HomeNorth CarolinaGastonia

Gastonia, North Carolina

Located in Gaston County, North Carolina, Gastonia was established in 1877. 1929 Loray Mill Strike was one of South's most violent labor conflicts. Part of Charlotte metro.
Founded 1877 | Population 83,000 | Peak 83,000 (2024) | County Gaston County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Gastonia, North Carolina

undefined
1877 Founded: Gastonia was founded as a railroad town in Gaston County.
undefined
1885 Railroad Era: Railroad connections spurred growth and commerce in Gastonia.
undefined
1929 Loray Mill Strike: Violent textile strike.
undefined
1929 Natural Disaster: Gastonia was impacted by a significant tornado.
undefined
2000 Charlotte Suburb: Metro growth.
🧠
How Well Do You Know Gastonia?
5 questions • 2 minutes
Take the Quiz →

Latest News in Gastonia

Mar 5, 2026
Outrage as State Worker Keys Teslas and Gets Slap on Wrist
Minnesota state employee Dylan Bryan Adams was recently arrested for a series of deliberate acts of vandalism targeting Tesla vehi…
Mar 5, 2026
North Carolina’s New ‘Abolitionist’ Judge Sparks Outrage
Habekah Cannon, a far-left Democrat, has secured a seat as a judge in North Carolina, igniting widespread controversy and drawing …
Mar 7, 2016
Missouri High School Students Walk Out Protest Transgender Girl
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (March 7, 2016) — Tensions boiled over at a Missouri high school on Monday when dozens of students staged a …
Mar 1, 2016
Carson Weighs Criticism Voter Id Laws Are Racist
Washington, D.C. – In the heat of the 2016 presidential race, Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon turned Republican candidate, …
Feb 15, 2016
Us Episcopal Church Installs its First Black Presiding Bishop
Washington, D.C. – The Episcopal Church broke new ground on February 15, 2016, when it installed its first African American as p…
Jan 17, 2016
Rev Franklin Graham Islam and Christianity do not Worship Same God
On January 17, 2016, evangelical leader Franklin Graham stirred debate with a bold declaration that Islam and Christianity do not …

Complete Historical Timeline

1877 Culture
Founded
1885 Transport
Railroad Era
1929 Labor
Loray Mill Strike
1929 Disaster
Natural Disaster
2000 Business
Charlotte Suburb

Did You Know?

1
1929 Loray Mill Strike was one of South's most violent labor conflicts.
2
Part of Charlotte metro.
3
Named for NC Supreme Court justice.
4
Gastonia is located in Gaston County, North Carolina.
5
Gastonia was founded in 1877.

Famous People from Gastonia, North Carolina

TS
Thomas Sowell
Economist, Educator · Born Jun 30, 1930 · Age 95
JW
James Worthy
Basketball Player · Born Feb 27, 1961 · Age 64
HW
Hassan Whiteside
Basketball Player · Born Jun 13, 1989 · Age 36
LS
Lionel Shriver
Writer, Journalist · Born May 18, 1957 · Age 68
PM
Patrick McHenry
Politician, Real-Estate Agent · Born Oct 22, 1975 · Age 50

Other Cities in North Carolina

View all North Carolina cities →
C
Charlotte
Pop. 874,579
R
Raleigh
Pop. 467,665
G
Greensboro
Pop. 313,135
G
Greensboro
Pop. 313,135
D
Durham
Pop. 311,965
D
Durham
Pop. 311,965
See something that needs correcting?
We take accuracy seriously. Help us keep Gastonia's history right.