The city of Newton is located in Catawba County, situated in the North Carolina Piedmont Plateau of the Piedmont Industrial Crescent. Newton is positioned in the triangle formed by Asheville to the northwest, Winston-Salem to the northeast, and Charlotte to the southeast, all within an hour and a half drive. The gently rolling terrain blends into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The city of Newton has experienced a steady rate of growth since 1970, expanding from 7,600 to the current population of over 13,000 people.