North Carolina

Gaston

227,943
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Gaston

Gaston, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 8,073. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 227,943.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Kolb's Farm, and 38 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020227,943
2010206,086
2000190,365
1990175,093
1980162,568
1970148,415
1960127,074
1950110,836
194087,531
193078,093
192051,242
191037,063
190027,903
189017,764
188014,254
187012,602
18609,307
18508,073
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Gaston

Military engagements that took place in Gaston, North Carolina.

Battle of Kolb's Farm
1780

Historic places in Gaston

National Register of Historic Places listings in Gaston, North Carolina.

Mount Holly Cotton Mill
Mount Holly
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Mountain Island
Robinson-Gardner Building
Gastonia
Belmont Abbey Cathedral
Belmont
Belmont Historic District
Belmont
Carpenter, Andrew, House
Lucia
Dallas Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Dallas
Mayworth School
Cramerton
Gastonia High School
Gastonia
Third National Bank Building
Gastonia
Beam's Shell Service Station and Office, (Former)
Cherryville
York-Chester Historic District
Gastonia
Gaston County Courthouse
Gastonia
Belmont Hosiery Mill
Belmont
Downtown Gastonia Historic District
Gastonia
Craig Farmstead
Gastonia
Central School
Bessemer City
McAdenville Historic District
McAdenville
Dallas Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Dallas
Downtown Mount Holly Historic District
Mount Holly
Hoyle House
Dallas
US Post Office, Former
Belmont
Jenkins, David, House
Gastonia
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Gaston County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Gaston County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Gaston

When does Gaston first appear in the US census?
Gaston, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 8,073.
What is the population of Gaston?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Gaston had a recorded population of 227,943.
Were any battles fought in Gaston?
1 documented military engagement took place in Gaston, including Battle of Kolb's Farm.
How many historic places are in Gaston?
38 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Gaston, North Carolina.
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