kids encyclopedia robot

Hudson, North Carolina facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Hudson, North Carolina
Commercial buildings on Central Street
Commercial buildings on Central Street
Location of Hudson, North Carolina
Location of Hudson, North Carolina
Country United States
State North Carolina
County Caldwell
Area
 • Total 3.66 sq mi (9.47 km2)
 • Land 3.66 sq mi (9.47 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,217 ft (371 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 3,780
 • Density 1,033.35/sq mi (398.99/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28638
Area code(s) 828
FIPS code 37-32980
GNIS feature ID 2405871

Hudson is a friendly town located in Caldwell County, North Carolina, in the United States. It's part of a larger area that includes nearby cities like Hickory and Lenoir. In 2020, about 3,780 people called Hudson home.

Exploring Hudson's Past

Hudson started out as a simple sawmill camp. People were drawn to the area because of all the timber (wood) available. Two brothers, Monroe and Johnny Hudson, were among the first settlers. The town was named "Hudsonville" in their honor in 1880. The "ville" part was dropped in 1889 to avoid confusion with another town, Hendersonville. Finally, in 1905, Hudson officially became an incorporated town.

The Rise of Industry in Hudson

In 1904, a businessman named B.B. Hayes brought the first major industry to Hudson. He started the Hudson Cotton Mill, which later became known as Shuford Mills. This important building, the Hudson Cotton Manufacturing Company, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Life in Hudson Today

Hudson is located in the foothills of Western North Carolina. This area was once famous for making furniture. Today, Hudson is home to several businesses, including Shurtape Technologies, Kincaid Furniture, BeoCare, and Sattler USA.

Population and Daily Life

About 3,800 people live in Hudson. However, during the day, the number of people in town grows to over 10,000. This is because many people come to Hudson for work or to attend schools like Caldwell Community College.

Famous Places in Hudson

Many of Hudson's important landmarks are found near its main street. These include the Hudson Uptown Building, often called the "HUB." It used to be Hudson Elementary School and is now a place for events. You can also see local shops along main street and Caldwell Community College from US 321.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Hudson has two great parks for everyone to enjoy.

  • Redwood Park has a playground, a swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, and several sports fields. It even has a dog park for your furry friends!
  • The Hickman Windmill Park & Depot Museum features the historic Hudson Depot and a red caboose. There's also a 19th-century windmill. Music events, like the Hudson Hometown Concert Series, are often held here.

Beautiful Views and Festivals

On clear days, you can see amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including Grandfather Mountain. These views are especially clear from near Hudson Middle School. Hudson also hosts the Caldwell County's oldest continuous event, The Butterfly Festival. This fun festival happens every first Saturday in May and attracts thousands of visitors.

Hudson's Location

Hudson is in the southern part of Caldwell County. To the north, it shares a border with the city of Lenoir, which is the county seat. To the south, it borders the town of Sawmills.

Roads and Size

U.S. Route 321, a four-lane highway, runs along the eastern side of Hudson. It connects Hudson to Lenoir in the northwest and to Hickory about 11 miles (18 km) to the southeast. Another road, US 321 Alternate, goes right through the center of town as Main Street. The town of Hudson covers a total area of about 3.7 square miles (9.7 km²), all of which is land.

Hudson's Population Over Time

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 411
1920 403 −1.9%
1930 650 61.3%
1940 748 15.1%
1950 922 23.3%
1960 1,536 66.6%
1970 2,820 83.6%
1980 2,888 2.4%
1990 2,819 −2.4%
2000 3,078 9.2%
2010 3,776 22.7%
2020 3,780 0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

The population of Hudson has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1910, there were just over 400 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 3,780 people.

Who Lives in Hudson?

Hudson racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 3,305 87.43%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 63 1.67%
Native American 4 0.11%
Asian 16 0.42%
Other/Mixed 126 3.33%
Hispanic or Latino 266 7.04%

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 3,780 people living in Hudson. These people made up 1,527 households and 1,048 families. Most of the residents identified as White (non-Hispanic), making up about 87% of the population.

Schools in Hudson

Hudson has several schools for students of all ages.

High Schools

  • Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy
  • Caldwell Early College High School
  • South Caldwell High School

Middle School

  • Hudson Middle School

Elementary School

  • Hudson Elementary School

Private and Independent Schools

  • Heritage Christian School (private)
  • Moravian Prep (independent)

Higher Education

  • Appalachian Center at Caldwell (part of Caldwell Community College)
  • Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute

Local Media

Hudson has several local radio stations that keep residents informed and entertained:

  • WHKY, 1290 WHKY TalkRadio
  • WJRI, Just Right Radio 100.5 FM/1340 AM WJRI
  • WKGX, Classic Hits 104.5 FM/1080 AM WKGX
  • WKVS, Hot New Country KICKS 103.3 FM WKVS
  • WAIZ, "63 Big Ways", AM 630, playing oldies from the 1950s and 1960s

Famous People from Hudson

Many talented people have come from Hudson:

  • Jennifer Alley: A former head basketball coach for the women's team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She led her team to an ACC championship in 1984.
  • Madison Bumgarner: A professional MLB pitcher who has won the World Series three times. He was also named the World Series MVP in 2014.
  • Linda Combs: A former official in the U.S. federal government.
  • Jan Karon: A New York Times #1 bestselling author, famous for her Mitford series of novels.
  • Bob McCreary: A former NFL player who also became a successful furniture business owner.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hudson (Carolina del Norte) para niños

kids search engine
Hudson, North Carolina Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.