Gastonia, NC
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Gastonia North Carolina is home to some really amazing and beautiful places, but we do not think that we have seen anywhere as picturesque and lovely as Gaston County. Its largest city and namesake, Gastonia, is really the jewel in its crown. As the county seat of Gaston County, Gastonia sees quite a few people come into its welcoming arms, and many of them find it quite difficult to leave! That is probably why Gastonia has seen such a steady growth of population for over a decade. The more time we spend in Gastonia, the more difficult we find it to leave – so why should you consider dropping in to Gastonia and seeing what is there?
Well, for a start, Gastonia is named after an incredible man. Few towns and cities in the U.S. have such a fabulous namesake that they can be so proud of. William Gaston was a member of the North Carolina Supreme Court, but before that, he was just the son of a doctor in a small town in North Carolina. Before William Gaston changed history and changed the world, he was also creating world records – two of them, in fact. He was the first ever student, at the age of only thirteen years old, at Georgetown College, in Washington D. C. but due to illness, he was also the very first dropout ever! But William Gaston was not going to give up that easily - he eventually went on to Princeton University, and graduated in 1796 with a degree in law. Two years later, William Gaston was practising law, and loving it.
But William Gaston knew that there was more that he could do for his country, and that is why, two years later, he could be found in the State Senate, a member representing his fellow country men and women. He spent most of the next twenty years in and out of the Senate, always making sure that he was airing the concerns of those that he knew, and was eventually elected to be a Federalist in two Congresses. During this time, William Gaston made sure that he got a federal charter for Georgetown University, giving more young people like himself the chance to better themselves through their education.
By 1832, William Gaston had served in the State House of Representatives not once, not twice, not even three times, but another five times. In that year he was chosen to give the graduation address to those that were graduating from the University of North Carolina. It was a great honour for William Gaston, and he chose his words wisely. As well as encouraging the graduates to serve their country as well as their local communities, William Gaston spoke briefly on a topic that was very dear to his heart; the abolition of slavery. In fact, through his role as a justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, William Gaston made it very difficult for slave owners to gain control over other human beings, and this piece of legislation is considered by many scholars to be one of the greatest stands against slavery that was taken during this period.
William Gaston was truly a man of worth, aiding people over and over again with their troubles, and never once seeking glory for himself. However, his story becomes all that more fascinating when you realise that technically, William Gaston should never have been able to do any of these things. He was a Roman Catholic, and under the laws of the United States of America at the time, no Roman Catholic was permitted to take any sort of position of office. However, so many people loved and respected William Gaston, that people seemed to conveniently forget that particular law! One of his greatest achievements was to remove the bias against people of the Roman Catholic faith from the laws of the State of North Carolina. It is no wonder that so many people are proud to have their city carry his name.
However, poor old William Gaston would probably turn in his grave if he realized just how far from his equalitarian principles the city of Gastonia would eventually depart. By 1908, mills that were manufacturing within the Gastonia city limits would be employing children as workers. Child labor was not uncommon during William Gaston's time, of course, but the tasks that they would be given would be slight, and simple. Child labor within a mill, such as Loray Mill in Gastonia, was basically children doing an adult's job, but being paid almost nothing. During these times, many children would end up being very ill, or even dying due to sickness and injuries that they picked up during their working today.
Thankfully, there is no child labor or anything like that going on in Gastonia today! Gastonia is truly a modern city, and just like any other modern city, it has economic highs and lows depending on the economic state of the U.S., as well as the world. In the twenty first century, many companies and businesses that have been run by families in Gastonia for hundreds of years have had to be closed down, because there simply is not the market for them anymore. These job losses have proved problematic – and as of the last census that was taken here, in 2011, around one fifth of the population, or 20%, live in relative poverty.
On the other hand there are still many businesses that still view Gastonia as their headquarters, making it very unlikely that they will ever close. Parkdale Mills, the huge international textile company, has their company headquarters stationed in Gastonia, and they also have two manufacturing production factories in Gastonia, as well as others in local areas nearby. There are several other big companies that have really invested in the city of Gastonia, and many residents depend on them for their livelihoods. Walmart and Advance Auto Parts, Gaston Memorial Hospital, and the Danaher Tool Group all have huge buildings here, and collectively employ thousands of people. Due to the high level of manufacturing and factories in and around the city of Gastonia, almost all of the residents here have invested in their well-being by purchasing Gastonia, NC health insurance.
If you are thinking of visiting Gastonia, then there is absolutely no time like the present! There are tons of amazing things that you can do here, and many of them are free or very reasonably priced, making it easy for a family to have some fun days out without totally breaking the bank. One of the most popular destinations for families, as well as adults, is the Schiele Museum of Natural History. As well as the permanent exhibitions that center on the fascinating way that the world works, there is a permanent exhibition called the Henry Hall of the American Indian, which has many ancient artefacts which are truly beautiful, as well as being almost entirely unique. The same museum holds the only planetarium in the area, which is extremely popular, as you can imagine!
But, if it is a beautiful day in Gastonia – which it often is – then you do not want to spend all of your day cooped up inside without being able to see the sunshine. That is why you simply cannot afford not to have your lunch sitting in the majestic Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, which is home to some of the world's most incredible plants and flowers. It is difficult not to believe that you are sitting in paradise when you visit these gardens, and they are a huge attraction that draws many thousands of people to the city of Gastonia every year. There really is not a bad time to visit the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Gastonia, as every single month there is something new and exciting to see, even during the winter months.
Many people, however, will not want to just sit around and merely look at the beauty of nature – they will want to experience it! If you are more the outdoorsy type, then do not worry, because there is plenty for you to do here in Gastonia. The United States National Whitewater Center, sitting right on top of the Catawba River, is an easy hop out of the city, and is a brilliant place for you, your friends, or your family, to really experience a different side of the city of Gastonia. After a dip (or three!) you can then move onto Crowders Mountain State Park, which is just near Kings Mountain. There are countless hiking trails to be found here, each one more breathtaking than the last, and there are plenty of picnic areas, rock climbing walls for those that want to try it out, and there are also special areas for fishing.
