolina is a city in Catawba County; it is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area and has 7,461 residents (2009 census). The city is in the western piedmont area of the state and is conveniently located 50 miles northwest of Charlotte. Under the council-manager form of government the city provides its residents with police and fire protection, public works, street maintenance, recycling services, and parks and recreational opportunities.

Conover History

According to early reports, the town of Conover was established when Francis Smyre bought a piece of land from J.P. Spencer and built a home for him and his wife here. Their son Clinton Eugene Smyre was the first child to be born here. The Smyre Family originally named the area Wye, and it was a junction point for the Southern Railway which ran to Newton. The junction point was a turn table for trains going North or South.

In the early years the Smyres operated a boarding house and restaurant for the railroad workers, and then later Mr. Smyre went into business repairing shoes. The old home was located on the North corner of Main Street, now occupied by the Phillips 66 Service Co. The city was later renamed Conover and the town has continued to grow ever since.

Conover Parks and Recreation

The City of Conover Parks and Recreation Department consists of 8 neighborhood parks to serve residents here. The parks are maintained by the city and are intended to be used for walking and enjoying the natural scenery.

Rock Barn Golf and Spa

The Rock Barn Golf and Spa is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and includes more than 1,300 acres of pristine meadows, wooded hillsides, bubbling brooks, and serene lakes. The area is perfect for family entertainment and community offers golf, tennis, swimming, and equestrian sports to keep your family occupied. The Rock Barn Golf and Spa is also home to the Greater Hickory Classic presented by KIA Motors, which is a PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour event. In 2005 Retirement Lifestyles Magazine named Rock Barn Golf and Spa one of the “Top 50 Master Planned Communities in the Carolinas.”

Conover Attractions

Catawba County Museum of History

The Catawba County Museum pays tribute to the hardy settlers of the Catawba River Valley and their descendants who are known for their furniture and textile empire. The museum aims to tell the story of the self-sufficient Scotch-Irish, German, English, and African peoples who followed the Native American trails searching for a new home.

Catawba Science Center

The Catawba Science Center aims to increase interest in science and technology by providing educational programs to the citizens of Western Piedmont. The Center also hosts teaching collections and other activities that focus on physical participation. The permanent exhibits explore Natural and Earth Sciences, and the interactive exhibits rotate throughout the year. The Center also boasts the only marine touch pool in North Carolina with live sharks and stingrays in addition to their freshwater and saltwater aquarium exhibits.

United Arts Council of Catawba County

Originally formed as the Hickory Arts Council in 1960, the United Arts Council of Catawba County manages the grounds of the SALT Block (home of the Hickory Museum of Art), Catawba Science Center, Western Piedmont Symphony, Hickory Choral Society and the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library. The organization also provides funds for individual artists and groups through its United Arts Fund campaign.

Western Piedmont Symphony

The Western Piedmont Symphony holds an active concert series at Lenoir-Rhyne University, the Museum of Art, and several local churches. The String Quartet performs one concert per year in each of the elementary schools here, and the Chamber Orchestra performs a concert on 18 occasions throughout the year.

Conover Events

Click here for the full Conover Events Calendar