Exploring Metropolitan Charlotte: The City of Gastonia

 

 

We continue our monthly blog series, Exploring Metropolitan Charlotte, with an introduction to nearby Gastonia.  Located about a 20-30 minute drive to the northwest of Charlotte’s city center via I-85, the City of Gastonia provides a generally lower-cost alternative to housing prices within the city limits of Charlotte.  Like most of the communities within an easy drive of Charlotte, Gastonia has seen exponential growth in recent years.  It is now the second-largest satellite of Charlotte, behind the City of Concord.

 

Once a major textile producing region, manufacturing maintains a strong presence in Gastonia, with companies such as Freightliner, Curtis-Wright Controls and Wix Filtration Corp. among the larger employers in the area.  The City of Gastonia and Gaston County are also major employers.  But shutdowns and layoffs have also characterized the employment environment over the last decade or so.  Most textile production has moved overseas.

 

Recreation and entertainment include the nearby Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Crowders Mountain State Park, and Kings Mountain, where hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas and fishing opportunities abound.  The Downtown Gastonia Historic District continues to see revitalization and includes buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.  Shopping includes the Eastridge Mall, with anchor stores such as Belk and Dillard’s.

 

Housing in Gastonia —and Gaston County in general—tends to be a bit more affordable than in neighboring Mecklenburg County.  Smaller, older homes are available from the low $100,000’s, although most such houses are in need of significant updating and renovation.  There are communities of new and newer homes and townhouses with prices that run typically from the upper $200,000’s to the mid $300,000’s.  Like most of metropolitan Charlotte, Gastonia is also currently experiencing a “Sellers’ Market,” characterized by low inventory and a large pool of interested buyers.  This tends to push up contract prices, as multiple bids are frequently received on homes that present better value.

 

Gastonia is second-largest satellite city of Charlotte behind Concord.  Like Concord, it is within an easy commute of Charlotte’s city center, and it provides a generally lower cost housing alternative to Charlotte, Concord and other cities comprising the metropolitan area.  It has seen its “ups” and “downs” over the years, but like most of greater Charlotte, Gastonia is currently experiencing much growth and expansion.