Gaston County is located in the South-Central Piedmont section of North Carolina . It is bounded on the east by the Catawba River and Mecklenburg County , on the west by Cleveland County , on the north by Lincoln County and on the south by York County , South Carolina . Gaston was formed from a lower portion of Lincoln County in 1846.
Gaston County is one of one hundred counties created by the North Carolina State Legislature. It ranks 74th in size consisting of approximately 364.5 square miles, and is seventh in population with approximately 190,000 people recorded during the 2000 Census. The County has fifteen incorporated towns.
The topography of the County is gently rolling to hilly, with several pronounced ridges, including Kings Mountain Pinnacle, Spencer Mountain , Jackson 's Knob, Paysour Mountain and Crowders Mountain . Elevations above sea level in Gaston County range from 587 feet in the southeast corner to 1,705 feet at the Pinnacle of the Kings Mountain ridge in the southwest. The average elevation is estimated at 825 feet.
The County has a temperate climate characterized by moderate temperature variations and moderate humidity. The average temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ranging from an average winter temperature of 43 degrees to a summer average of 78 degrees. The average annual precipitation is 44 inches, and the average relative humidity is 54 percent. The primary components of the drainage system in Gaston County are the Catawba River with the South Fork River as its major tributary.
Early Gaston County never knew the agricultural prosperity which some of the other counties of the State enjoyed. Normally, the small farms were self-sufficient, but the crop yield was relatively low. Corn, one of the more abundant and prosperous crops, was quickly converted into whiskey by one of the forty-eight licensed distilleries in the County. By 1870, Gaston was known as the "Banner Corn Whiskey County of Carolina." In addition to distilleries, mines in various parts of the County yielded in varying quantities--gold, lime, sulfur, tin, and iron. Furnaces for smelting ore were founded early around Mount Holly , Bessemer City , and High Shoals.
Between 1845 and 1848, the industrial boom in Gaston County had its origin. During this three-year period, the first three cotton mills in the County were established. Some authorities say that the first one was established by Thomas R. Tate on Mountain Island , the present site of Duke Power Company's Mount Holly steam plant. Other sources say that the first mill was established by the Linebergers and others on the South Fork River near McAdenville. Most sources agree that among the first three mills in operation in the County was the Stowesville Mill, founded by Jasper Stowe and Associates in the Point Section of Belmont . Gaston County still leads all other counties in the country both in the number of spindles in operation and in the number of bales of cotton consumed.
Today Gaston County enjoys a diverse industrial base with over 4,000 businesses employing nearly 95,000 workers. 33% of the employment is in the service sector, 26% in manufacturing, 23% in retail and wholesale trade, and 12% in government.
Public utilities serving the Gaston County area include Duke Power, Plantation Pipe Line Company, Public Service Company of North Carolina , and AT&T.
The Gaston County public school system is the sixth largest in the State with an enrollment of more than 32,000 students. It is a consolidated system which assures the same quality education for all students both urban and rural. The school system includes special programs, which are available for exceptional students as well as for the handicapped and the learning disabled.
Institutions of higher education in the County include Gaston College , a county-supported community college and Belmont Abbey College , a private 4-year institution.
Gaston County supports one of the most modern hospital facilities in the entire region, Gaston Memorial Hospital, Inc., in Gastonia . This 479-bed facility has an excellent staff of medical personnel and is equipped with the latest technological equipment. All rooms are private and are designed for maximum patient comfort and convenience.
Gaston County Information
Gaston County Recreation Links
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Gaston County is renowened for its beautiful scenery and is the home of Belmont Abbey College.
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