EZ Home Search Guide to Living in Alexander, NC

The “Gem of North Carolina,” Alexander County lies in the Appalachian Mountains foothills. The nickname comes from the Hiddenite community and precious emeralds mined from the area. The real gem isn’t what lies under the earth, but the small town quality-of-life that makes living in Alexander County worthwhile to its residents.

Explore our guide to living in Alexander County to see how this community has something to offer everyone.

About Alexander County

Alexander County is part of the western Piedmont region in the Appalachian Foothills. The Brushy Mountains are a notable geographic feature. Locally called the “Brushies,” these eroded spurs of the Blue Ridge Mountains rise 300-1000 feet above the surrounding countryside. Hickory Knob is the highest point in the county. 

Between the Brushies and the Catawba River on the southern border is the undulating countryside of the Piedmont region. 

Alexander County is surrounded by Wilkes, Iredell, Catawba, and Caldwell counties. Residents are about an hour’s drive from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. 

The climate offers a four-season experience. In July, high temperatures average 87F degrees and 68F for the low. January is the coldest month, with an average high of 49F. The summer months see the most rain, with July topping out at an average nine days of precipitation. January is the snowiest month with an average of 2.4 inches of snow.

An advantage of living in Alexander County is its affordable overall cost of living. The Best Places Cost Of Living Index sets the US average at 100. Alexander County scored an overall 86.6, meaning it was cheaper to live here than in the US and most places in North Carolina. The most expensive category was health care, while housing was the least expensive.

Alexander County History

Alexander County was named after the Alexander family, local leaders in colonial North Carolina. The county was first established in 1847 from parts of Iredell, Caldwell, and Wilkes Counties. Taylorsville was chosen as the county seat. 

While the county wasn’t created until the mid-1800s, the area has a long history. Tradition says that Daniel Boone had a hunting lodge in present-day northern Alexander County until 1769. The Elk Shoals Creek settlement was formed as early as 1751. The Hickory Tavern started in the 1780s; it’s where the modern town of Hickory gets its name. 

Several churches and buildings have roots going back to the late 1700s. These include Little River Baptist Church and parts of modern Taylorsville High School. Linney’s Mill has been near the same spot for 190 years, with Richard Cook erecting a mill there in 1790. 

During the American Civil War, Major General George Stillman raided through Alexander County on Easter Sunday in 1865. The Army burned the courthouse records.

The W.P. Warren boys discovered the Hiddenite gem. As it was Professor W.E. Hidden who took the mineral to New York, his name was attached to the mineral. The Hiddenite gems and Emerald Hollow Mine are rich in different kinds of crystals, including emeralds and quartz. The largest emerald mined in North America was unearthed in Hiddenite. 

Alexander County Cities and Areas

Part of the attraction of living in Alexander County is its small-town feeling and charm. Large areas remain rural and undeveloped. The county divides the land into eight townships: Ellendale, Gwaltneys, Little River, Millers, Sharpes, Sugarloaf, Taylorsville, and Wittenberg. 

Taylorsville has been the county seat since it was established in 1847. It is the largest municipality in Alexander County. Most of the events, dining and retail amenities are situated around Taylorsville. 

The remaining area is a collection of unincorporated communities or census-designated places. Hiddenite and its mines is probably the most famous. The other two communities are at Bethlehem and Stony Point. Both of these have hidden historic buildings.

Alexander County Job Market

Alexander County resides in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morgantown MSA, which reported a 3.4% unemployment rate in October 2021. The county is trying to diversify its manufacturing base, which is currently concentrated in furniture production. About 40% of the workforce serves the manufacturing industry. The other top employing industries by size are public administration and educational services. 

Based on the number of employees, the top ten employers are Alexander County Schools, Craftmaster Furniture, the Mitchell Gold Co, the Department of Public Safety, Alexander County, Hancock & Moore, Schneider Mills, Amteck, and Huntington House. Five of these leading employers are in the manufacturing sector. 

The average commute to work for Alexander residents in 2019 was 25 minutes.

Alexander County Real Estate Market

In reviewing the available real estate market data for September 2021, Alexander County had a median sales price of $262,000, up 22% year-over-year. Homes were on the market an average 16 days until sale. The month’s supply of inventory stood at one month, a 50% drop from September 2020.  

Looking at year-to-date data, the median sales price increased 24%, while the days on the market until sale were down 58%. The number of listings was up both year-to-date and year-over-year. 

Housing prices in Alexander County have historically been relatively stable. They began steadily rising starting in late 2016. The data indicates a sharper increase in housing prices in mid-2019 and again in early 2021. The trend was similar to the counties around it and across the nation. 

Alexander residents paid a 0.79 property tax rate. Housing values were re-assessed in 2015 and will be re-evaluated in 2023. 

Alexander County Population

Alexander County had 36,444 residents, according to the April 2020 Census. The population decreased from the 2010 Census when slightly over 37,000 residents called the county home. The population is predominantly rural, with only 27% of residents living in an urban area. 

Residents averaged 44 years old in 2019. The age group with the most residents was the 0-19 demographic, followed closely by the over-65 group.

Demographically, approximately 87% of residents identified as white alone. Another 6% identified as African-American, while 5% indicated Hispanic or Latino background.

At least 14% of residents aged 25 and over had a bachelor’s degree. The median household income was $54,960 in 2019. Around 75% of residents owned their homes.

Alexander County Education

The Alexander County School System operated 11 schools to serve around 5,000 students. A primarily rural school district, around 34% of the student body is considered economically disadvantaged. The district has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, one early college school, five head start programs or preschools, and a virtual school.

Higher education opportunities are through the Catawba Valley Community College. The school offers career training and associate degrees. The Alexander campus is home to the Alexander Center for Education and the Applied Technology Center. It has course work in furniture manufacturing, mechatronics, welding, health and public services, and CNA. CVCC runs the Career and College Promise program for high school juniors and seniors. 

Alexander County Health Care

The Alexander County Health Department offers low-cost men’s and women’s health care programs. Options are available for physical exams, family planning, primary care, children’s health, behavioral health, immunizations, and dental care.

No major hospitals are available in the county. The nearest major hospital is in Hickory. The Catawba Valley Regional Medical Center is about 30 minutes from Taylorsville.

If you need urgent care, there is a facility in Taylorsville. Some general physicians and a few specialists work in the area, primarily around the county seat. 

Alexander County Things to Do 

Living in Alexander County provides residents with ample outdoor sporting and recreation opportunities. For example, Moore Mountain is popular for hang-gliding. The Brushy Mountains is a nationally recognized off-highway vehicle park with 65 miles of dirt bike and four-wheel trails.

Lake Hickory along the county border is a destination for water sports like boating, waterboarding, and fishing. Created by the Oxford Dam on the Catawba River, public lake access is at the Wittenburg and Dusty Ridge Access Area. The county’s other rivers and creeks have flyfishing opportunities. 

The Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area is a 318-acre park in a former rock quarry. Today, its sheer face has over 60 established routes for rock climbers. The facility also has five miles of hiking trails, picnic facilities, and a multi-purpose building.

Golfers can enjoy the views at the Brushy Mountain Golf Club and Player’s Ridge Golf Club. The Brushy Mountain course is 6,560 yards with a medium-length layout. The club also has a full-service restaurant and bar. 

Alexander County Local Attractions

Emerald Hollow Mine is the source of precious stones and gems in the Hiddenite area of Alexander County. USA Today has called it one of the “Top 10 Great Places to Hunt for Treasure”. You get a bucket of ore to pick through or try your hand at creeking or sluicing.

Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Center is in a restored Victorian house and accommodates art galleries and a collection. The exhibitions showcase local folklife and cultural arts.

Alexander Central Auditorium hosts community events like music concerts, community plays, dance competitions, and more. It can seat up to 1,000 people. 

H-N-H Arena is an equine facility that hosts Rope-A-Steer and other Team Roping events. The facility is also the site of horse shows, rodeos, barrel races, cuttings, and other equine clinics. 

If you enjoy paintball, the Command Decision Paintball facility is the third oldest paintball field in the world. You play on over 60 acres with 14 forts, a simulated city, a rocket base, radio station, foxholes, props, and trenches. It hosts significant events every year and attracts international visitors. 

Throughout the year, residents gather together for various festivals and events. Rocky Fest takes place at The Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area has two events, RockyFest in April and the Rocky Face rock climbing Festival on the first Saturday of November. Taylorsville has the Taylorsville Apple Festival every year on the third Saturday of October in the downtown area. 

Alexander County marks the major holidays. An Independence Celebration takes place usually sometime in July (not always on the 4th of July), and a Christmas Parade travels through downtown the first Saturday of December. 

Alexander County Dining

Alexander County is where you will find fresh ingredients, sometimes straight out of the farm. If you enjoy some good country cooking, you will find it here. Traditional American options include barbecue, hamburgers, pasta, and pizza. A few places to give you an idea of what’s available:

• The Yellow Deli in Hiddenite has a rustic atmosphere, homemade bread and sweets, sandwiches, and soups
• McLindon’s Restaurant is the closest venue to fine dining in Taylorsville, with seafood and steaks on the menu
• Crossroads Grill in Bethlehem is in a rural setting and serves classic diner fare
• Apple City BBQ is a homey place with pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and chicken, and the classic sides

Alexander County Shopping

The Alexander County area lacks major shopping malls, but it does have all you need to have a fulfilling lifestyle. Stores supply all the basics for groceries, clothing, and home goods.

There are three art galleries in Alexander County when it comes to specialty wares. Several antique stores are in the downtown Taylorsville area, such as West Main Antiques and hidden treasures.

One attraction in Alexander County is the farms. There are opportunities throughout the year to pick your seasonal produce. Deal Orchards in Taylorsville runs a farm market and is a third-generation fruit farm. 

Living in Alexander County, NC

Alexander County is where people come to play, but you can choose to set up a home and stay. Life in Alexander County is relaxed and full of small-town charm. From the Brushy Mountains in the north to Lake Hickory in the south, enjoy the area’s outdoor recreation amenities. Residents enjoy a rural lifestyle but are still close to larger cities for when they need to visit.