Gastonia is a city in and the county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The most populous city in the county and the 13th-most populous city in North Carolina, the population was 80,411 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC Combined Statistical Area.

The city is a historic center for textile manufacturing and was the site of the Loray Mill Strike of 1929, which became a key event in the labor movement. While manufacturing remains important to the local economy, the city also has healthcare, education, and government sectors.

History Gastonia is named for William Gaston, a jurist and United States Representative from North Carolina.

The Loray Mill strike occurred in Gastonia in 1929. The role of organizers for Communist Party-affiliated National Textile Workers Union (NTWU) alienated religious leaders in Gastonia, who denounced the organizers' ideology, undermining support for the strike. The strike collapsed after the death of Gastonia's police chief, Orville Alderholt, led to a murder trial of several militants including NTWU chief organizer Fred Beal.Salmond, John A. Gastonia 1929: The Story of the Loray Mill Strike, (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1995) Beal was convicted in the killing but fled to the Soviet Union. The strike largely failed in attaining its goals of better working conditions and wages, and the American labor movement was never able to gain a foothold among textile workers in Gastonia. The strike, however, became for a while an international cause célèbre, figuring in several novels published in the 1930s.

National Register of Historic Places

The City Hospital-Gaston Memorial Hospital, Craig Farmstead, Downtown Gastonia Historic District, First National Bank Building, Gaston County Courthouse, Gastonia High School, David Jenkins House, Loray Mill Historic District, Robinson-Gardner Building, Third National Bank Building, and William J. Wilson House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.44%) is water. Gastonia occupies 14% of the total area of Gaston County. Gastonia is approximately west of Charlotte, east of Shelby, and south of Hickory.

Climate

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Gastonia, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)44,61542,61440,85567.32%59.40%50.81%Black or African American alone (NH)16,52019,66124,33424.93%27.41%30.26%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1182012160.18%0.28%0.27%Asian alone (NH)7659561,3891.15%1.33%1.73%Pacific Islander alone (NH)137170.02%0.01%0.02%Other race alone (NH)671453290.10%0.20%0.41%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)5661,2563,1000.85%1.75%3.86%Hispanic or Latino (any race)3,6136,90110,1715.45%9.62%12.65%Total66,27774,74180,411100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Gastonia had a population of 80,411 and 31,870 households, including 18,361 families. The median age was 38.9 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.8 males age 18 and over.

99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.

Of the city's 31,870 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.6% were married-couple households, 19.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 34,346 housing units, of which 7.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.6%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 42,260 52.6% Black or African American 24,692 30.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 393 0.5% Asian 1,404 1.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 22 0.0% Some other race 5,705 7.1% Two or more races 5,935 7.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 10,171 12.6%

2010 census At the 2010 census, there were 71,741 people, 27,770 households, and 18,599 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 31,238 housing units at an average density of . The racial composition of the city was 62.8% White, 27.5% Black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 5.2% some other race, and 3.0% two or more races. 9.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino American of any race.

As of the 2010 census, there were 27,770 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were headed by married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

2011 American Community Survey In 2011 the estimated median income for a household in the city was $36,881, and the median income for a family was $44,576. Male full-time workers had a median income of $38,151 versus $29,590 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,277. 20.9% of the population and 18.3% of families were below the poverty line. 32.5% of those under the age of 18 and 6.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Crime Offense Gastonia (2024) All Violent Crime 727 • Homicide 4 • Rape 34 • Robbery 105 • Aggravated Assault 584 All Property Crime 3029 • Larceny 2212 • Burglary 439 • Motor Vehicle Theft 356 • Arson 22

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 is 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 Trucks, Stabilus, 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 Regional Medical Center, and retailers Walmart and Advance Auto Parts, with two and six stores (plus a distribution center) respectively. Source: NC Employment Security Commission, Labor Market Information, Top 10 Manufacturing and Nonmanufacturing Employers for each NC county.

Arts and culture

Gastonia and the surrounding areas feature several notable attractions.

The Schiele Museum of Natural History features a number of permanent exhibits, including the Hall of North Carolina Natural History and the Henry Hall of the American Indian. The museum is also home to the James H. Lynn Planetarium, the only planetarium in the Charlotte area.

The Daniel Stowe Conservancy is located just southeast of the city in Belmont on NC 279.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center (on the Catawba River) is located east of the city in neighboring Mecklenburg County.

Crowders Mountain State Park is located west of the city, near Kings Mountain. The park offers a number of hiking trails, as well as campgrounds, picnic areas, rock climbing, and fishing.

Retail Eastridge Mall, located at exit 20 on North New Hope Road, is the only indoor regional mall in the area. The mall is home to two anchors and over 80 specialty stores, a full-service food court and other services.

Downtown Gastonia Historic District has undergone a revitalization with many locally owned businesses. This has created a unique atmosphere of local shopping experiences with events centered around the community.

There are also a few more shopping centers across the city with other well-known national and local retailers.

Sports The Gastonia Ghost Peppers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a partner of Major League Baseball, began to play in 2024 at CaroMont Health Park, which is part of the Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) District. The Gastonia Honey Hunters, also in the Atlantic League, played there from 2021 to 2023. Before the Honey Hunters' arrival, the Gastonia Grizzlies, a Coastal Plain League summer collegiate wood-bat team, played at Sims Legion Park from 2002 to 2020.

Gastonia was home to minor league baseball, hosting the Gastonia Cardinals. The Cardinals played as members of the Class D level 1938 North Carolina State League and the Tar Heel League in 1939 and 1940, winning the 1939 league championship. Decades later, a second Cardinals team played from 1977 to 1982 as members of the Class A level Western Carolinas League and South Atlantic League, winning the 1977 league championship. The Cardinals teams hosted home games from 1938 to 1940 at the Gastonia High School Stadium and Sims Legion Park.

The Gastonia Gargoyles play rugby at Gaston County's North Belmont Park. The team is part of the Carolinas Geographical Union (CGU) and plays Division IV men's social 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 or second Saturday in June.

Gastonia's two roller derby teams are the G*Force (senior team) and Mini*Gs (junior team). Bouts take place at Kate's Skating Rink on Hudson Blvd.

Government

Law enforcement The city is served by the Gastonia Police Department, the Gaston County Police Department, and the Gaston County Sheriff's Office. Additionally, the Gaston College Police has jurisdiction over the city, but rarely patrols outside of the Gaston College campus.

Fire and rescue The Gastonia Fire Department established in 1901 is led by Chief Phil Welch. The FD consists of eight fire stations spread throughout the communities within the City limits. The Gastonia Fire Department maintains 145 full-time firefighters working 3 24-hour shifts. The Life Safety division has a Fire Marshal and four inspectors, the Administration consists of the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Training Chief, and two Administrative assistants.

Gaston County EMS (GEMS) is the county ambulance service.

Education K–12 All public K–12 schools in Gaston County, including the city of Gastonia, are part of the Gaston County Schools (GCS). GCS operates schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

There are five public high schools in Gastonia: Ashbrook High School, Forestview High School, Hunter Huss High School, Highland School of Technology, and Warlick Academy, the alternative placement school. Students from outlying parts of Gastonia also attend Stuart W. Cramer High School, North Gaston High School, and Bessemer City High School.