Hiddenite is located in
Alexander County between
Statesville and
Lenoir along Highway 90 near
Taylorsville, Lookout Shoals Lake, and the South Fork of the Yadkin River. Hiddenite is part of the
Hickory-Morganton, North Carolina metro area.
Named after a mineral found locally, the gem was named for William Earl Hidden, a mineralogist sent to North Carolina by Thomas Edison to find platinum. An ancient fault line makes this region rich in minerals, particularly emeralds.
