Belmont, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belmont, North Carolina
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| Nickname(s):
City of Diversified Textiles
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Location in the U.S. state of North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Gaston |
| Incorporated | 1895 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.22 sq mi (31.66 km2) |
| • Land | 12.20 sq mi (31.58 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) 1.74%% |
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,010 |
| • Density | 1,230.83/sq mi (475.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
28012
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| Area code(s) | 704 |
| FIPS code | 37-04840 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403850 |
Belmont is a small city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is a suburban city located about 9 miles (14 km) east of Gastonia. In 2020, about 15,010 people lived there.
Belmont was once called Garibaldi Station. It was named after a New York banker, August Belmont. Today, Belmont is home to Belmont Abbey College.
Contents
History of Belmont
Early Settlement and Forts
People started settling in the Belmont area around the 1750s. Early settlers built a fort called Fort at the Point. It was near where the South Fork and Catawba rivers meet. They built the fort because of conflicts with the Cherokee people. However, the fort was never attacked.
First Mills and Railroads
The South Point Community was about 2.5 miles (4 km) south of downtown Belmont. It was home to Stowesville Mill, one of the first cotton mills in Gaston County. It started in 1853.
After the American Civil War, Abram Stowe built a home and opened a store. He became the postmaster and railroad agent. The new Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway was built in 1871. More stores were built near the railroad stop, called Garibaldi Station. People from South Point moved closer to the railroad.
Founding of Belmont Abbey
In 1872, a Roman Catholic priest named Father Jeremiah O'Connell bought land. He gave it to the Benedictine monks from Pennsylvania. They wanted to start a religious community and school.
Belmont Abbey was founded in 1876. It was officially named "Mary Help of Christians Abbey." It is still active today and runs Belmont Abbey College.
Belmont Becomes a Town
In 1883, Garibaldi Station officially changed its name to Belmont. It was named after the banker August Belmont. In 1895, Belmont became an official town. This happened by a law from the North Carolina General Assembly.
At the start of the 1900s, Belmont was still small with only 145 people. But then, Chronicle Mills started in 1901. This began Belmont's growth as a major textile center. Many mills were built in Belmont until 1930. This caused the town's population to grow to 3,793 people.
Geography of Belmont
Belmont is in the southern Piedmont region of North Carolina. Two rivers are next to the town: the Catawba River and the South Fork Catawba River. These rivers form parts of Lake Wylie. Belmont is located on a piece of land shaped like a peninsula between them.
Belmont is about 12 miles (19 km) west of Charlotte. It is also 10 miles (16 km) east of Gastonia. The city covers about 12.2 square miles (31.6 km2) in total. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Population and People
Belmont's population has grown a lot over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 145 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,176 | 711.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,941 | 150.1% | |
| 1930 | 4,121 | 40.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,356 | 5.7% | |
| 1950 | 5,330 | 22.4% | |
| 1960 | 5,007 | −6.1% | |
| 1970 | 5,054 | 0.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,607 | −8.8% | |
| 1990 | 8,434 | 83.1% | |
| 2000 | 8,705 | 3.2% | |
| 2010 | 10,076 | 15.7% | |
| 2020 | 15,010 | 49.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Belmont?
In 2020, there were 15,010 people living in Belmont. Here's a look at the different groups of people:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 11,586 | 77.19% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,459 | 9.72% |
| Native American | 50 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 515 | 3.43% |
| Pacific Islander | 13 | 0.09% |
| Other/Mixed | 643 | 4.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 744 | 4.96% |
Fun Things to Do in Belmont
Gardens and History
The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a huge garden covering 450 acres (1.8 km2). It is southwest of Belmont. It opened in 1999 and has beautiful plants and flowers.
Downtown Belmont has a Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This area has many old buildings from 1850 to 1949. You can see different styles of architecture there. The old US Post Office, now Belmont City Hall, is one example.
Stowe Manor is a large mansion built in the 1920s for a textile leader named S.P. Stowe.
Belmont Abbey Campus
The campus of Belmont Abbey College is also a historic district. The Abbey Basilica of Mary Help of Christians is a main building there. It was built in a German Gothic Revival style. The monks of Belmont Abbey did much of the building work themselves. The beautiful windows were made in Germany and won awards in 1892.
Local History and Outdoor Adventures
The Belmont Historical Society Cultural and Heritage Learning Center is in an old home. It was built in 1899 and is one of Belmont's oldest houses. It shows the history of Belmont, from its first Native American residents to the textile industry.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center is just across the Catawba River. It is a place for outdoor fun like whitewater rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. It opened in 2006.
Downtown Belmont has also grown with new restaurants, shops, and cafes. Cherub's Café & Candy Bouquet helps people with intellectual disabilities learn job skills.
Belmont's Economy
The textile industry used to be the most important part of Belmont's economy. But many textile factories moved overseas. So, Belmont's old nickname, "The City of Diversified Textiles," is not as true anymore. Many old textile buildings have been taken down or changed into homes or other businesses.
Even with these changes, Belmont's population continues to grow. It is close to the big city of Charlotte. This makes Belmont a popular place for new residents to live.
Some textile companies still have offices or plants in Belmont. Duke Energy also runs a large power plant called the G. G. Allen Steam Station on Lake Wylie.
Schools and Colleges
Public Schools
Public schools in Belmont are part of the Gaston County Schools system.
- Elementary Schools: J.B. Page Elementary (Pre-K to grade 1), Belmont Central Elementary (grades 2–5), North Belmont Elementary, and Catawba Heights Elementary.
- Middle School: Belmont Middle School.
- High School: South Point High School. Their sports teams, the Red Raiders, have won several football and baseball championships.
Private Schools
Gaston Christian School has middle and high school programs in Belmont. The First United Methodist Day Care Center also has Pre-K and Kindergarten classes.
The Belmont Branch of the Gaston County Public Library serves the community.
Colleges in Belmont
Belmont has two colleges:
- Belmont Abbey College: This is a private college linked to the Roman Catholic Church. It was founded in 1876 as St. Mary's College. It was a men's college until the 1960s when women also started attending.
- Gaston College: This is a community college for Gaston County. Belmont has one of its campuses, the Kimbrell (East) Campus. This campus offers classes and has a Textile Technology Center. This center helps with new textile product development and training.
Sacred Heart College, a women's college, used to be in Belmont. It closed in 1987. Its buildings are now used by Belmont Abbey College.
Getting Around Belmont
Roads and Highways
The main highway through Belmont is Interstate 85. Other important roads include U.S. Route 29/U.S. Route 74 (Wilkinson Blvd.) and North Carolina Highway 7. The main north-south road is North Carolina Highway 273.
Trains and Buses
Freight trains use the Norfolk Southern Railway lines. Amtrak passenger trains also use these lines. The closest Amtrak station is in Charlotte.
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) provides bus service to Charlotte. The Gastonia Express bus runs on weekdays.
Air Travel
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is a large airport with many flights. It is about 7 miles (11 km) east of Belmont, across the Catawba River.
Famous People from Belmont
Many notable people have connections to Belmont:
- Greene Washington Caldwell (1806–1864), a U.S. Congressman.
- Fortune Feimster, a comedian and writer for TV shows.
- Dan Goodwin, a famous climber.
- Jimmie Hall, an MLB player who won Rookie of the Year in 1966.
- Anthony Hamilton, an R&B and soul singer.
- Sammy Johns, a country singer known for his song "Chevy Van".
- Koren Robinson, a professional football player drafted by the Seattle Seahawks.
- Doris Satterfield (1926–1993), a three-time All-Star in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
- Jeffrey Springs, an MLB pitcher.
- Hal Stowe, an MLB pitcher.
- Howard Augustine "Humpy" Wheeler Jr., a famous promoter for NASCAR racing.
See also
In Spanish: Belmont (Carolina del Norte) para niños
