Gastonia, North Carolina is a beautiful place to visit and an even better place to call home.
History:
Supreme Court Judge, William Gaston was honored by having the city of Gastonia and the County Gaston named after him. The first European settlers to arrive in the area were mainly from Scotland, Ireland, Pennsylvania (Dutch) and of course England. Gaston County received a large number of German immigrants after the first settlers arrived too. In 1750, they built a Fort at the junction of the South Fork and Catawba Rivers, aimed at quelling on-going attacks from Cherokee. Most of the early farms were small and purely purposes of self-sufficiency. By the mid-19th century Gastonia was experiencing an industrial boom with the first three cotton mills already in production. Soon it was growing at a rapid rate and today it is the third-largest city in the Charlotte metropolitan area. In fact, Gastonia has seen its population increase by 8.25 percent between 2000 and 2010.
Economy:
Despite shutdowns and some job losses over the past decade, Gastonia maintains a relatively strong manufacturing workforce. Retailers Walmart and Advance Auto Parts have a significant presence in the City, as do Freightliner LLC, Stabilus, Danaher Tool Group and Curtiss-Wright. The City of Gastonia and Gaston County governments also play important roles in the local job market, as do the education and health service industries.
Tourism:
Gaston County in North Carolina is the U. S. National Whitewater Center. Apart from boasting the world's largest artificial whitewater river, you will find rock climbing and 14 miles of trails to hike, run or bike too. If that is all a little too action-filled for you, then there is always the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden for the family. Crowder's Mountain State Park is Gaston County's highest point and has some spectacular views from vertically sheer cliffs. Schiele is a science museum and planetarium with both permanent and touring exhibits on show. The Carolina Speedway in Gastonia is a popular destination for resident and visitor alike – catch the upcoming events calendar at Carolina Speedway. If you prefer more passive pursuits then you will find gardens and parks, historic sites and lots of shopping experiences waiting for you.