Belmont, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Belmont is a small suburban city
in Gaston County
, North Carolina
, United States
, located about 15 miles (24.1 km) west of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
and 9 miles (14.5 km) east of Gastonia
. The population was 8,705 at the 2000 census. Once known as Garibaldi, the city named in honor of August Belmont
, a prominent New York banker. Belmont is home to Belmont Abbey College
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²), of which, 8.1 square miles (21 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (1.82%) is water.
Nestled in the southern Piedmont
region of North Carolina, the town of Belmont is flanked by two rivers, the Catawba River
and its right tributary, the South Fork Catawba River. Adjacent to Belmont, the rivers make up two arms of Lake Wylie
and form a peninsula on which the city is situated.
Areas to the west of the center of town are part of the South Fork Catawba watershed. Eastern parts of Belmont north of the Norfolk Southern Railway
belong to the Catawba Heights watershed, while those to the south are in the Paw Creek watershed. Areas of unincorporated South Point Township south of Belmont belong to the Neal Branch-Beaverdam Creek watershed.
, but it was apparently never attacked.
The South Point Community, located about 2½ miles south of present-day downtown Belmont, was the site of Stowesville Mill. Founded by Jasper Stowe and Associates in 1853, it was one of the first three cotton mills in operation in Gaston County.
Abram Stowe (1842–1897) returned to the area after serving in the Civil War. He built a handsome Greek Revival home (still the oldest known structure in Belmont) and opened a small mercantile store. He later became postmaster and town depot agent for the new Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway, which was constructed in 1871. Additional stores were soon built near the community's railroad stop, Garibaldi Station. The station was named for John Garibaldi, who had supervised construction of a water tank near the new railroad. Existing settlers in the South Point community moved north to be closer to the railroad.
In 1872, Father Jeremiah O'Connell, a Roman Catholic missionary priest, purchased a 500 acres (2 km²) tract known as the Caldwell farm, less than one mile (1.6 km) north of Garibaldi Station. The land was then donated to the Benedictine
Monks of Saint Vincent's Arch-abbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
, for the establishment of a religious community and school. Belmont Abbey
, officially named "Mary Help of Christians Abbey," was founded in 1876 by Bishop Leo Haid
, and still functions today. The Abbey operates Belmont Abbey College
, a liberal-arts college. Bishop Haid is said to have been the one who suggested changing the name of the town to Belmont.
In 1883, the name of Garibaldi Station was formally changed to Belmont. In 1895, by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly, an area within a 1/4 mile radius from the intersection of Main Street and the railroad was incorporated as the Town of Belmont.
Belmont was still a small town at the turn of the century, with a population of only 145. The organization of Chronicle Mills in 1901 marked the beginning of Belmont's development as a textile center. It was founded by Robert Lee Stowe Sr. (1866–1963), his brother Samuel Pinckney Stowe (1868–1956), and Abel Caleb Lineberger (1859–1948, son of Caleb John Lineberger, who had founded Gaston County's second textile mill, the Woodlawn, or "Pinhook," Mill in Lowell, North Carolina
in 1852). Chronicle was the first of the nearly twenty mills built in Belmont through 1930, expanding the town population to 3,793.
of 2000, there were 8,705 people, 3,348 households, and 2,226 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,077.3 people per square mile (416.0/km²). There were 3,552 housing units at an average density of 439.6 per square mile (169.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.39% European American, 10.07% African American, 0.26% Native American, 2.98% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races
, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.
There were 3,348 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples
living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,819, and the median income for a family was $46,765. Males had a median income of $32,388 versus $25,213 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,065. About 6.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.
, with a mayor
and a five-member city council. The City Manager is Adrian Miller.
Belmont has its own police and fire departments which operate within the city limits. Fire protection in the unincorporated areas south of Belmont is handled by the South Point Volunteer Fire Department (2001 Southpoint Rd.), in areas southwest of Belmont by the New Hope Volunteer Fire Department (4804 S. New Hope Rd.), and in areas north of Belmont by Community VFD (1873 Perfection Ave.).
Belmont is in South Point Township
.
Though it is still used, Belmont's motto "The City of Diversified Textiles" is no longer relevant. Most of the large textile facilities that once employed thousands of local workers have been torn down or converted to other uses including housing. The large acreages that were home to the once thriving industry have also seen dramatic change. Most of the "mill houses" where employees lived and raised their families for generations have been torn down to make room for new housing developments and some areas have been converted to Industrial Centers containing various types of businesses. Most of the few remaining plants still in operation, run at reduced capacity employing fewer workers. To say that the impact of foreign textiles has adversely affected the lives of local residents is a gross understatement. Foreign textile imports have literally changed the landscape and physical look of Belmont and the lives of the families that once depended on the textile industry for their livelihoods. The mention of NAFTA and other such trade agreements often bring about bitter comments from the long time residents who have witnessed the huge loss of jobs and the decline of the once "King Cotton" industry.
Even with all of the negative impact of the foreign textile industry, Belmont continues to grow and thrive. Its proximity to the large, fast growing city of Charlotte have made Belmont an attractive place to live for the flood of new residents moving into the Charlotte area. Proof of this is readily seen in the historic downtown area of Belmont where the commercial occupancy rate is 100%. This represents quite a change from just a few short years ago when (in the midst of the textile decline) the downtown area was often referred to as a "ghost town" as many businesses that had enjoyed commercial success for decades closed their doors and remained vacant for years. Belmont's business community in cooperation with local city government recognized this problem and poured money into the almost dead downtown area for redevelopment. Though somewhat controversial at first, those investments have more than proved their worthiness. New restaurants, boutique shops, mom & pop enterprises and various other businesses have made downtown come alive again. The renovation of Stowe Park and the almost continuous public activities surrounding it lend proof to the welcome revitalization of the downtown area.
Its residents, young and old, natives and newcomers certainly find no stretch to compare Belmont to the fictional "Mayberry", where its natural beauty, friendly folks, and calm, laid back atmosphere take residents and visitors to a slower, simpler time. Belmont has faced its varied and difficult challenges head on with optimism and enthusiasm.
R.L. Stowe Mills, Inc. has its headquarters in Belmont and operates the Helms production facility. Gastonia-based Parkdale Mills currently operates two plants (Plants No. 15 and 61) and its Fiber Research Center in Belmont.
Duke Energy operates the G. G. Allen Steam Station
on Lake Wylie
(the Catawba River
) south of Belmont. First built in 1957, the Allen Station a five-unit 1,140-megawatt coal-fired power plant.
. Other important east-west highways include
U.S. Route 29
/U.S. Route 74
(Wilkinson Blvd.) and North Carolina Highway 7 (Catawba St./N. Main St./McAdenville Rd). The primary north-south highway is North Carolina Highway 273 (Armstrong Rd./South Point Rd./Keener Blvd./Park St./Beatty Dr.).
Freight rail service is provided by the Norfolk Southern Railway
. It operates the parallel Washington to Atlanta Main Line
and S-Line
. A spur off of the S-Line carries coal to Duke Energy's Allen Steam Station south of Belmont. While Amtrak's
passenger train also follows the main line, the nearest station is in Gastonia.
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is Belmont's commuter bus provider to Charlotte. The Gastonia Express (Route 85X) offers Monday-Friday bus service to/from uptown Charlotte, via the Abbey Plaza Shopping Center Station. One-way fare to/from uptown Charlotte: $2.60; transfer costs vary.
Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is a major, full-service airport with passenger flights. It is across the Catawba River
in Mecklenburg County
, about 7 miles (11.3 km) east of Belmont.
public school system. Public schools in Belmont include:
Private schools in Belmont include the middle school and high school programs of Gaston Christian School
. The school has been renting facilities at the former campus of Sacred Heart College in Belmont since 1994. New middle school and high school facilities are currently under construction at Gaston Christian School's campus in Lowell, North Carolina
.
The First United Methodist Day Care Center also operates Pre-K and Kindergarten programs.
is a private liberal-arts college affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church
and the Order of Saint Benedict
. It was founded as St. Mary's College in 1876 by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey
(the name changed to Belmont Abbey College in 1913). It was a men's college until the mid-1960s when it became co-educational.
Gaston College
is a community college
serving Gaston County. Belmont is home to one of Gaston College's three campuses, the East Campus and Textile Technology Center. The Center began operations in 1943 as the North Carolina Vocational Textile School, later renamed the North Carolina Center for Applied Textile Technology. It was transferred to Gaston College in 2005. The Textile Technology Center offers instruction in new and sample product development, product testing, training, and consulting for the textile industry. Continuing education and a few curriculum classes are offered on the campus.
Sacred Heart College, a women's college affiliated with the Roman Catholic order of the Sisters of Mercy
, formerly operated in Belmont. It was founded as a girls finishing school, Sacred Heart Academy, in 1892. It began offering associate decree programs in 1937 and baccalaureate degrees in 1970. After years of declining enrollment, it closed its doors in 1987.
is a 450 acres (1.8 km²) world-class botanical garden located on New Hope Road southwest of Belmont. Daniel J. Stowe, a retired textile executive, set aside the property and established a foundation to develop the Garden. The first gardens opened to the public in 1999.
The Downtown Belmont Historic District has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996. Roughly bounded by the former campus of Sacred Heart College, the Norfolk Southern Railway line, Main, Glenway, and Bryant Streets, Keener Blvd., and Central Ave, the district covers 1700 acres (6.9 km²). It contains 264 buildings and 2 structures built between 1850 and 1949, including examples of Tudor Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman, and Colonial Revival architectural styles. It includes the Colonial Revival-style former US Post Office at 115 N. Main Street, now the Belmont City Hall. The Belmont Hosiery Mill at 608 S. Main Street is also listed on National Register.
Stowe Manor, at 217 South Central Avenue, is the 1920s mansion built for textile magnate S.P. Stowe.
The campus of Belmont Abbey
has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an Historic District since 1973. The Abbey Basilica of Mary Help of Christians is the central feature of the campus. Built in the German Gothic-Revival architectural style, the Basilica was the largest Catholic church in North Carolina at the time of its construction. The monks of Belmont Abbey did much of the construction work themselves. The original art glass windows of the Basilica were designed and executed by the Royal Bavarian Establishment of Francis Mayer and Company of Munich
, Germany. They were painted then heat-fused, allowing for greater detail than was possible with stained glass. The windows were part of a display that won four gold medals at the World's Columbian Exposition
of 1892. The Basilica held cathedral rank from 1910 to 1977. It was elevated to the rank of a Minor Basilica on July 27, 1998.
The Belmont Historical Society Cultural and Heritage Learning Center is located in the former R.L. Stowe home at 40 Catawba Street. Built in 1899, it is believed to be the third oldest home in Belmont. The property also contains a free-standing kitchen, a mill house, and a garage. Displays include furnishings, artifacts, and pictures which tell the history of Belmont from the time of its Native American
inhabitants through the textile age.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center
is located just across the Catawba River from Belmont in Mecklenburg County
. Situated on the east bank of the river, the Center is a non-profit outdoor recreation facility for whitewater rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. It opened for public use in 2006.
Recently, the downtown area of Belmont has been expanding and adding new attractions like restaurants, bars, and comedy clubs. There also is a coffee shop in the downtown part of Belmont called “Caravan Coffee&Dessert Bar,” that hosts the "Caravan Jam" every Wednesday night and "Piano Nights" every other Thursday. With coffee being enjoyed by those in all aspects of life, Caravan attracts all different types of people in Belmont, some you may not have known lived in Belmont before and then again, you might see an old friend. Since it is right beside Stowe Park, it is a good rest area to get a cold drink during the summer or a hot cup of coffee during the colder parts of the year.
There is a general store by the name of “Stowe Mercantile Co.” that provides everything you need from fixing things around the home to toys for the children. Belmont is home to “Bills Belmont Drive-In”, more commonly known just as the “Drive-In.” the drive in stays busy during the warm summer nights when students are out of school for the summer. These have both been a part of Belmont for a long time, but they still are a major part of the community.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
in Gaston County
Gaston County, North Carolina
Gaston County is a county located just west of Charlotte in the southern Piedmont in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third largest county, by population, in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, officially designated the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located about 15 miles (24.1 km) west of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
and 9 miles (14.5 km) east of Gastonia
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
. The population was 8,705 at the 2000 census. Once known as Garibaldi, the city named in honor of August Belmont
August Belmont
August Belmont, Sr. was an American politician.-Early life:August Belmont was born in Alzey, Hesse, on December 8, 1813--some sources say 1816--to Simon and Frederika Elsass Schönberg, a Jewish family. After his mother's death, when he was seven, he lived with his uncle and grandmother in Frankfurt...
, a prominent New York banker. Belmont is home to Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College is a private liberal-arts Catholic college located in Belmont, North Carolina, USA west of Uptown Charlotte. It was founded in 1876 by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey...
.
Geography
Belmont is located at 35°14′40"N 81°2′8"W (35.244496, -81.035650).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²), of which, 8.1 square miles (21 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (1.82%) is water.
Nestled in the southern Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
region of North Carolina, the town of Belmont is flanked by two rivers, the Catawba River
Catawba River
The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...
and its right tributary, the South Fork Catawba River. Adjacent to Belmont, the rivers make up two arms of Lake Wylie
Lake Wylie
Lake Wylie is a reservoir, or man-made lake in the U.S. states of both South Carolina and North Carolina. The lake has a surface area of and features of shore line.-History:...
and form a peninsula on which the city is situated.
Areas to the west of the center of town are part of the South Fork Catawba watershed. Eastern parts of Belmont north of the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
belong to the Catawba Heights watershed, while those to the south are in the Paw Creek watershed. Areas of unincorporated South Point Township south of Belmont belong to the Neal Branch-Beaverdam Creek watershed.
History
Settlement in the Belmont area began around the colonial-era Fort at the Point, built in the 1750s by Dutch settler James Kuykendall and others near the junction of the South Fork and Catawba Rivers. The fort was built because of ongoing hostilities with the CherokeeCherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
, but it was apparently never attacked.
The South Point Community, located about 2½ miles south of present-day downtown Belmont, was the site of Stowesville Mill. Founded by Jasper Stowe and Associates in 1853, it was one of the first three cotton mills in operation in Gaston County.
Abram Stowe (1842–1897) returned to the area after serving in the Civil War. He built a handsome Greek Revival home (still the oldest known structure in Belmont) and opened a small mercantile store. He later became postmaster and town depot agent for the new Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway, which was constructed in 1871. Additional stores were soon built near the community's railroad stop, Garibaldi Station. The station was named for John Garibaldi, who had supervised construction of a water tank near the new railroad. Existing settlers in the South Point community moved north to be closer to the railroad.
In 1872, Father Jeremiah O'Connell, a Roman Catholic missionary priest, purchased a 500 acres (2 km²) tract known as the Caldwell farm, less than one mile (1.6 km) north of Garibaldi Station. The land was then donated to the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Monks of Saint Vincent's Arch-abbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
, for the establishment of a religious community and school. Belmont Abbey
Belmont Abbey, North Carolina
Mary Help of Christians Abbey, better known as Belmont Abbey, is a small community of Benedictine monks in the town of Belmont, North Carolina, outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, in the United States. Founded by Bishop Leo Haid in 1876, it is the daughter abbey to St. Vincent's Abbey in Latrobe,...
, officially named "Mary Help of Christians Abbey," was founded in 1876 by Bishop Leo Haid
Leo Michael Haid
Leo Michael Haid, O.S.B. was an Benedictine abbot and Catholic bishop serving as Abbot of the Abbey of Mary Help of Christians, in Belmont, North Carolina from 1885-1924 and as Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina from 1888-1910 and Territorial Abbot from 1910-1924.-Biography:Haid was born July 15,...
, and still functions today. The Abbey operates Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College is a private liberal-arts Catholic college located in Belmont, North Carolina, USA west of Uptown Charlotte. It was founded in 1876 by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey...
, a liberal-arts college. Bishop Haid is said to have been the one who suggested changing the name of the town to Belmont.
In 1883, the name of Garibaldi Station was formally changed to Belmont. In 1895, by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly, an area within a 1/4 mile radius from the intersection of Main Street and the railroad was incorporated as the Town of Belmont.
Belmont was still a small town at the turn of the century, with a population of only 145. The organization of Chronicle Mills in 1901 marked the beginning of Belmont's development as a textile center. It was founded by Robert Lee Stowe Sr. (1866–1963), his brother Samuel Pinckney Stowe (1868–1956), and Abel Caleb Lineberger (1859–1948, son of Caleb John Lineberger, who had founded Gaston County's second textile mill, the Woodlawn, or "Pinhook," Mill in Lowell, North Carolina
Lowell
- In the United States :* Lowell, Massachusetts** Lowell National Historical Park** Lowell * Lowell, Arkansas* Lowell, California* Lowell, Florida* Lowell, Indiana* Lowell, Bartholomew County, Indiana* Lowell, Maine* Lowell, Michigan...
in 1852). Chronicle was the first of the nearly twenty mills built in Belmont through 1930, expanding the town population to 3,793.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,705 people, 3,348 households, and 2,226 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,077.3 people per square mile (416.0/km²). There were 3,552 housing units at an average density of 439.6 per square mile (169.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.39% European American, 10.07% African American, 0.26% Native American, 2.98% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.
There were 3,348 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,819, and the median income for a family was $46,765. Males had a median income of $32,388 versus $25,213 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,065. About 6.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Belmont, like a majority of cities in North Carolina, has a council-manager governmentCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
, with a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and a five-member city council. The City Manager is Adrian Miller.
Belmont has its own police and fire departments which operate within the city limits. Fire protection in the unincorporated areas south of Belmont is handled by the South Point Volunteer Fire Department (2001 Southpoint Rd.), in areas southwest of Belmont by the New Hope Volunteer Fire Department (4804 S. New Hope Rd.), and in areas north of Belmont by Community VFD (1873 Perfection Ave.).
Belmont is in South Point Township
South Point Township, Gaston County, North Carolina
South Point Township is a township in southeastern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is represented on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners by Mickey Price of Belmont, who serves as Board Chairman....
.
Business and industry
The textile industry was once the very core of Belmont's economy. Today, due to a changing world economy and global marketplace, most of the textile jobs have left not only Belmont and Gaston County but the United States entirely. Cheap foreign labor has brought about a major shift to the American textile industry and it has been especially noticeable in Belmont's economy. The lure of cheap labor in the overseas textile industry coupled with controversial trade legislation to make off shore foreign textile goods more accessible have led to a dramatic decline if not the demise of U.S. made textile goods and textile related jobs.Though it is still used, Belmont's motto "The City of Diversified Textiles" is no longer relevant. Most of the large textile facilities that once employed thousands of local workers have been torn down or converted to other uses including housing. The large acreages that were home to the once thriving industry have also seen dramatic change. Most of the "mill houses" where employees lived and raised their families for generations have been torn down to make room for new housing developments and some areas have been converted to Industrial Centers containing various types of businesses. Most of the few remaining plants still in operation, run at reduced capacity employing fewer workers. To say that the impact of foreign textiles has adversely affected the lives of local residents is a gross understatement. Foreign textile imports have literally changed the landscape and physical look of Belmont and the lives of the families that once depended on the textile industry for their livelihoods. The mention of NAFTA and other such trade agreements often bring about bitter comments from the long time residents who have witnessed the huge loss of jobs and the decline of the once "King Cotton" industry.
Even with all of the negative impact of the foreign textile industry, Belmont continues to grow and thrive. Its proximity to the large, fast growing city of Charlotte have made Belmont an attractive place to live for the flood of new residents moving into the Charlotte area. Proof of this is readily seen in the historic downtown area of Belmont where the commercial occupancy rate is 100%. This represents quite a change from just a few short years ago when (in the midst of the textile decline) the downtown area was often referred to as a "ghost town" as many businesses that had enjoyed commercial success for decades closed their doors and remained vacant for years. Belmont's business community in cooperation with local city government recognized this problem and poured money into the almost dead downtown area for redevelopment. Though somewhat controversial at first, those investments have more than proved their worthiness. New restaurants, boutique shops, mom & pop enterprises and various other businesses have made downtown come alive again. The renovation of Stowe Park and the almost continuous public activities surrounding it lend proof to the welcome revitalization of the downtown area.
Its residents, young and old, natives and newcomers certainly find no stretch to compare Belmont to the fictional "Mayberry", where its natural beauty, friendly folks, and calm, laid back atmosphere take residents and visitors to a slower, simpler time. Belmont has faced its varied and difficult challenges head on with optimism and enthusiasm.
R.L. Stowe Mills, Inc. has its headquarters in Belmont and operates the Helms production facility. Gastonia-based Parkdale Mills currently operates two plants (Plants No. 15 and 61) and its Fiber Research Center in Belmont.
Duke Energy operates the G. G. Allen Steam Station
G. G. Allen Steam Station
G. G. Allen Steam Station is a 1.155-GW coal-fired electricity generating facility, located in South Point Township, Gaston County, North Carolina, on man-made Lake Wylie . Units 1 and 2 began operating in 1957; units 3, 4, and 5 in 1959, 1960, and 1961 respectively...
on Lake Wylie
Lake Wylie
Lake Wylie is a reservoir, or man-made lake in the U.S. states of both South Carolina and North Carolina. The lake has a surface area of and features of shore line.-History:...
(the Catawba River
Catawba River
The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...
) south of Belmont. First built in 1957, the Allen Station a five-unit 1,140-megawatt coal-fired power plant.
Transportation
The primary east-west highway passing through Belmont is Interstate 85Interstate 85
Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
. Other important east-west highways include
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from the western suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, to Pensacola, Florida. This highway's northern terminus is at Maryland Route 99 in Ellicott City, Maryland...
/U.S. Route 74
U.S. Route 74
U.S. Route 74 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Cleveland, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.-Tennessee:Established in 1987, US-74 western terminus is exit 20 on I-75 in Cleveland...
(Wilkinson Blvd.) and North Carolina Highway 7 (Catawba St./N. Main St./McAdenville Rd). The primary north-south highway is North Carolina Highway 273 (Armstrong Rd./South Point Rd./Keener Blvd./Park St./Beatty Dr.).
Freight rail service is provided by the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
. It operates the parallel Washington to Atlanta Main Line
Washington to Atlanta Main Line
The Washington to Atlanta Main Line is a railroad line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway that runs through the southeastern United States....
and S-Line
S-Line (Norfolk Southern)
The Norfolk Southern S-Line is a secondary main line which runs between Chattanooga, Tennessee and Salisbury, North Carolina.It is operated by Norfolk Southern Railway under 2 divisions...
. A spur off of the S-Line carries coal to Duke Energy's Allen Steam Station south of Belmont. While Amtrak's
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
passenger train also follows the main line, the nearest station is in Gastonia.
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is Belmont's commuter bus provider to Charlotte. The Gastonia Express (Route 85X) offers Monday-Friday bus service to/from uptown Charlotte, via the Abbey Plaza Shopping Center Station. One-way fare to/from uptown Charlotte: $2.60; transfer costs vary.
Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is a major, full-service airport with passenger flights. It is across the Catawba River
Catawba River
The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...
in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
, about 7 miles (11.3 km) east of Belmont.
Education
Public education in Belmont is administered by the Gaston County SchoolsGaston County Schools
Gaston County Schools is a public school district located in Gaston County, North Carolina. With 32,437 students enrolled in 54 schools as of the 2008/09 academic year, it is the seventh largest public school district in North Carolina.-Schools:...
public school system. Public schools in Belmont include:
- Elementary Schools
- J.B. Page Elementary School, pre-K to grade 1
- Belmont Central Elementary School, grades 2-5
- North Belmont Elementary School (graduates feed into either Belmont Middle School, Stanley Middle School or Mount Holly Middle School)
- Catawba Heights Elementary (has a Belmont mailing address, but is actually within the Mount HollyMount Holly, North CarolinaMount Holly is a small suburban city in northeastern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The city is situated on the western bank of the Catawba River in the Southern Piedmont area of North Carolina, north of Interstate 85, south of North Carolina State Highway 16, and west of Charlotte....
city limits - graduates feed into either Belmont or Mount Holly Middle Schools)
- Belmont Middle SchoolBelmont Middle SchoolBelmont Middle School is a public middle school in the Gaston County Schools school district located in Belmont, North Carolina, United States....
- graduates feed into either South Point High School, or East Gaston High School in Mount Holly - Page Primary SchoolPage Primary SchoolPage Primary School is a public elementary school in the Gaston County Schools school district and is located in Belmont, North Carolina, United States. Mark Fisher serves as principal.The school is recognized as a North Carolina School of Distinction....
- South Point High SchoolSouth Point High School (North Carolina)South Point High School is a public high school in the Gaston County Schools public school district located in Belmont, North Carolina.-Administration:...
- The school receives students from Belmont, Cramerton, parts of McAdenville and Mount Holly, and eastern unincorporated South Point Township. In athletics, the South Point High School Red Raiders were winners of the 3-AA NCHSAA Football Championship in 2009, the 3-A NCHSAA Football Championships in 2003 and 1979, the 1971 WNCHSAA 3-A Football Co-championship, and the 2011 and 1981 NCHSAA Baseball Championships.
Private schools in Belmont include the middle school and high school programs of Gaston Christian School
Gaston Christian School
Gaston Christian School is a private Christian school located in Lowell, North Carolina.-History:"GCS" was founded in 1979 by a group of parents who wished to have a non-denominational school. With support of the pastors of Parkwood Baptist Church and First ARP Church, it was opened in 1980 in...
. The school has been renting facilities at the former campus of Sacred Heart College in Belmont since 1994. New middle school and high school facilities are currently under construction at Gaston Christian School's campus in Lowell, North Carolina
Lowell, North Carolina
Lowell is a small city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. The population was 2,662 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lowell is located at ....
.
The First United Methodist Day Care Center also operates Pre-K and Kindergarten programs.
Colleges and universities
There are currently two colleges in Belmont. Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College is a private liberal-arts Catholic college located in Belmont, North Carolina, USA west of Uptown Charlotte. It was founded in 1876 by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey...
is a private liberal-arts college affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and the Order of Saint Benedict
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
. It was founded as St. Mary's College in 1876 by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey
Belmont Abbey, North Carolina
Mary Help of Christians Abbey, better known as Belmont Abbey, is a small community of Benedictine monks in the town of Belmont, North Carolina, outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, in the United States. Founded by Bishop Leo Haid in 1876, it is the daughter abbey to St. Vincent's Abbey in Latrobe,...
(the name changed to Belmont Abbey College in 1913). It was a men's college until the mid-1960s when it became co-educational.
Gaston College
Gaston College
Gaston College is a community college located in Dallas, North Carolina.Serving Gaston County and Lincoln County, Gaston College enrolls over 5,000 students each term in curriculum programs and about 16,000 students in continuing education programs...
is a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
serving Gaston County. Belmont is home to one of Gaston College's three campuses, the East Campus and Textile Technology Center. The Center began operations in 1943 as the North Carolina Vocational Textile School, later renamed the North Carolina Center for Applied Textile Technology. It was transferred to Gaston College in 2005. The Textile Technology Center offers instruction in new and sample product development, product testing, training, and consulting for the textile industry. Continuing education and a few curriculum classes are offered on the campus.
Sacred Heart College, a women's college affiliated with the Roman Catholic order of the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
, formerly operated in Belmont. It was founded as a girls finishing school, Sacred Heart Academy, in 1892. It began offering associate decree programs in 1937 and baccalaureate degrees in 1970. After years of declining enrollment, it closed its doors in 1987.
Points of interest
The Daniel Stowe Botanical GardenDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located on of rolling meadows, woodlands and lakefront property in Belmont, North Carolina. Founded by Daniel J...
is a 450 acres (1.8 km²) world-class botanical garden located on New Hope Road southwest of Belmont. Daniel J. Stowe, a retired textile executive, set aside the property and established a foundation to develop the Garden. The first gardens opened to the public in 1999.
The Downtown Belmont Historic District has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996. Roughly bounded by the former campus of Sacred Heart College, the Norfolk Southern Railway line, Main, Glenway, and Bryant Streets, Keener Blvd., and Central Ave, the district covers 1700 acres (6.9 km²). It contains 264 buildings and 2 structures built between 1850 and 1949, including examples of Tudor Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman, and Colonial Revival architectural styles. It includes the Colonial Revival-style former US Post Office at 115 N. Main Street, now the Belmont City Hall. The Belmont Hosiery Mill at 608 S. Main Street is also listed on National Register.
Stowe Manor, at 217 South Central Avenue, is the 1920s mansion built for textile magnate S.P. Stowe.
The campus of Belmont Abbey
Belmont Abbey, North Carolina
Mary Help of Christians Abbey, better known as Belmont Abbey, is a small community of Benedictine monks in the town of Belmont, North Carolina, outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, in the United States. Founded by Bishop Leo Haid in 1876, it is the daughter abbey to St. Vincent's Abbey in Latrobe,...
has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an Historic District since 1973. The Abbey Basilica of Mary Help of Christians is the central feature of the campus. Built in the German Gothic-Revival architectural style, the Basilica was the largest Catholic church in North Carolina at the time of its construction. The monks of Belmont Abbey did much of the construction work themselves. The original art glass windows of the Basilica were designed and executed by the Royal Bavarian Establishment of Francis Mayer and Company of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany. They were painted then heat-fused, allowing for greater detail than was possible with stained glass. The windows were part of a display that won four gold medals at the World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
of 1892. The Basilica held cathedral rank from 1910 to 1977. It was elevated to the rank of a Minor Basilica on July 27, 1998.
The Belmont Historical Society Cultural and Heritage Learning Center is located in the former R.L. Stowe home at 40 Catawba Street. Built in 1899, it is believed to be the third oldest home in Belmont. The property also contains a free-standing kitchen, a mill house, and a garage. Displays include furnishings, artifacts, and pictures which tell the history of Belmont from the time of its Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
inhabitants through the textile age.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center
U.S. National Whitewater Center
The U.S. National Whitewater Center is a non-profit outdoor recreation and athletic training facility for whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking which opened to the public on November 4th, 2006....
is located just across the Catawba River from Belmont in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
. Situated on the east bank of the river, the Center is a non-profit outdoor recreation facility for whitewater rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. It opened for public use in 2006.
Recently, the downtown area of Belmont has been expanding and adding new attractions like restaurants, bars, and comedy clubs. There also is a coffee shop in the downtown part of Belmont called “Caravan Coffee&Dessert Bar,” that hosts the "Caravan Jam" every Wednesday night and "Piano Nights" every other Thursday. With coffee being enjoyed by those in all aspects of life, Caravan attracts all different types of people in Belmont, some you may not have known lived in Belmont before and then again, you might see an old friend. Since it is right beside Stowe Park, it is a good rest area to get a cold drink during the summer or a hot cup of coffee during the colder parts of the year.
There is a general store by the name of “Stowe Mercantile Co.” that provides everything you need from fixing things around the home to toys for the children. Belmont is home to “Bills Belmont Drive-In”, more commonly known just as the “Drive-In.” the drive in stays busy during the warm summer nights when students are out of school for the summer. These have both been a part of Belmont for a long time, but they still are a major part of the community.
Famous residents
- Howard Augustine "Humpy" Wheeler, Jr.H. A. WheelerHoward Augustine "Humpy" Wheeler, Jr. is the former President and General Manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, one of the premier auto racing venues owned by Bruton Smith's Speedway Motorsports, Inc...
, born in Belmont in 1938, immediate past President and General Manager of NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
's Charlotte Motor SpeedwayCharlotte Motor SpeedwayCharlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
and one of the foremost promoters of NASCAR auto racing. - Koren RobinsonKoren RobinsonKoren Lynard Robinson is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seahawks ninth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina State....
(born March 19, 1980 in Belmont) - NFL American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player - Greene Washington CaldwellGreene Washington CaldwellGreene Washington Caldwell was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born in Belmont, North Carolina, April 13, 1806; pursued academic studies; was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1831 and practiced; assistant surgeon in the...
(born near present-day Belmont on April 13, 1806, died 1864) - Congressional Representative from North Carolina, elected as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841–March 3, 1843) - Anthony Hamilton (musician)Anthony Hamilton (musician)Anthony Hamilton is an American R&B, and soul singer-songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame with his platinum-selling second studio album Comin' from Where I'm From , which featured the singles "Comin' from Where I'm From" and "Charlene."-Life and career:Hamilton was born in Charlotte,...
an American R&B, soul, and neo soul singer-songwriter, and record producer from Charlotte, NC. - Charles Parker, former drummer for metal band The Blood DivineThe Blood DivineThe Blood Divine was a British goth metal band, founded in the summer of 1995 by Paul Allender, brothers Paul and Benjamin Ryan, after the three left Cradle of Filth during the recording of the V Empire EP and ousted Anathema singer Darren White. They recruited drummer William A...
and a renown necromancer. - Dan GoodwinDan GoodwinAmerican Dan Goodwin is a building, rock, and sports climber, as well as a stage-four cancer survivor, originally from Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, and living as of 2010 in Lake Tahoe, California.-Building climber:...
, an American building, rock, and sports climber. - Doris SatterfieldDoris SatterfieldDoris L. Satterfield [Sadie] was a left and center fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed....
(1926–1993), born in Belmont – Three-time All-Star outfielder and member of two All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueAll-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueThe All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
champion teams.
External links
- Official City of Belmont, NC government website
- Belmont Chamber of Commerce
- Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce
- Gaston Regional Chamber
- Belmont Rocks!, Official Community Website, Area Events, Local Businesses
- Downtown Belmont Merchants Association
- South Point Red Raiders Football