EZ Home Search Guide to Living in Gaston County, NC

Those living in Gaston County, North Carolina, know they have a tremendous opportunity to enjoy the best of two worlds. Located just west of Charlotte in central North Carolina, Gaston County mixes museums, dining, and retail with nature preserves and parks. Residents get access to modern amenities and the outdoors. 

Explore our guide to living in Gaston County to why it’s a fast-growing area in North Carolina.

About Gaston County

Welcome to the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Gaston County is just to the west of Charlotte. The landscape is gently rolling hills with some pronounced ridges, such as Kings Mountain Pinnacle, Spencer Mountain, and Crowders Mountain. The Pinnacle of the Kings Mountain Ridge is the highest point in the county. 

Surrounding Gaston County is Cleveland, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg counties. The county shares its southern border with York County, South Carolina. Mountain Island Lake, Lake Wylie, and the Catawba River make up the eastern border. 

Getting around is easy. Interstate 85 essentially bisects the county and links it to greater North Carolina. Highway 321 is a vital north-south artery. Residents also have convenient access to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. 

Residents benefit from Gaston County’s affordable cost of living. The Best Places Index Ranks the Cost of Living by setting the US average at 100. Gaston County has an overall score of 86.2, meaning it’s more affordable to live here than most places in the nation. The most expensive category was health care, with a 101 score. The least expensive was housing, with a score of 66.6. 

The climate in the area is relatively mild winters with warm summers. The average high in January is 52F, and the low is 30F. The warmest month is July, with an average 90F high and 69F low. Gaston averages 43 inches of rain per year, more than the US average. However, the county averages just two inches of snow in the winter months. It typically sees 214 days of sunshine. 

Gaston County History

The area’s original inhabitants were the Catawba and Cherokee peoples. German, Dutch, English, and Scots-Irish settlers moved into the area in the mid-1700s. The resulting tension caused two forts to be built at the conjunction of the Catawba and South Fork Rivers, but no skirmishes were fought. 

Early settlers had struggled with farming but found the corn could thrive in Gaston County. By 1870, Gaston County had a reputation as the “Banner Corn Whiskey County of Carolina.” There were 48 licensed distilleries. 

While farming was challenging to establish in Gaston County, industrialization changed its fate. From 1845 to 1848, three cotton mills were founded. Textile manufacturing became critical to the county’s economy. Even today, it remains a top county for cotton consumption and operating spindles. It has more cotton mills than any other county in the state. 

In addition to textile manufacturing, local mines provided essential minerals and ore, such as sulfur, tin, and iron. Several iron furnaces were built around Mount Holly, Bessemer City, and High Shoals. 

The county itself was founded in 1846 from the southern portion of Lincoln County. It was named for a congressman and North Carolina Supreme Court Justice. Gastonia was made the county seat in 1911. 

The Roman Catholic Order of Saint Benedict established Abbey College in Belmont in 1876. The Abbey continues to thrive in Belmont on its 700-acre campus. 

Gaston County Cities and Areas

Gaston County is a developed area with 15 incorporated towns plus several unincorporated communities.

Gastonia is the largest city by population and the largest of all the cities in Gaston County. It is the county seat and geographical center of the county. The city has been named an All-America City three times by the National Civic League, most recently in 2010. 

Mount Holly is the second-largest city in Gaston County, and that might be because of its proximity to Charlotte and its location on the Catawba River. The town has a well-developed retail shopping center. 

Belmont is next in population size. It has a thriving textile industry. It’s home to Belmont Abbey College and is near the North Carolina Textile School.

Cherryville got its name from the cherry trees planted along an old stagecoach lane. It was incorporated in 1881.

Bessemer City is in the county’s western section at the foot of Whetstone Mountain. It is a center of mining and home to a Lithium Corporation plant.

The other incorporated cities and towns in Gaston County include Cramerton, Dallas, Dellview, High Shoals, Kings Mountain, Lowell, McAdenville, Mount Holly, Ranlo, Spencer Mountain, and Stanley. Many of these towns were originally founded as textile centers or around another form of manufacturing. 

Gaston County Job Market

From its early days as a textile center to its modern resurgence as a manufacturing hub, Gaston County has been a center of manufacturing and trade. There is a range of employment and business opportunities available. 

The top three employing industries are manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and retail trades. Food services and educational services also have significant representation. Gaston County reported a 4.15% unemployment rate in September 2021. 

Based on the number of employees, the top employers are CaroMont Health, Gaston County Schools, Freightliner, Gaston County, Walmart, Mann + Hummel, American & Efird, Food Lion, and City of Gastonia, and Bud Anstle.

The average commute to work time for Gaston County residents in 2019 was 27 minutes. 

Gaston County Real Estate Market

You can find your dream home in Gaston County. From historic homes to lakeside living to golf communities, there is every type of residential lifestyle awaiting you.

The October 2021 real estate market in Gaston County reported a median sales price of $276,000, up 21% year-over-year. With just a 0.7 months’ supply of inventory and high demand, homes were on the market an average of 15 days until sale. The number of new listings was down for October, but overall up 10% for the year. 

Housing prices in Gaston County have been steadily increasing since 2014, with a slightly sharper rise beginning in mid-2020. It follows the same trend as the entire Charlotte MLS area. 

The City of Gastonia’s median sales price was $270,000, which was a 32% jump over October 2020. Again, the number of new listings was down 24%, and the month’s supply of inventory was under a month. 

Gaston County charged residents a 0.83 property tax rate. Housing values were re-evaluated in 2019 and are scheduled to be re-evaluated in 2023. 

Gaston County Population

The US Census in 2020 found Gaston County grew 9.6% to 227,943 residents. Projections estimate by 2025, there will be 232,160 people living here. The population is predominantly urban, with 80% of residents living in a developed area. 

Locals averaged 40 years old in 2019. Persons under 18 years old represented 22% of the population, while 16% were 65 and older. 

Regarding representation, 71% of residents identified as white alone and 18% identified as African American. Another 8% identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Of residents age 25 and older, 21% had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Residents reported a median household income of $52,835 in 2019. Around 65% of residents owned their homes.

Gaston County Education

Over 32,000 students were enrolled in grades K-12 during 2020-2021, making the Gaston County School System the ninth largest in North Carolina. AdvancEd has fully accredited it as a quality school system. It operates three primary schools, 28 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 12 high schools, one early college, and two specialized mixed grade academies. Three of its high schools have a 100% graduation rate. 

Families have 14 private schools available. Cramerton Christian Academy, Victory Christian Academy, and First Wesleyan Christian School are top-ranked. Most private K-12 schools are religiously affiliated. 

Gaston College offers two-year associate’s degrees and other courses for area residents. It has 61 degrees, 68 certificates, and 18 diploma programs. About 72% of its students attend part-time. 

The most popular programs were college transfer, business administration, nursing, medical office administration, veterinary medical technology, and criminal justice technology. It is the only community college with a textile technology center and a textile technology program in the states. The Apprenticeship 321 program was ranked the leading Apprenticeship Partner by the NCCCS. 

Belmont Abbey College is a Catholic college founded on Benedictine values. It has around 1,500 students studying Liberal Arts and Sciences with a whole person and spiritual emphasis. The Cardinal Newman Society ranked the college as one of the top Catholic colleges for its affordability and faithfulness. The Princeton Review also named it one of the Best Southeastern colleges. 

It has 26 major courses of study available, including accounting, finance, health care management, history, pastoral ministries, sports management, and theology. There is a master of health administration graduate program. 

Gaston County Health Care

CaroMont Regional Medical Center is a 435-bed not-for-profit medical center offering general and acute care. It is the anchor for the CaroMont Health operations, which includes five affiliate companies and a network of 46 primary and specialty physicians. Some of the services available at this institution include emergency care, diabetes, cancer, heart and vascular, neuroscience, orthopedic, sleep medicine, psychiatry, women’s and children’s services. 

CaroMont Health also operates a Regional Medical Center in Mount Holly. The facility has six rapid medical evaluation rooms, resuscitation rooms, ultrasound, laboratory, and CT scans. 

The Gaston County Health Department offers low-cost medical services to promote good health with at-risk populations. Clinics include a teen wellness center, women’s health, adult health, clinical laboratory, and pharmacy. It operates two satellite locations. 

Gaston County Things to Do 

Gaston County has a mix of modern recreation and outdoor sporting opportunities. Here you can hike and visit an art museum all in one day. 

If you like to hike, bike, or paddle, find it in Gaston County. There are over 80 parks inside the county borders for those seeking to commune with nature. These facilities include family-friendly spraygrounds at Harper Park, Lineberger Park, and Ranlo Park.

Crowders Mountain State Park will give you a view unlike any other in the area. Rock climb or hike to the top to get a view of the Charlotte skyline in the distance. Several trails wander through the state park. Primitive camping is available in two areas.  

Parts of the Carolina Thread Trail also wander through Gaston County, linking together 25 miles of sidewalks, natural surface, and paved trails. 

Six golf courses and one golf academy is inside Gaston County. Three of these courses are around Kings Mountain: the Kings Mountain Golf Course, Kings Mountain Country Club, and Woodbridge Golf and Country Club. Expect stellar views and rolling fairways.

The US National Whitewater Center has the world’s largest man-made whitewater course. The facility is a great place to practice your skills or learn how to handle fast-moving water.

If you prefer calmer waters, the 11 Mill Blueway Trail meanders along the South Fork River and the Catawba River. Canoe liveries and marinas rent equipment, and there are plenty of dining and bar options along the way. More boating is available on Lake Wylie, where the open waters are perfect for water skiing or tubing fun. 

Gaston County has agritourism where you can pick blueberries in the summer and pumpkins in the fall. Local farms offer opportunities to pick your produce, visit farm markets, and enjoy hayrides. At least nine working farms are open to the public in some capacity. 

Gaston County also has a rich history rooted in textile and manufacturing traditions. Numerous buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in downtown Dallas, Cherryville, Belmont, and other local towns. At Loray Mill, the Alfred C. Kessel Center demonstrates what mill life was like. The Mill is also the home of the African American Museum of History and Culture. 

The Carolina Speedway and its dirt track are known as “The Action Track.” Each week in season, it hosts different divisions, including the late Model Division, Street Stock, Four Cylinder, and Open Wheel Modified Cars. 

Gaston County Local Attractions

The Gaston County Museum in Dallas has an extensive collection of artifacts and folk art pieces. It preserves local arts in history for generations to come. Not all of its 25,000 artifacts are on display at one time, as it has an extensive storage location and a research facility in addition to the central Museum hub. 

Christmas Town USA is one of the top holiday events in North Carolina. Since 1956, the town of McAdenville has transformed every December into an astonishing display of holiday lights and activities. The cities include a 5K run, tree lighting ceremony, Yule Log parade, Santa and his reindeer, and music performances. 

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Is a peaceful 300 acres of spectacular gardens along the banks of Lake Wylie. The conservatory features sparkling fountains, nine themed gardens, tropical plants and orchids, and nature trails. Children will enjoy playing in the Kimbrell Children’s Garden. The gardens are open all four seasons. 

Schiele Museum of Natural History is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Among its collections is one of the largest groups of mounted land mammals, natural history exhibits, an outdoor replica of a Catawba Native village, and an 18th-century farm. The museum also has a planetarium, stone age sites, nature trails, and live animal enclosures. 

Cherryville Depot Train Museum is a historic building that exhibits parts of the county’s railroad history. Kids will enjoy watching the model trains. 

The Belmont Abbey Basilica and its painted glass windows are a central figure in the Belmont Abbey historic district. It is on the National Register Of Historic Places.

Kings Mountain Historical Museum engages visitors to step back in time to the famous battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War. 

The Gastonia Honey Hunters are a professional baseball team playing in the Atlantic League. The team plays 140 games a year, with 70 during the home season. 

Gaston County Dining

Gaston County serves up a deliciously varied culinary experience with a highly developed community. Find traditional fish camps, North Carolina BBQ, local craft brewing, and everything in between. Residents have ample options that will satisfy any palate. 

The experience of eating isn’t concentrated in the central city of Gastonia. You’ll find delicious dishes in all the small towns in Gaston County. Here’s a tiny amuse-bouche of dining Gaston County:

• J. Peter’s Grill & Bar, Mount Holly, has views of the Catawba River and casual eats
• The Brightstar Grill, Mount Holly, a 50-year-old iconic diner 
• Muddy Rum Distillery, Belmont, on the banks of the Catawba River
• Kyle Fletcher’s Barbeque, Lowell, has won awards in the past
• The Shack, Cramerton, has made-to-order snow cones
• Tony’s Ice Cream, Gastonia, has been mixing it up for over a century
• Twin Tops, Gastonia, a classic-style North Carolina fish camp

The Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail runs through Gaston and Cleveland County, featuring breweries, distilleries, and wineries. Each establishment has its unique take on distilled creations.

Gaston County Shopping

If you enjoy retail therapy, Gaston County has you covered. There is an abundance of shopping opportunities, from local mom-and-pop shops to big chain retailers. 

The East Ridge Mall in Gastonia is a traditional closed-air mall with Belk, Dillard’s, and Teddy’s Emporium Outlets anchors. Its brands include Bath & Body Works, New York & Co, Reeds Jewelers, Things Remembered, and LensCrafters. It also has local businesses like Lulu’s Candy Store and McKinley’s Home Decorations.

Explore any local small towns to find boutique retailers, gift shops, and antiques. Find downtown shopping districts in Belmont, Mount Holly, McAdenville, and Gastonia. Here you’ll find consignment stores, candy factories, and specialty boutiques. 

Living in Gaston County, NC

Gaston County mixes an urban lifestyle with opportunities to hike, bike, and paddle. You are close to the nation’s largest Whitewater Center and have hiking trails in your backyard. The local towns are rich in arts and cultural attractions, from botanical gardens to museums. Gaston County has a professional baseball team and stock car racing. McAdenville’s Christmas Town USA is one of the best holiday experiences in the nation. With so much to enjoy, why live anywhere else?