Gaston, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Gaston is a town in Lexington County, South Carolina
, United States
. The population was 1,645 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,304 people, 484 households, and 366 families residing in the town. The population density
was 380.6 people per square mile (146.8/km²). There were 532 housing units at an average density of 155.3 per square mile (59.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.71% White, 1.07% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.46% from other races
, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.
There were 484 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples
living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,411, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $21,680 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,546. About 17.1% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
waterfall
in South Carolina.
The rock formations at Peachtree Rock Nature preserve are made from different types of rock. Sandstone, a sedimentary rock that is most commonly composed of sandisized minerals such as quartz or feldspar, makes up the softer, bottom layers of the formations while ironstone accounts for the harder and less-eroded top layers. Ironstone, also a sedimentary rock, contains iron compounds, which can account for the uneven erosion of the formations at Peachtree Rock.
Sandstone (sometimes known as arenite) is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray, pink, and white. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions.
The State newspaper reported the Lexington County town of Gaston has hired a police chief after its finances improved. Calhoun County Sheriff's Deputy Pat Regalis will take over as police chief August 2, 2010.
Lexington County deputies will continue to patrol when Regalis is off.
The town has set aside $96,000 to re-establish its police department. That's nearly one-fourth of the budget for the 1,500 person town about 20 miles south of Columbia.
Mayor Tony Bivens hopes to add more officers as finances improve. Gaston doesn't have property taxes and relies mostly on business fees.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,645 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Columbia, South Carolina metropolitan area
As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, is an area consisting of six counties in central South Carolina, anchored by the city of Columbia. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had...
.
Geography
Gaston is located at 33°48′57"N 81°6′3"W (33.815927, -81.100937).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 town has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), all of it land.
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 1,304 people, 484 households, and 366 families residing in the town. 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 380.6 people per square mile (146.8/km²). There were 532 housing units at an average density of 155.3 per square mile (59.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.71% White, 1.07% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.46% 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 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.
There were 484 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% 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, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,411, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $21,680 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 town was $13,546. About 17.1% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve
Located in Lexington County outside of Gaston, SC Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve protects 305 acres of land, home to several unique sandstone and ironstone formations. These formations, which resemble upside down pyramids, including the most famous formation, known as Peachtree Rock, which is approximately 20 feet high. Millions of years ago, this area now known as the Sandhills, was the Southeastern Coastline of the United States and is the largest source of marine fossils in South Carolina. The park contains 7.5 miles of hiking trails, however, depending upon the hiking route, a hiker can reach Peachtree Rock in less than 20 minutes. This Heritage Preserve is a local landmark off SC 6 & Peach Tree Rock Road and also contains the only coastal plainCoastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
in South Carolina.
The rock formations at Peachtree Rock Nature preserve are made from different types of rock. Sandstone, a sedimentary rock that is most commonly composed of sandisized minerals such as quartz or feldspar, makes up the softer, bottom layers of the formations while ironstone accounts for the harder and less-eroded top layers. Ironstone, also a sedimentary rock, contains iron compounds, which can account for the uneven erosion of the formations at Peachtree Rock.
Sandstone (sometimes known as arenite) is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray, pink, and white. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions.
Town of Gaston Hires 1-Man Police Department
Town of Gaston has hired a police officer more than two years after dismantling its police department.The State newspaper reported the Lexington County town of Gaston has hired a police chief after its finances improved. Calhoun County Sheriff's Deputy Pat Regalis will take over as police chief August 2, 2010.
Lexington County deputies will continue to patrol when Regalis is off.
The town has set aside $96,000 to re-establish its police department. That's nearly one-fourth of the budget for the 1,500 person town about 20 miles south of Columbia.
Mayor Tony Bivens hopes to add more officers as finances improve. Gaston doesn't have property taxes and relies mostly on business fees.