Hiddenite, NC

Tucked into the Alexander County foothills, Hiddenite is a quiet, tight-knit community of about 500 people. It gets its unique name from mineralogist William Earl Hidden, who was sent here by Thomas Edison to scout for minerals and ended up discovering a rare green gemstone named after him. Today, the area offers a relaxed rural lifestyle surrounded by rolling farmland and famous local gem mines. Life here is calm and unhurried, yet direct access to Highway 90 puts you just five miles east of Taylorsville and about fifteen miles from Statesville for easy shopping, dining, and commuting.