Hickory is a city of over 43,000 people, but Hickory’s services support the 365,000-person metropolitan area, as the hub for business and commerce. The City of Hickory is a council-manager form of government with a seven-person city council, including the mayor. With 26 parks, two libraries, seven fire stations, roughly 650 employees, and a variety of public services, Hickory offers the highest standards in customer service, while incorporating innovation and growth into each of those services.