Crowders Mountain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Crowders Mountain
Crowders Mountain, July 2007
Highest point
Elevation	1,625 ft (495 m)
Geography
Location	Gaston County, North Carolina, U.S.
Topo map	USGS Kings Mountain, NC

Crowders Mountain is a cool place for outdoor adventures in North Carolina. It's one of two main peaks inside Crowders Mountain State Park. The other peak is called The Pinnacle.

This park is located in western North Carolina. It's between the cities of Kings Mountain and Gastonia. That's about 25 miles (40 km) west of Charlotte. Crowders Mountain stands tall, rising almost 800 feet (244 m) above the land around it. Its top is 1,625 feet (495 m) above sea level.

The Mountain's Story

Crowders Mountain is named after Crowders Creek. This creek starts near the bottom of the mountain. The mountain was not named after a person named Ulrich Crowder, even though some people think it was.

Long ago, Crowders Mountain and The Pinnacle were important landmarks. They helped mark the hunting grounds for two Native American tribes: the Catawba and the Cherokee.

Protecting the Mountain

In the early 1970s, a mining company wanted to dig up the mountain. They were looking for minerals like kyanite, barite, and iron. This made local people worried about the mountain.

So, people from the community, schools, and local governments worked together. They convinced the state government to create a state park. This park would help protect the beautiful area.

In 1973, the State of North Carolina created Crowders Mountain State Park. It opened to visitors in 1974. Crowders Mountain itself became part of the park in 1978. The Pinnacle joined the park in 1987. In the year 2000, over 2,000 acres were added. This made the park include the entire Kings Mountain ridge line. It also extended the park all the way to the North Carolina/South Carolina state line.

Both Crowders Mountain and The Pinnacle have steep rock cliffs. These cliffs are about 100 to 150 feet (30 to 46 m) high. The cliffs on Crowders Mountain are popular for rock climbing. However, rock climbing is not allowed on The Pinnacle anymore.

Hiking trails lead to the tops of both mountains. On a clear day, you can even see the tall buildings of nearby Charlotte from the summits!

Towers on the Summit

Crowders Mountain is also home to several communication towers. One of the first FM radio stations in North Carolina, WGNC-FM from Gastonia, put up a tower here in the late 1940s.

Today, three radio towers stand on the mountain. These towers are on a small piece of land at the top that is still privately owned. Besides commercial radio, these towers help send signals for cell phone companies, railroads, and local emergency services.

In 2007, a company wanted to make one of the towers taller. They wanted to add 107 feet (33 m) to a 143-foot (44 m) tower. This would help a Spanish-language radio station reach Charlotte.

However, the Gastonia City Council said no to this request. They were worried that a taller tower would spoil the views of the mountain. They also thought that building it might harm the mountain's environment.

The tallest tower on Crowders Mountain is 268 feet (82 m) high. It is owned by CBS Communications.

Images for kids

• Crowders Mountain State Park sign.jpg

  The sign for Crowders Mountain State Park.