Gaston County lies at the southern end of the state in a section known as the Piedmont, meaning "foothills." Gaston County is surrounded on three sides by other North Carolina Counties: Mecklenburg on the east, Lincoln on the north and Cleveland on the west. South Carolina borders Gaston on the south.

Gaston County residents enjoy the luxuries of a major city, Charlotte, close by, while maintaining a small community atmosphere.

With a population of 175,000, Gaston County is the largest manufacturing county in North Carolina. The retail and service industries thrive as a result.

Gaston County and the surrounding area offers recreational and leisure choices for all tastes. The excellent public facilities offered by the county and city recreation departments include 94 parks and recreational sites, tennis courts and golf courses.

Under the umbrella of the United Arts Council of Gaston County, arts organizations provide a variety of cultural programming in the community.

Each season brings its own array of arts and festive activities to Gaston County, from lighting the sky over Gastonia with fireworks in July to lighting all of McAdenville in the Christmas spirit in December.

Mild winters, gorgeous spring flowers and trees, and subtropical temperatures in the summer encourage opportunities to take advantage of the many outdoor features that make the area a wonderful place to live.