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Location Statistics Demographics History Government Information Administration
The 2008 Gaston County Quality of Life Survey Report is a terrific tool for anyone who wants to know more about Gaston County. Based on the Gaston County Quality of Life Survey, 2008, it describes community development, youth, and health needs, data on our population, and information on the health of county residents. The report will help organizations that are working on strategic planning, program planning, and are writing grant proposals. The Gaston County Community Assessment, December 2008, is a terrific resource for persons and organizations interested in the health of Gaston County. Based on the Gaston County Quality of Life Survey, 2008, it presents data on health needs, our population, and the health of county residents. The report will help health and health-related organizations as they conduct strategic planning, program planning, and write grant proposals.
Gaston County is strategically located just west of Charlotte (Mecklenburg County) in the Southern Piedmont of North Carolina. We are approximately halfway between Atlanta and Washington DC and approximately halfway between New York and Miami.
County Seat: Gastonia
General History and Characteristics Gaston County is located in the South-Central Piedmont section of North Carolina . It is bounded on the east by the Catawba River and Mecklenburg County , on the west by Cleveland County , on the north by Lincoln County and on the south by York County , South Carolina . Gaston was formed from a lower portion of Lincoln County in 1846. Gaston County is one of one hundred counties created by the North Carolina State Legislature. It ranks 74th in size consisting of approximately 364.5 square miles, and is seventh in population with approximately 190,000 people recorded during the 2000 Census. The County has fifteen incorporated towns. The topography of the County is gently rolling to hilly, with several pronounced ridges, including Kings Mountain Pinnacle, Spencer Mountain , Jackson 's Knob, Paysour Mountain and Crowders Mountain . Elevations above sea level in Gaston County range from 587 feet in the southeast corner to 1,705 feet at the Pinnacle of the Kings Mountain ridge in the southwest. The average elevation is estimated at 825 feet. The County has a temperate climate characterized by moderate temperature variations and moderate humidity. The average temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ranging from an average winter temperature of 43 degrees to a summer average of 78 degrees. The average annual precipitation is 44 inches, and the average relative humidity is 54 percent. The primary components of the drainage system in Gaston County are the Catawba River with the South Fork River as its major tributary. The early settlers of Gaston County were principally Scotch Irish, Pennsylvania Dutch, and English. Upon their arrival, they found a few Catawba Indians remaining, but this tribe soon moved to South Carolina . In anticipation of an attack by the Cherokees, who were then engaged in border warfare, a fort was constructed at the junction of the Catawba and South Fork Rivers . Relations were maintained with the few Indians in the area, and there is no indication that the fort was ever necessary. Early Gaston County never knew the agricultural prosperity which some of the other counties of the State enjoyed. Normally, the small farms were self-sufficient, but the crop yield was relatively low. Corn, one of the more abundant and prosperous crops, was quickly converted into whiskey by one of the forty-eight licensed distilleries in the County. By 1870, Gaston was known as the "Banner Corn Whiskey County of Carolina." In addition to distilleries, mines in various parts of the County yielded in varying quantities--gold, lime, sulfur, tin, and iron. Furnaces for smelting ore were founded early around Mount Holly , Bessemer City , and High Shoals. Between 1845 and 1848, the industrial boom in Gaston County had its origin. During this three-year period, the first three cotton mills in the County were established. Some authorities say that the first one was established by Thomas R. Tate on Mountain Island , the present site of Duke Power Company's Mount Holly steam plant. Other sources say that the first mill was established by the Linebergers and others on the South Fork River near McAdenville. Most sources agree that among the first three mills in operation in the County was the Stowesville Mill, founded by Jasper Stowe and Associates in the Point Section of Belmont . Gaston County still leads all other counties in the country both in the number of spindles in operation and in the number of bales of cotton consumed. Today Gaston County enjoys a diverse industrial base with over 4,000 businesses employing nearly 95,000 workers. 33% of the employment is in the service sector, 26% in manufacturing, 23% in retail and wholesale trade, and 12% in government. Public utilities serving the Gaston County area include Duke Power, Plantation Pipe Line Company, Public Service Company of North Carolina , and Bell South. The Gaston County public school system is the sixth largest in the State with an enrollment of more than 32,000 students. It is a consolidated system which assures the same quality education for all students both urban and rural. The school system includes special programs, which are available for exceptional students as well as for the handicapped and the learning disabled. Institutions of higher education in the County include Gaston College , a county-supported community college and Belmont Abbey College , a private 4-year institution. Gaston County supports one of the most modern hospital facilities in the entire region, Gaston Memorial Hospital, Inc., in Gastonia . This 479-bed facility has an excellent staff of medical personnel and is equipped with the latest technological equipment. All rooms are private and are designed for maximum patient comfort and convenience.
Gaston County was created on December 21, 1846 , by the North Carolina State General Assembly to promote the public health, safety and welfare and to secure the peace and dignity of the County. The area which comprises Gaston County was formerly a part of Lincoln County . The County was named for the Honorable William Gaston, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Dallas was the original County Seat and held that title until 1911 when a third attempt to move the County Seat to Gastonia was finally successful. Gastonia has maintained the title ever since. Until 1868, like other counties, Gaston was governed by a Justice of the Peace. This was the traditional form of English county government. The justice was appointed by the Governor and met four times a year at the County courthouse to manage the affairs of the county. They levied taxes, built the courthouse and the jail, cared for the sick and poor, built roads, and held court to settle disputes and punish lawbreakers. Under the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, the Board of County Commissioners replaced the justices of the peace as the governing body of the county. Each county had a board of five commissioners elected by the voters of the entire county. Each commissioner served a two-year term. Since Gaston County 's inception in 1846, it has experienced innumerable changes in its election of commissioners to serve and in the responsibilities of the commissioners. An example of a responsibility change is that of road construction. Prior to 1931 the repair of county roads was the duty of the county board of commissioners. However, in 1931 the State General Assembly transferred these responsibilities to the Department of Transportation. The Department of Transportation today has final authority on road matters, and the County Board of Commissioners serves only in an advisory role. Because of all the changes that have occurred in county government over the years, the focus from this point will be Gaston County government today. Gaston County is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners. Each Commissioner is elected by the people in an at-large partisan election held in November of even-numbered years. The terms of the Commissioners are staggered in that three are elected in one year and the other four at the next election. The reason for the staggered terms is to insure that there are always some members on the Board who have had some previous experience in governing the County. Each Commissioner must reside in and represent one of the six townships in the County. The Gastonia Township , however, has two commissioners because of its substantially larger population. Newly elected commissioners take an oath of office on the first Monday in December following the election. The Board of County Commissioners holds regular bimonthly meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Annually, at the first regular meeting in December, one of the Commissioners is elected as chairman, who will preside at meetings, represent the Board at public functions and perform many other duties. The chief power of the Board lies in its control over County finances. The Board adopts the annual budget, makes appropriations for various County activities, and levies the necessary taxes to raise the money. While all activities of the County are authorized by the General Assembly, some activities are mandated. For example, the State compels the County to appropriate the necessary funds to provide court facilities, to provide offices for various elected officers and independent boards, to provide school buildings, to maintain law and order, and to carry on certain Human Service programs. In these situations the Board has only limited authority over certain elected officers and independent boards. It may criticize their actions and require reports from them, but it has no effective means of enforcing its wishes. Even in its power to appropriate money to these activities, it does not have absolute authority. Property taxes may be levied by the County without a vote of the people to the extent allowed by North Carolina General Statute. Mandated functions which the County must provide include: maintenance of the courts, debt service, elections, jails, schools, social services, and joint undertaking of any of the above. However, any funds, regardless of its source, belonging to the County, may be spent only for public purposes. This is called the public purpose limitation which represents one of the checks and balances on the Board of Commissioners. Important legislation passed in March of 1969 by the General Assembly, which extended the powers of the Board of Commissioners, was "Home Rule." This allows counties to adopt: ordinances to prevent and abate nuisances, whether on public or private property; ordinances supervising, regulating, supporting or prohibiting in the interest of public morals, comfort, safety, convenience and welfare, public recreations, amusements and entertainments, and all things determined to be for the public good; and ordinances in exercise of general police power not inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws of the United States. It must be stressed that the Home Rule granted to the counties is "limited" in the sense that the county cannot pass any ordinance contrary to State or Federal law, nor can it pass any ordinance to be effective inside any municipality, unless the municipality agrees to the enforcement of such ordinance. In addition, the Board enjoys considerable authority in deciding what other functions, not required by the General Assembly, the County shall perform and how they shall be administered. The following chart is a list of the chief functions and services authorized for City and County governments as found in the General Statutes of North Carolina.
Chief Functions and Services Authorized for City and County Governments in North Carolina A. Services and Functions Authorized for Counties Only 1. Forest Protection B. Services and Functions Authorized for Both Cities and Counties 1. Air Pollution Control C. Services and Functions Authorized for Cities Only 1. Cable TV Note: Both units have authority to undertake the necessary supporting functions and activities - finance, tax collection, personnel, purchasing, etc. - and to construct buildings and other facilities necessary to provide the listed services and functions. The authority cited in the above list is qualified in some cases. Additionally, one unit's action may limit the others. The list does not include regulatory authority.
For more than thirty years the Board of County Commissioners in each North Carolina County has had the authority to appoint a county manager. If the Board so chooses, it may appoint an officer whose sole duties are those of county manager, or it may designate some other officer of the County as county manager in addition to his other duties. In an effort to achieve a more efficient government, the Commissioners of Gaston County adopted the county manager form of government in 1957 and in April of that year appointed its first manager. The duties of the County Manager, as provided by statute, are as follows: (1) to be the administrative head of the County Government for the Board of County Commissioners, (2) to see that the orders of the Board are faithfully executed, (3) to attend the meetings of the Board and make recommendations to it, (4) to report to the Board on the affairs of the County, particularly as to financial condition and future financial needs, (5) to appoint, with the approval of the County Commissioners, and to remove such officers and employees as the Board may consider necessary, except officers and employees who are required to be elected or whose appointment is otherwise provided for by law, and (6) to perform such other duties as may be required of him by the Board. Details on the Manager's powers and duties may be found in the General Statutes of North Carolina Section 153A-82. County Managers are Knowledgeable of general governmental operations and have expertise in the field of management. By a general approach to all county operations, the manager can eliminate duplication of effort, avoid conflict of interest, and encourage harmony, cooperation and morale among the diverse agencies. The result of the manager's work is efficiency in effecting county government. Gaston County is a large organization with approximately 1,400 employees and an annual budget of more than 203 million dollars. Included in the County Administrative staff is an Assistant County Manager who serves in the capacity of the County Manager in case of the manager's absence. The Assistant County Manager's work also includes carrying out policies of the Board of County Commissioners as directed by the County Manager. The County Attorney also plays a vital role in County Administrations. The County Attorney is the legal advisor to the Board of Commissioners and all County officials. Under the direction of the County Manager, the County Attorney examines any written commitments made by the County and also approves all contracts or deeds. The duties of the County Attorney also require that he stay abreast of trends and developments in the law and represent the County's interests in cases of litigation against County officials and employees. Other duties of the County Attorney include the interpretation and drafting of county ordinances and assisting all County Departments in interpreting States Statutes and regulations and Federal Statutes and regulations. The Clerk to the Board is appointed by the Board of Commissioners as specified by North Carolina General Statutes. The appointee is responsible for compiling, preparing and mailing agendas for all Board of Commissioners meetings, including Organizational Meetings, Ad Hoc Committees, Regular Meetings, Special Meetings, Public Hearings, Work Sessions and Retreats. The Clerk attends all meetings of the Board and takes an accurate account of actions which are then set forth in the official minutes of the Board. The Clerk is responsible for attesting certifiable actions of the Board, including contractual agreements, road petitions, ordinances, resolutions, minutes, and other documents necessary to Board actions and general County business. Proper notices under the Open Meetings Law are also the responsibility of the Clerk as well as a catalog of appointments made by Board members. The Clerk coordinates all correspondence relating to the Board of Commissioners with the County Manager.
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