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Gaston County is located in the South-Central Piedmont section of North Carolina .
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It is bounded on the east by the Catawba River and Mecklenburg County , on the west by Cleveland County , on the north by Lincoln County and on the south by York County , South Carolina . Gaston was formed from a lower portion of Lincoln County in 1846.
Gaston County is one of one hundred counties created by the North Carolina State Legislature. It ranks 74th in size consisting of approximately 364.5 square miles, and is seventh in population with approximately 190,000 people recorded during the 2000 Census. The County has fifteen incorporated towns.
The topography of the County is gently rolling to hilly, with several pronounced ridges, including Kings Mountain Pinnacle, Spencer Mountain , Jackson 's Knob, Paysour Mountain and Crowders Mountain . Elevations above sea level in Gaston County range from 587 feet in the southeast corner to 1,705 feet at the Pinnacle of the Kings Mountain ridge in the southwest. The average elevation is estimated at 825 feet.
The County has a temperate climate characterized by moderate temperature variations and moderate humidity. The average temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ranging from an average winter temperature of 43 degrees to a summer average of 78 degrees. The average annual precipitation is 44 inches, and the average relative humidity is 54 percent. The primary components of the drainage system in Gaston County are the Catawba River with the South Fork River as its major tributary.
Last edited by SunnyKayak; 06-11-2010 at 09:48 AM..
Twenty-seven drivers were charged with driving while impaired during the four-hour operation headed up by the N.C. Highway Patrol, according to Sgt. Tracy Greene, district commander in Gaston County.
27 DWIs issued in 4 hours | county, gaston, four - Local News - Gaston Gazette (http://www.gastongazette.com/news/county-48004-gaston-four.html - broken link)
In just 4 hours police found.....
A total of 129 charges were issued. Here’s a breakdown of citations and arrests:
27 driving while impaired
5 other alcohol-related charges
13 driving while license revoked
39 no operator’s license
3 other license violations
5 seat belt violations
4 child restraint violations
2 motorcycle helmet violations
5 drug violations
6 inspection violations
2 resisting arrest
3 carry concealed weapons
11 registration violations
2 insurance violations
1 driving left of center
1 failure to maintain control
The topography of the County is gently rolling to hilly, with several pronounced ridges, including Kings Mountain Pinnacle, Spencer Mountain , Jackson 's Knob, Paysour Mountain and Crowders Mountain . Elevations above sea level in Gaston County range from 587 feet in the southeast corner to 1,705 feet at the Pinnacle of the Kings Mountain ridge in the southwest. The average elevation is estimated at 825 feet.
I just hiked up to King's Pinnacle on Crowder's Mountain! Loved it and even suitable for my twins. I believe it was 1.7 miles each way.
Great photo. If I walk up the hill look to the south I can see Crowders & Kings mountain if its
not Hazy and I live about 50 minutes away here in Vale.
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The early settlers of Gaston County were principally Scotch Irish, Pennsylvania Dutch, and English. Upon their arrival, they found a few Catawba Indians remaining, but this tribe soon moved to South Carolina . In anticipation of an attack by the Cherokees, who were then engaged in border warfare, a fort was constructed at the junction of the Catawba and South Fork Rivers . Relations were maintained with the few Indians in the area, and there is no indication that the fort was ever necessary.
Early Gaston County never knew the agricultural prosperity which some of the other counties of the State enjoyed. Normally, the small farms were self-sufficient, but the crop yield was relatively low. Corn, one of the more abundant and prosperous crops, was quickly converted into whiskey by one of the forty-eight licensed distilleries in the County. By 1870, Gaston was known as the "Banner Corn Whiskey County of Carolina." In addition to distilleries, mines in various parts of the County yielded in varying quantities--gold, lime, sulfur, tin, and iron. Furnaces for smelting ore were founded early around Mount Holly , Bessemer City , and High Shoals.
Crowders Mountain is a nice and strenuous hike for anyone who's into that. I went about a month ago for the first time in about 8 years....I'm not in shape like I used to be, so I embarrassingly had to take several breaks near the top while all these in shape folks were walking by and not even panting, lol....the view at the top is amazing. You can see Charlotte and other areas to the east (the day I went, it was hot, humid, hazy, and about 90 degrees so no luck)...to the west, you can see the Appalachian Mountains. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Cool Ill check it out this summer. Is there a river or lake nearby I can also kayak?
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Between 1845 and 1848, the industrial boom in Gaston County had its origin. During this three-year period, the first three cotton mills in the County were established. Some authorities say that the first one was established by Thomas R. Tate on Mountain Island , the present site of Duke Power Company's Mount Holly steam plant. Other sources say that the first mill was established by the Linebergers and others on the South Fork River near McAdenville. Most sources agree that among the first three mills in operation in the County was the Stowesville Mill, founded by Jasper Stowe and Associates in the Point Section of Belmont . Gaston County still leads all other counties in the country both in the number of spindles in operation and in the number of bales of cotton consumed.
Today Gaston County enjoys a diverse industrial base with over 4,000 businesses employing nearly 95,000 workers. 33% of the employment is in the service sector, 26% in manufacturing, 23% in retail and wholesale trade, and 12% in government.
Public utilities serving the Gaston County area include Duke Power, Plantation Pipe Line Company, Public Service Company of North Carolina , and Bell South.
The Gaston County public school system is the sixth largest in the State with an enrollment of more than 32,000 students. It is a consolidated system which assures the same quality education for all students both urban and rural. The school system includes special programs, which are available for exceptional students as well as for the handicapped and the learning disabled.
Institutions of higher education in the County include Gaston College , a county-supported community college and Belmont Abbey College , a private 4-year institution.
Gaston County supports one of the most modern hospital facilities in the entire region, Gaston Memorial Hospital, Inc., in Gastonia . This 479-bed facility has an excellent staff of medical personnel and is equipped with the latest technological equipment. All rooms are private and are designed for maximum patient comfort and convenience.
coutesy of Gastonia Goverment
(http://www.co.gaston.nc.us/countyprofile.htm#top_of_page - broken link)
Tony's Ice Creamhttp://www.visitgaston.org/images/stories/History/tonys4.jpg (broken link)
A Gaston County Tradition
What began in the 1920's as a push cart business, owned and operated by Carmine Coletta, has stood the test of time and remains one of the landmarks of Gaston County. In search of a better life for his family, Carmine came to America in 1911 from Glasgow, Scotland. He made and sold ice cream from carts and horse-drawn wagons. One of the wagon's has been restored and is located in the Gaston County Museum of Art and History in Dallas.
Ice cream was produced at two locations, Tony's Ice Cream on Willow Street and City Ice Cream on Morehead. Tony's was run by Antonia Janetta, the husband of Maria Coletta. They would take horse-drawn wagons to mill villages, ball games, carnivals and camp meetings. Their presence became a part of everyday life in Gaston.
In the early 1930's, trucks replaced wagons and in 1947 Antonia Janetta built the present location on East Franklin Boulevard and another one on West Franklin. Anthony Coletta, or Tony as he is known, was the youngest son of Carmine Coletta. He managed the two locations until the death of Antonia Janetta and his wife Maria in 1971. Tony passed away in 1976, and ownership passed to his two sons, Robert and Louis.
http://www.visitgaston.org/images/stories/History/tonys3.jpg (broken link)So the desire has passed from generation to generation and always with the same dedication to service and quality. Louis Coletta can still hear his father, Tony say, "Your customers will understand that you will have to change your price. They will never understand if you compromise your quality for the sake of price."
Tony's Ice Cream is located at 604 E. Franklin Blvd. in Gastonia and is presently run by Louis and Robert Coletta, third generation owners. Tony's Ice Cream offers a wide variety of traditional and new flavors. http://www.visitgaston.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=235:t onys-ice-cream-a-gaston-county-tradition&catid=48:gaston-county-history&Itemid=57
gaston county was created on december 21, 1846 , by the north carolina state general assembly to promote the public health, safety and welfare and to secure the peace and dignity of the county. The area which comprises gaston county was formerly a part of lincoln county . The county was named for the honorable william gaston, associate justice of the supreme court. Dallas was the original county seat and held that title until 1911 when a third attempt to move the county seat to gastonia was finally successful. Gastonia has maintained the title ever since.
Until 1868, like other counties, gaston was governed by a justice of the peace. This was the traditional form of english county government. The justice was appointed by the governor and met four times a year at the county courthouse to manage the affairs of the county. They levied taxes, built the courthouse and the jail, cared for the sick and poor, built roads, and held court to settle disputes and punish lawbreakers.
Under the north carolina constitution of 1868, the board of county commissioners replaced the justices of the peace as the governing body of the county. Each county had a board of five commissioners elected by the voters of the entire county. Each commissioner served a two-year term.
Since gaston county 's inception in 1846,
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it has experienced innumerable changes in its election of commissioners to serve and in the responsibilities of the commissioners. An example of a responsibility change is that of road construction. Prior to 1931 the repair of county roads was the duty of the county board of commissioners. However, in 1931 the state general assembly transferred these responsibilities to the department of transportation. The department of transportation today has final authority on road matters, and the county board of commissioners serves only in an advisory role.
What began in the 1920's as a push cart business, owned and operated by Carmine Coletta, has stood the test of time and remains one of the landmarks of Gaston County. In search of a better life for his family, Carmine came to America in 1911 from Glasgow, Scotland. He made and sold ice cream from carts and horse-drawn wagons. One of the wagon's has been restored and is located in the Gaston County Museum of Art and History in Dallas.
Ice cream was produced at two locations, Tony's Ice Cream on Willow Street and City Ice Cream on Morehead. Tony's was run by Antonia Janetta, the husband of Maria Coletta. They would take horse-drawn wagons to mill villages, ball games, carnivals and camp meetings. Their presence became a part of everyday life in Gaston.
In the early 1930's, trucks replaced wagons and in 1947 Antonia Janetta built the present location on East Franklin Boulevard and another one on West Franklin. Anthony Coletta, or Tony as he is known, was the youngest son of Carmine Coletta. He managed the two locations until the death of Antonia Janetta and his wife Maria in 1971. Tony passed away in 1976, and ownership passed to his two sons, Robert and Louis.
So the desire has passed from generation to generation and always with the same dedication to service and quality. Louis Coletta can still hear his father, Tony say, "Your customers will understand that you will have to change your price. They will never understand if you compromise your quality for the sake of price."
Tony's Ice Cream is located at 604 E. Franklin Blvd. in Gastonia and is presently run by Louis and Robert Coletta, third generation owners. Tony's Ice Cream offers a wide variety of traditional and new flavors. http://www.visitgaston.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=235:t onys-ice-cream-a-gaston-county-tradition&catid=48:gaston-county-history&Itemid=57
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So yummy! 
