Gaston County Real Estate, North Carolina

Early Beginnings Gaston County’s first European inhabitants came from Ireland, Germany, Holland, and England. When they first arrived in the area there were few Native Americans remaining, and those that were there became friends with these early Europeans. While these early settlers did build a fort, it was never really needed for protection, and they lived a peaceful life in the region. The first thing that Gaston County was famous for was its distilleries. While the soil was nowhere near as fertile in this part of North Carolina as it was in other regions, it did product plenty of corn, which was turned into whisky. There were 48 distilleries in Gaston County in the late 1800s, prior to prohibition. Mining was also an important industry in the early history of the county. The county was originally part of Anson County, then was incorporated into Mecklenburg County and then later became part of Lincoln County. Finally, in 1846 the county became independent. It was named for William Gaston, a congressman from the area who eventually served on the U.S. Supreme Court. Historical Importance Gaston County has long been one of the most important counties in North Carolina for manufacturing. In 1845 the first mills were built in the region, and since that time the county has led the state in both the number of spindles it operates and the number of bales of cotton that it uses each year. One of the first mills that was opened in the county was the Stowesville Mill located in Belmont. Today there are over 4,000 businesses in Gaston County, and over one-fourth of the workers in the county are employed by manufacturing companies. Local Attractions Gaston County has plenty for residents to see and do without leaving the bounds of the county and heading into Charlotte. Natural beauty surrounds those who live in Gaston County, and there are mountains and rivers everywhere for nature lovers to explore. The county is also home to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, which, according to HGTV, is one of the 20 best gardens. The 110 acres of this park feature themed gardens and beautiful fountains. For those who enjoy a little adventure, the Whitewater Center offers plenty. Here you can whitewater raft down the Catawba River through beautiful woods and over thrilling rapids. This facility has the world’s only multi-channel recirculating whitewater river, which allows rafters to have a different level of difficulty with every trip without leaving the facility. Gaston County has several historical attractions as well, such as the world’s largest flying American flag and the Dallas Historic District. No matter what you like to explore, there is something for you here. Gaston Real Estate News Gaston County is the second largest county in the area around Charlotte. As such, the county itself offers its residents many job opportunities, as well as a short commute into Charlotte itself. This makes it an appealing place to live for people of all ages. The average price for a home in this region is around $100,000, making it an affordable alternative to living within the Charlotte city limits. Even with these affordable prices, there are plenty of master planned communities in Gaston County that offer residents the chance to enjoy luxurious living on the outskirts of Charlotte.