Bethlehem is a census-designated place (CDP) in Alexander County, North Carolina, United States.

[4] The CDP occupies a large area in the southwestern corner of Alexander County, along the north shore of Lake Hickory on the Catawba River.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,491 people, 1,900 households, and 1,392 families residing in the CDP.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 3,713 people, 1,454 households, and 1,142 families residing in the CDP.

18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.