Gastonia, North Carolina
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| Gastonia, North Carolina | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Gaston County, North Carolina |
| Mayor | Jennifer T. Stultz |
| Area | |
| - City | 46.3 mi² - 119.8 km² |
| - Land | 46.1 mi² - 119.3 km² |
| - Water | 0.2 mi² - 0.5 km² |
| Population | |
| - City (2000) | 66,277 |
| - Density | 555.6/km² |
| - Metro | 2,067,810 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Website: http://www.ci.gastonia.nc.us/ | |
Gastonia is a city in Gaston County in North Carolina, a state in the southeastern United States of America.
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 66,277 (68,964 is the 2005 Census Bureau estimated population). It is the county seat of Gaston CountyGR6. It is considered part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, aka Metrolina. After Charlotte, Gastonia is the second largest city in the metropolitan area (in population). As one of the key cities in the MSA, Gastonia has experienced steady growth, with a population change during the 1990s (according the the US Census Bureau) of more than +10%.
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[edit] Geography
Gastonia is located at (35.255220, -81.180249)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 119.8 km² (46.3 mi²). 119.3 km² (46.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.43%) is water.
Gastonia is at the geographic center of Gaston County, North Carolina.
[edit] Trivia
Gastonia is also known as The Gas House or Little Chicago (from the Crime rate in the past)[citation needed].
Gastonia has the distinction of being named an All America City.
Gastonia is home to the famous eateries Shrimp Boat and Tony's Ice Cream[citation needed].
Gastonia is also home of the soda Sundrop,RO's BBQ Slaw, and Black's BBQ slaw[citation needed].
Scenes from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, including the hotel where Ricky Bobby's father is living when Ricky Bobby delivers pizza to him were filmed in Gastonia. The hotel is the Mid-Towne Motor Inn located on South Chester Street in downtown Gastonia. Other scenes include a brief view of downtown Gastonia at the intersection of Franklin Blvd and South Street and the scene from the inside of the Applebee's, where Ricky Bobby and his family eat dinner.[citation needed].
[edit] People, Business and Culture
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 67,781 people, 25,945 households, and 17,720 families residing in the city. The population density was 555.6/km² (1,438.9/mi²). There were 27,857 housing units at an average density of 233.5/km² (604.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.18% White, 25.62% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.76% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.45% of the population.
There were 25,945 households out of which 30.6% had children under the 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.
[edit] Economy
Gastonia is known for its large textile industry and famous textile heritage.
The city is the international headquarters for Parkdale Mills.
Other major employers in Gastonia include Caromont Healthcare, Wix, Stabilus, Curtiss-Wright Controls, and Freightliner.
The city has a strong manufacturing workforce.
[edit] Attractions and Institutions
Gastonia and surrounding areas are home to several notable cultural centers.
The Schiele Museum of Natural History is located east of downtown on Garrison Blvd. The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens are located just southeast of the city on NC 279. East of the city (accessible via I-85, The National Whitewater Center is located on the Catawba River.
Gastonia and Gaston County have a varied topography, with the maximum elevations of 1,690 feet (Kings Pinnacle) and 1,625 (Crowders Mountain) both located in the Crowders Mountain State Park, part of which is located within the city limits of Gastonia, several miles west of downtown. The park and the peaks within are popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts, and represent the highest elevations in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area. A few smaller mountains are also located at the periphery of the city.
[edit] Notable Residents
The following people are former or current residents of Gastonia:
- NFL and CFL player Rufus Crawford
- NBA star James Worthy
- NBA star Darrell Armstrong
- NBA star Eric "Sleepy" Floyd, who attended Hunter Huss High School.
- MLB pitcher Kevin Millwood
- Musician Fred Durst (Rock group Limp Bizkit), who also attended Hunter Huss High School, as well as Ashbrook High School.
- Musician Trè'Kas "Trè" Simms (R&B group "ATL")
- NASCAR driver Glenn Dunnaway
- MLB star Wes Helms
[edit] Education
[edit] K-12
Gaston County Schools (GCS) is the name for the only public school system that serves the city of Gastonia. GCS operates schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Private schools are also available in the city.
Gastonia also has a charter school, Piedmont Community Charter School, that serves K-12 grade students.
[edit] College/university
Although there are no colleges and universities within the city limits of Gastonia, higher education is well represented in the greater Gastonia area. Gaston County is home to Belmont Abbey College (Belmont; 4-year) and Gaston College (Dallas, Belmont; 2-year).
[edit] Shopping
Gastonia has a wide variety of shopping venues geared to satisfy any shopper. There are three major shopping centers in Gastonia.
Westfield Shoppingtown Eastridge is a large regional mall and is home to five major anchor stores: Belks, Dillard's, Goody, Sears and JC Penney. The mall is also home to 100 specialty stores along with a full-service Food Court.
The smaller Gaston Mall also features a wide variety of specialty stores such as John's Toy & Hobby Shop, Mary Jo's Cloth Store, Sew Much Fun (a Bernina Retail store) owned by Drucilla Munnell, Lebo's, Sisk Barber Shop, and Jackson's Cafeteria.
Along with the two malls, Franklin Square is another of Gastonia's premier shopping centers. The complex is divided into sections named phases I, II, and III. Phase I features a Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Ross Dress for Less, and Michael's. Phase II is home to Kmart, Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, and Sam's Club. Phase III is where Old Navy, Books-A-Million,Sports Authority, and a 14-screen movie theater is located.
[edit] Sports
The Gastonia Grizzlies play baseball at Sims Legion Park. The team is part of the Coastal Plain League (CPL) featuring the best players at the collegiate level. The season runs from the end of May to August.
[edit] Media
[edit] Newspaper
The Gaston Gazette 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) offers a Gaston/Lincoln section, published 3 times weekly.
[edit] Television
Gastonia has no broadcast television stations licensed in the city, with numerous network and independent stations broadcasting from nearby Charlotte. Cable television service in Gastonia is provided primarily by Time Warner Cable.
[edit] Radio
Gastonia is served by numerous FM and AM radio stations, mainly based in nearby Charlotte. At present, the city does have three AM stations licensed and located within the city limits.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Highways/Major city thoroughfares
Interstate 85 (I-85) links Gastonia directly with Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham and richmond (to the north) and Spartanburg, Greenville and Atlanta (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. 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 Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.
Gastonia is also served by three US highways: US 29; US 74 (US 29 and 74 are coexistent 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, North Carolina (east), and Asheville and Cherokee, North Carolina (to the west). US 321 links Gastonia to central South Carolina and the Blue Ridge in northwest North Carolina.
Several North Carolina state highways also traverse Gastonia: NC 7, NC 274, NC 275 and NC 279, connect Gastonia with other cities, states, and regions.
Franklin Blvd., Garrison Blvd., Hudson Blvd., and Ozark/Long/Airline/Gaston Aves. (the one street with 4 names), are major east-west city thoroughfares. New Hope Rd., Chester St./York Rd., and Marietta St., are major north-south city thoroughfares.
[edit] Bus (local)
Gastonia Transit (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.
[edit] Bus (regional)
Charlotte Area Transit System (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: $2.40; transfer costs vary.
[edit] Bus (intercity)
Greyhound Lines, Inc., is Gastonia's intrastate/interstate transit provider. The staffed bus station in located on Davis St., just east of downtown.
[edit] Train (passenger service)
Amtrak Cresent (trains 19, 20) connects Gastonia (GAS) with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The unmanned Amtrak station is situated at 350 Hancock Street.
[edit] Air
The Gastonia area is served by two airports. The Gastonia Municipal Airport (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. CLT is 18 miles east of Gastonia in Charlotte, easily accessible from I-85 and US 29/74.
[edit] See also
Charlotte metropolitan area (Metrolina)
[edit] External links
- Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
- City of Gastonia, NC
- Gastonia Transit (GT)
- Gaston County Schools
- Gastonia, North Carolina (NC) Demographics and maps.
- The Gaston Gazette
- Gastonia Grizzlies
- Piedmont Data Systems provides on-site computer support for Gastonia and neighboring cities.
- Westfield Shoppingtown Eastridge
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
