Gastonia, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
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 July 2011 (35% of the population of Gaston County, but as of the Census of 2010 the population was 69,994. Gastonia is the 13th largest city in North Carolina. It is part of the Charlotte metropolitan area
, officially designated the Charlotte-Concord-Rock Hill Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Gastonia has experienced steady growth, with a population increase between 2000 and 2010 (according the US Census Bureau) of nearly 8.2%.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²), of which, 46.1 square miles (119.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.43%) is water. It occupies 13% of the total area of Gaston County.
was 1,438.9 people per square mile (555.6/km²). There were 27,857 housing units at an average density of 604.8 per square mile (233.5/km²). The racial composition of the city was: 70.18% White, 25.62% Black or African American
, 5.45% Hispanic or Latino American
, 1.17% Asian American
, 0.21% Native American
, 0.03% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
, 1.76% some other race
, and 1.04% two or more races
.
There were 25,945 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples
living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,924, and the median income for a family was $44,873. Males had a median income of $33,215 versus $24,173 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,592. 15.0% of the population and 11.8% of families were below the poverty line. 21.2% of those under the and 12.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
The city had an unemployment rate of 7.9% as of 2010; 12,536 of the 71,341 residents lived and worked in the city, with a daytime population change of +10,610.
The city was the international corporate headquarters for textile company Parkdale Mills, the number one manufacturer of spun yarn
in the world. The company also operated two production facilities in Gastonia and several in surrounding communities. Parkdale, like many other companies, has closed plants and moved production to other countries.
Other manufacturers in Gastonia include Wix Filtration Corp., Freightliner LLC
, Stabilus, Danaher Tool Group (Easco Hand Tools), and Curtiss-Wright
Controls Engineered Systems and Radici Group
. Other major employers include the City of Gastonia and Gaston County governments, the Gaston County Schools
system, Caromont Healthcare (Gaston Memorial Hospital
), and retailers Walmart and Advance Auto Parts
, with two and six stores (plus a distribution center) respectively.
. The other county police force in NC is the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police in neighboring Mecklenburg County. Other forces include City of Gastonia Police Department
and the Gaston County Sheriff's Office
. The Sheriff's Office holds two of only 25 bomb/drug dogs in North Carolina
.
Fire/Rescue: The Gastonia Fire Department houses over 16 engines including ladder units, quints, and pumpers. Gastonia also has a strong rural fire department which is headed by volunteers.
Gaston County EMS (GEMS)
: County Ambulance Service
Public works
: This includes road maintenance and sanitation as well as DWP (department of water and power) to the city.
The Schiele Museum of Natural History is east of downtown on Garrison Boulevard. The Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library System's main library is across the street from the museum. The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
is located just southeast of the city on NC 279. The U.S. National Whitewater Center
(on the Catawba River
) is east of the city in neighboring Mecklenburg County, NC. Southpark Mall in Charlotte, NC is 45 minutes away. The Northlake Mall, also in Charlotte, is about 20 minutes away.
Gastonia and Gaston County have a varied topography, with the maximum elevations of 1,690 feet (King's Pinnacle
) and 1,625 (Crowder's Mountain
) both in the Crowders Mountain State Park
. The park is located just a few miles from downtown Gastonia and the peaks are popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts of the Carolinas. These peaks are the highest elevations in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill Metropolitan Statistical Area. A few smaller mountains are located at the periphery of the city.
Gastonia is known for its abundance of churches, primarily Baptist
and Methodist.
(GCS). GCS operates schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
There are 3 public high schools in Gastonia--Ashbrook High School
, Forestview High School
, and Hunter Huss High School
.
Private schools are also available in the city. Gaston Day School, Gaston Christian School and First Assembly Christian Academy (FACA) are among various private schools offered in the Gastonia area.
Gastonia also has a charter school, Piedmont Community Charter School, that serves K–12 grade students.
(Belmont; 4-year) and Gaston College
(Dallas, Lincolnton (Lincoln County), and Belmont; 2-year).
, Thuringia
, Germany
. Santiago de Surco
, a district of Lima
, Peru
Gotha was Gastonia's first sister city in 1994. Santiago de Surco became an official partner in March 2004. Mayor Jenny Stultz visited Gotha in 2007. In December 2007, the mayor of Santiago de Surco visited for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in the Rotary Pavilion. He was invited to light the tree along with one of the town's councilmen.
is a large regional mall and is anchored by Matthews Belk
, Dillard's
, Sears
, and JC Penney.The mall is also home to over 60 specialty stores along with a full-service Food Court.
Franklin Square is another one of Gastonia's premier shopping centers. The complex is divided into three Phases. Phase I features a Wal-Mart
(one of two in the city), Best Buy
, Ross Dress for Less
, and Michaels
. Phase II is home to Kmart
, Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse
, and Sam's Club
. Phase III is where Kohl's
, Old Navy
, Books-A-Million
, Sports Authority
, BERNINA dealer SewMuchFun! and a 14-screen movie theater is located.
There are also many more shopping centers across the city with other well-known national and local retailers.
. The team is part of the Coastal Plain League
(CPL) featuring players at the collegiate level. The season runs from the end of May to August.
The Gastonia Gargoyles play rugby at Gaston County's North Belmont Park. The team is part of the North Carolina Rugby Union (NCRU) and plays Division III men's rugby. The club plays in the fall (August - November) and spring (Feb - May) seasons. The club also hosts an annual rugby 7's tournament in Clover, South Carolina
during the Clover Scottish Games on the first Saturday in June.
is Gastonia's main newspaper. It is published daily, and covers Gastonia city, Gaston County, and surrounding areas. The Charlotte Observer (North Carolina's largest newspaper) is also available and features a Gaston/Lincoln section on Wednesdays and Sundays.
.
1450 AM; it has one licensed FM station: WBAV
101.9 FM.
, Greensboro
, Durham
, and Petersburg
/Richmond
(to the north) and Spartanburg
, Greenville
, Atlanta
and Montgomery
(to the south). Gastonia's transportation network is supplemented by one additional freeway (US 321), the freeway portion of which directly connects Gastonia with transcontinental I-40
and the city of Hickory
, North Carolina
, which is 35 miles north of Gastonia. An additional limited-access highway, the toll Garden Parkway
is planned as a loop that would encircle Gastonia to the west, while also adding a direct southeastern connection to Charlotte, I-485 and the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
.
Gastonia is also served by three US highways: US 29; US 74 (US 29 and 74 are multiplexed together through Gaston County); and US 321. US 29 parallels I-85 through the Carolinas; while US 74 provides direct east-west links to Charlotte and Wilmington
(east), and Asheville
and Cherokee
(to the west). US 321 links Gastonia to central South Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains
in northwest North Carolina.
State highways NC 7, NC 274, NC 275 and NC 279 also traverse Gastonia.
Franklin Blvd., Garrison Blvd., Hudson Blvd., and Ozark/Long/Airline/Gaston Aves. are major east-west city thoroughfares. New Hope Rd., Chester St./York Rd., and Marietta St., are major north-south city thoroughfares.
(GT) is Gastonia's city transit provider. The bus service operates on a fixed-route system covering most of the city. GT has a new fleet of seven buses and stops are clearly visible around town. Buses run Monday-Saturday, and transfer downtown Gastonia at the Bradley Station. Regular fare is $1.00, transfers are free.
(CATS) is Gastonia's commuter provider to Charlotte. The Gastonia Express (Route 85X) offers Monday-Friday bus service to/from uptown Charlotte, via the Bradley Station. One-way fare to/from uptown Charlotte: $3.00; transfer is free when transferring to any other CATS services.
Crescent
(trains 19, 20) connects Gastonia (GAS) with the cities of (to the north) New York
, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington
, Charlotte
, and (to the south) Atlanta
, Birmingham
, New Orleans
. The unmanned Amtrak station
is situated at 350 Hancock Street.
(AKH) handles most of the city's private air service needs. It is located in the southeast part of the city, off NC 274. The Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
(CLT) provides Gastonia with a major domestic/international gateway and is located 18 miles east of Gastonia in Charlotte. CLT is US Airways
largest airline hub.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of 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...
. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
and Rock Hill
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between...
. The population was 71,226 as of July 2011 (35% of the population of Gaston County, but as of the Census of 2010 the population was 69,994. Gastonia is the 13th largest city in North Carolina. It is part of the Charlotte metropolitan area
Charlotte metropolitan area
The Charlotte metropolitan area is a metropolitan area/region of North and South Carolina within and surrounding the city of Charlotte...
, officially designated the Charlotte-Concord-Rock Hill Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Gastonia has experienced steady growth, with a population increase between 2000 and 2010 (according the US Census Bureau) of nearly 8.2%.
Geography
Gastonia is located at 35°15′19"N 81°10′49"W (35.255220, -81.180249). at the geographic center of Gaston County.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²), of which, 46.1 square miles (119.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.43%) is water. It occupies 13% of the total area of Gaston County.
Demographics
As of 2010, there were 69,994 people, 25,945 households, and 17,720 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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 1,438.9 people per square mile (555.6/km²). There were 27,857 housing units at an average density of 604.8 per square mile (233.5/km²). The racial composition of the city was: 70.18% White, 25.62% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 5.45% Hispanic or Latino American
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
, 1.17% Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.21% 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...
, 0.03% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 1.76% some other race
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 1.04% two or more races
Multiracial American
Multiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
.
There were 25,945 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% 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, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,924, and the median income for a family was $44,873. Males had a median income of $33,215 versus $24,173 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 $19,592. 15.0% of the population and 11.8% of families were below the poverty line. 21.2% of those under the and 12.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Economy
Many shutdowns and job losses have plagued Gastonia over the past decade. Gastonia maintains a relatively strong manufacturing workforce, but many workers are laid off and many more are facing job losses.The city had an unemployment rate of 7.9% as of 2010; 12,536 of the 71,341 residents lived and worked in the city, with a daytime population change of +10,610.
The city was the international corporate headquarters for textile company Parkdale Mills, the number one manufacturer of spun yarn
Yarn
Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibres, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. Thread is a type of yarn intended for sewing by hand or machine. Modern manufactured sewing threads may be finished with wax or...
in the world. The company also operated two production facilities in Gastonia and several in surrounding communities. Parkdale, like many other companies, has closed plants and moved production to other countries.
Other manufacturers in Gastonia include Wix Filtration Corp., Freightliner LLC
Freightliner LLC
Freightliner Trucks is an American manufacturer of heavy duty trucks, chassis and semi-trailer trucks in the United States. The company was founded as Freightliner Inc in 1942 and is now a division of Daimler Trucks North America, a subsidiary of the German Daimler AG...
, Stabilus, Danaher Tool Group (Easco Hand Tools), and Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
Controls Engineered Systems and Radici Group
Radici Group
Radici Group based in Gandino, Italy, is a large Italian corporation active in several industries like textiles, chemicals and plastic with factories in Italy, Germany and Romania. In 2006 the company bought several parts of the German company Steilmann....
. Other major employers include the City of Gastonia and Gaston County governments, the Gaston County Schools
Gaston 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:...
system, Caromont Healthcare (Gaston Memorial Hospital
Gaston Memorial Hospital
Gaston Memorial Hospital is a public, not for profit hospital located in Gastonia, North Carolina, United States. It serves Gaston & surrounding counties. The hospital was organized in 1946 as a memorial to all local soldiers who died in World War II and the present Court Drive facility opened in...
), and retailers Walmart and Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts , headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, is the second-largest retailer of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. AAP was founded in 1932 and had 2008 sales of approx. $5.1B...
, with two and six stores (plus a distribution center) respectively.
Public services
Police force: Gastonia and Gaston County are home of one of two county police forces within the State of North Carolina, the Gaston County Police DepartmentGaston County Police Department
The Gaston County Police Department is a law enforcement agency of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is the only county police department within the State of North Carolina....
. The other county police force in NC is the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police in neighboring Mecklenburg County. Other forces include City of Gastonia Police Department
Gastonia Police Department
The Gastonia Police Department is the police department of the City of Gastonia, North Carolina. With 168 officers and 38 civilian staff , Gastonia PD serves a city with a population of about 70,000 people.-History:...
and the Gaston County Sheriff's Office
Gaston County Sheriff's Office
The Gaston County Sheriff's Office is a law enforcement agency in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The Gaston County Sheriff's Office is responsible for operating the county jail system, protecting the county courthouse, serving civil and criminal documents, evictions, seizure of...
. The Sheriff's Office holds two of only 25 bomb/drug dogs in 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...
.
Fire/Rescue: The Gastonia Fire Department houses over 16 engines including ladder units, quints, and pumpers. Gastonia also has a strong rural fire department which is headed by volunteers.
Gaston County EMS (GEMS)
Gaston County EMS (GEMS)
Gaston County Emergency Medical Services is the Emergency Medical Service for Gaston County, North Carolina. This is the Emergency Service Provided by the County, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They respond to 35,000 calls annually. The service provides advanced life support...
: County Ambulance Service
Public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
: This includes road maintenance and sanitation as well as DWP (department of water and power) to the city.
Attractions and institutions
Gastonia and surrounding areas are home to several notable cultural centers.The Schiele Museum of Natural History is east of downtown on Garrison Boulevard. The Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library System's main library is across the street from the museum. The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Daniel 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 located just southeast of the city on NC 279. 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....
(on 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...
) is east of the city in neighboring Mecklenburg County, NC. Southpark Mall in Charlotte, NC is 45 minutes away. The Northlake Mall, also in Charlotte, is about 20 minutes away.
Gastonia and Gaston County have a varied topography, with the maximum elevations of 1,690 feet (King's Pinnacle
King's Pinnacle
King's Pinnacle is one of the two main peaks located within Crowder's Mountain State Park. The other peak is Crowder's Mountain. The park is located in the western Piedmont of North Carolina between the cities of Kings Mountain and Gastonia....
) and 1,625 (Crowder's Mountain
Crowder's Mountain
Crowders Mountain is one of two main peaks within Crowders Mountain State Park, the other peak being King's Pinnacle. The park is located in the western Piedmont of North Carolina between the cities of King's Mountain and Gastonia or about west of Charlotte...
) both in the Crowders Mountain State Park
Crowders Mountain State Park
Crowders Mountain State Park is a 5126 acre North Carolina state park in Gaston County, North Carolina in the United States. It is near Kings Mountain, North Carolina and on the outskirts of Gastonia, North Carolina, it includes the peaks of Crowder's Mountain and King's Pinnacle. Crowders...
. The park is located just a few miles from downtown Gastonia and the peaks are popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts of the Carolinas. These peaks are the highest elevations in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill Metropolitan Statistical Area. A few smaller mountains are located at the periphery of the city.
Gastonia is known for its abundance of churches, primarily Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
and Methodist.
Notable residents
The following people are former or current residents of Gastonia:- African-American muralist John T. BiggersJohn T. BiggersJohn Thomas Biggers was an African American muralist who came to prominence after the Harlem Renaissance and toward the end of World War II. Dr...
- born in Gastonia - NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
star James WorthyJames WorthyJames Ager Worthy is a retired Hall of Fame American college and professional basketball player. Named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, "Big Game James" was a seven-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion...
, who attended Ashbrook High SchoolAshbrook High SchoolAshbrook High School is a public high school in the School District of Gaston County located in Gastonia, North Carolina.-External links:... - NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
star Darrell ArmstrongDarrell ArmstrongDarrell Eugene Armstrong is a former American professional basketball player, who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association...
, who attended Ashbrook High SchoolAshbrook High SchoolAshbrook High School is a public high school in the School District of Gaston County located in Gastonia, North Carolina.-External links:... - NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
star Eric "Sleepy" FloydSleepy FloydEric Augustus "Sleepy" Floyd is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'3" guard, Floyd played competitively at Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia, and starred at Georgetown University before being drafted by the New Jersey Nets with the 13th pick of the 1982 NBA Draft...
, who attended Hunter Huss High School. - NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player Hassan WhitesideHassan WhitesideHassan Niam Whiteside is an American basketball power forward and center for the Sacramento Kings. He was drafted 33rd to the Kings in the 2010 NBA Draft. He played college basketball for the Marshall Thundering Herd.-Early life:Whiteside played middle school basketball in Gastonia, NC...
, born in Gastonia - MLB pitcher Kevin MillwoodKevin MillwoodKevin Austin Millwood is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has previously played for the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies.-Personal life:Millwood graduated from Bessemer City High School in North Carolina...
- MLB player Wesley Ray "Wes" HelmsWes HelmsWesley Ray Helms is an American professional baseball third baseman, first baseman, and outfielder but is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed.-Professional career:...
, who attended Ashbrook High School - NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and CFLCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
player Rufus CrawfordRufus CrawfordRufus Crawford was a Canadian Football League running back who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1979 through 1985. He started his career in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks.- External links :... - 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...
driver Glenn Dunaway - Musician Fred DurstFred DurstWilliam Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
(nu metal group Limp BizkitLimp BizkitLimp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
), who attended Hunter Huss High School. - Televangelist Ernest AngleyErnest AngleyErnest Angley is an international Christian evangelist, based in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.-Grace Cathedral:Ernest Angley's interdenominational ministry was originally based at Grace Cathedral in Springfield Township, Ohio southeast of Akron...
, who was born in Gastonia and grew up in the surrounding area. - Lionel ShriverLionel Shriver-Early life and education:Lionel Shriver was born Margaret Ann Shriver on May 18, 1957 in Gastonia, North Carolina, to a deeply religious family . At age 15, she changed her name from Margaret Ann to Lionel because she did not like the name she had been given, and as a tomboy felt that a...
, author of We Need to Talk About KevinWe Need to Talk About KevinWe Need to Talk About Kevin is a 2003 novel by Lionel Shriver, published by Serpent's Tail, about a fictional school massacre. It is written from the perspective of the killer's mother, Eva Khatchadourian, and documents her attempt to come to terms with her son Kevin and the murders he committed... - Billy JamesJohn Boy and BillyJohn Isley and Billy James, known as John Boy & Billy, named after "John-Boy Harris and brother Bross Harris", are American radio hosts based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their comedic morning program The John Boy & Billy Big Show broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m...
, of radio talk show The John Boy and Billy Show - Wrestler and Actor Evan KaragiasEvan KaragiasEvan Karagias is an American professional wrestler and actor. he is a 3 time WSL World Heavyweight Champion-Biography:Karagias's father's family are of Greek origin...
- Fantasy artist Clyde CaldwellClyde CaldwellClyde Caldwell is an American artist. Self described as a fantasy illustrator, he is best known for his portrayals of strong, sexy female characters.-Early life:...
- Political commentator Thomas SowellThomas SowellThomas Sowell is an American economist, social theorist, political philosopher, and author. A National Humanities Medal winner, he advocates laissez-faire economics and writes from a libertarian perspective...
K–12
All public K–12 schools in Gaston County, including the city of Gastonia, are part of 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:...
(GCS). GCS operates schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
There are 3 public high schools in Gastonia--Ashbrook High School
Ashbrook High School
Ashbrook High School is a public high school in the School District of Gaston County located in Gastonia, North Carolina.-External links:...
, Forestview High School
Forestview High School
Forestview High School is a public high school in the Gaston County Schools school district located in Gastonia, North Carolina. Audrey Devine serves as the principal of Forestview...
, and Hunter Huss High School
Hunter Huss High School
Hunter Huss High School is a public high school in the Gaston County Schools school district located in Gastonia, North Carolina, United States. It is the oldest existing high school in Gaston County. Currently, the school is under renovation....
.
Private schools are also available in the city. Gaston Day School, Gaston Christian School and First Assembly Christian Academy (FACA) are among various private schools offered in the Gastonia area.
Gastonia also has a charter school, Piedmont Community Charter School, that serves K–12 grade students.
College and university
Although there are no colleges or universities within the city limits of Gastonia, higher education is well represented in the greater Gastonia area. Gaston County is home to 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...
(Belmont; 4-year) and 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...
(Dallas, Lincolnton (Lincoln County), and Belmont; 2-year).
Sister cities
Gastonia has two sister cities: GothaGotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
, Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Santiago de Surco
Santiago de Surco
Santiago de Surco, commonly known simply as Surco, is a district of Lima, Peru. It is bordered on the north by the districts of La Molina, Ate and San Borja; on the south by Chorrillos; on the east by La Molina, Villa María del Triunfo and San Juan de Miraflores; and on the west by San Borja,...
, a district of Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
Gotha was Gastonia's first sister city in 1994. Santiago de Surco became an official partner in March 2004. Mayor Jenny Stultz visited Gotha in 2007. In December 2007, the mayor of Santiago de Surco visited for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in the Rotary Pavilion. He was invited to light the tree along with one of the town's councilmen.
Shopping
Westfield EastridgeWestfield Eastridge
Westfield Shoppingtown Eastridge, known colloquially as Westfield Eastridge, is a regional shopping mall located in Gastonia, North Carolina, and is west of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. Opened in 1976 as Eastridge Mall, it is located off Interstate 85 at exit 20, N...
is a large regional mall and is anchored by Matthews Belk
Belk
Belk is a department store chain founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina, today part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. After the founding of the first Belk store, the company grew in size and influence throughout the South via the chain in the USA, with its stores primarily located in the...
, Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
, Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, and JC Penney.The mall is also home to over 60 specialty stores along with a full-service Food Court.
Franklin Square is another one of Gastonia's premier shopping centers. The complex is divided into three Phases. Phase I features a Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
(one of two in the city), Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, Ross Dress for Less
Ross Dress For Less
Ross Stores, Inc. , is a chain of American off-price department stores headquartered in Pleasanton, California, operating under the name Ross Dress for Less. It is the third largest off-price retailer in the United States, behind T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, both of which are owned by TJX Companies.As...
, and Michaels
Michaels
Michaels is an arts and crafts retail chain. It currently operates more than 1040 Michaels Arts and Crafts Stores located in 49 U.S. states and in Canada. The company owns and operates the Aaron Brothers retail chain which consists of more than 140 stores...
. Phase II is home to Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
, Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, and Sam's Club
Sam's Club
Sam's Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. , the Sam's Club chain serves more than 47 million U.S. members...
. Phase III is where Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
, Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
, Books-A-Million
Books-A-Million
Books-A-Million, Inc., also known as BAM!, is a company that owns the second largest U.S. bookstore chain and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The company operates over 200 stores in the South, Midwest, Northeast...
, Sports Authority
Sports Authority
The Sports Authority, Inc. is one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the United States. It is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, and operates more than 460 stores in 45 U.S...
, BERNINA dealer SewMuchFun! and a 14-screen movie theater is located.
There are also many more shopping centers across the city with other well-known national and local retailers.
Sports
The Gastonia Grizzlies play baseball at Sims Legion ParkSims Legion Park
Sims Legion Park is a 3,000-seat baseball stadium located in Gastonia, North Carolina, it serves as home to the Gastonia Grizzlies of the Coastal Plain League....
. The team is part of the Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the same area from 1937 to 1952. The modern league was formed with six teams in 1997...
(CPL) featuring players at the collegiate level. The season runs from the end of May to August.
The Gastonia Gargoyles play rugby at Gaston County's North Belmont Park. The team is part of the North Carolina Rugby Union (NCRU) and plays Division III men's rugby. The club plays in the fall (August - November) and spring (Feb - May) seasons. The club also hosts an annual rugby 7's tournament in Clover, South Carolina
Clover, South Carolina
Clover is a town in York County, South Carolina, United States located in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina metropolitan area. As of July 2009, the population was at 5,158 within the town limits....
during the Clover Scottish Games on the first Saturday in June.
Newspaper
The Gaston GazetteThe Gaston Gazette
The Gaston Gazette is a newspaper based in Gastonia, North Carolina. The newspaper is owned by Freedom Communications, Inc.Its editorial position is generally conservative, and sometimes libertarian...
is Gastonia's main newspaper. It is published daily, and covers Gastonia city, Gaston County, and surrounding areas. The Charlotte Observer (North Carolina's largest newspaper) is also available and features a Gaston/Lincoln section on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Television
Gastonia has no broadcast television stations licensed in the city, but is served by network affiliates and independent stations broadcasting from nearby Charlotte. Cable television service in Gastonia is provided primarily by Time Warner CableTime Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
.
Radio
Gastonia is served by numerous FM and AM radio stations, mainly based in nearby Charlotte. The city has one licensed AM station: WGNCWGNC
WGNC is a radio station broadcasting a News, Talk, and Sports format. Licensed to Gastonia, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Gastonia area....
1450 AM; it has one licensed FM station: WBAV
WBAV
WBAV-FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Gastonia, North Carolina and serving the Charlotte market on 101.9FM. Syndicated programs include Steve Harvey in mornings, and Michael Baisden in afternoons...
101.9 FM.
Highways and major city thoroughfares
Interstate 85 (I-85) links Gastonia directly with CharlotteCharlotte, 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...
, Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, Durham
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, and Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
/Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
(to the north) and Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
, Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
(to the south). Gastonia's transportation network is supplemented by one additional freeway (US 321), the freeway portion of which directly connects Gastonia with transcontinental I-40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
and the city of Hickory
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
, 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...
, which is 35 miles north of Gastonia. An additional limited-access highway, the toll Garden Parkway
Garden Parkway
The Garden Parkway is a proposed limited access toll road to be built in North Carolina, United States, that will pass through portions of Gaston County and Mecklenburg County.-Route description:...
is planned as a loop that would encircle Gastonia to the west, while also adding a direct southeastern connection to Charlotte, I-485 and the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr...
.
Gastonia is also served by three US highways: US 29; US 74 (US 29 and 74 are multiplexed together through Gaston County); and US 321. US 29 parallels I-85 through the Carolinas; while US 74 provides direct east-west links to Charlotte and Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
(east), and Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
and Cherokee
Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee is a town in Swain County, North Carolina, USA, within the Qualla Boundary land trust. It is located in the Oconaluftee River Valley, near the intersection of U.S. Route 19 and U.S...
(to the west). US 321 links Gastonia to central South Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
in northwest North Carolina.
State highways NC 7, NC 274, NC 275 and NC 279 also traverse Gastonia.
Franklin Blvd., Garrison Blvd., Hudson Blvd., and Ozark/Long/Airline/Gaston Aves. are major east-west city thoroughfares. New Hope Rd., Chester St./York Rd., and Marietta St., are major north-south city thoroughfares.
Bus (local)
Gastonia TransitGastonia Transit
The Gastonia Transit System, or GT, is the public transit system in Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S. It operates bus service around the Inner City area of Gastonia.- Hours of Operation :...
(GT) is Gastonia's city transit provider. The bus service operates on a fixed-route system covering most of the city. GT has a new fleet of seven buses and stops are clearly visible around town. Buses run Monday-Saturday, and transfer downtown Gastonia at the Bradley Station. Regular fare is $1.00, transfers are free.
Bus (regional)
Charlotte Area Transit SystemCharlotte Area Transit System
The Charlotte Area Transit System, commonly referred to as CATS, is the public transit system in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It operates bus service around the Metrolina area and a historical trolley in Uptown Charlotte, and operates a light rail system, called LYNX which opened on November 24,...
(CATS) is Gastonia's commuter provider to Charlotte. The Gastonia Express (Route 85X) offers Monday-Friday bus service to/from uptown Charlotte, via the Bradley Station. One-way fare to/from uptown Charlotte: $3.00; transfer is free when transferring to any other CATS services.
Rail (Amtrak)
AmtrakAmtrak
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...
Crescent
Crescent (Amtrak)
The Crescent is a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the eastern part of the United States. It runs daily from Pennsylvania Station in New York City to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana as train 19 and returns, on the same route, as train 20. Most of the route of...
(trains 19, 20) connects Gastonia (GAS) with the cities of (to the north) New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Charlotte
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 (to the south) Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The unmanned Amtrak station
Gastonia (Amtrak station)
The Gastonia Amtrak Station, located in Gastonia, North Carolina, is served by the passenger train. The street address is 350 Hancock Street, about to the northeast of downtown Gastonia...
is situated at 350 Hancock Street.
Air
The Gastonia area is served by two airports. The Gastonia Municipal AirportGastonia Municipal Airport
Gastonia Municipal Airport is a public airport located four miles south of the central business district of Gastonia, a city in Gaston County, North Carolina, USA. This general aviation airport covers and has one runway.- External links :...
(AKH) handles most of the city's private air service needs. It is located in the southeast part of the city, off NC 274. The Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr...
(CLT) provides Gastonia with a major domestic/international gateway and is located 18 miles east of Gastonia in Charlotte. CLT is US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
largest airline hub.
See also
- Gaston County, North CarolinaGaston County, North CarolinaGaston 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...
- Charlotte metropolitan areaCharlotte metropolitan areaThe Charlotte metropolitan area is a metropolitan area/region of North and South Carolina within and surrounding the city of Charlotte...
- Garden ParkwayGarden ParkwayThe Garden Parkway is a proposed limited access toll road to be built in North Carolina, United States, that will pass through portions of Gaston County and Mecklenburg County.-Route description:...
- I-85 CorridorI-85 CorridorThe I-85 Corridor is a multi-state region that follows Interstate 85 across the Southeastern United States. It stretches from Montgomery, Alabama to Petersburg, Virginia...
- Loray Mill StrikeLoray Mill StrikeThe Loray Mill Strike of 1929 in Gastonia, North Carolina was one of the most notable strikes in the labor history of the United States. Though largely unsuccessful in attaining its goals of better working conditions and wages, the strike was considered very successful in a lasting way; it caused...