Gaston, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gaston, South Carolina
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Location of Gaston, South Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Lexington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.32 sq mi (13.76 km2) |
| • Land | 5.32 sq mi (13.76 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 499 ft (152 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,645 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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1,699 |
| • Density | 319.66/sq mi (123.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29053
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| Area code(s) | 803, 839 |
| FIPS code | 45-28780 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1231307 |
| Website | www.gastonsc.org |
Gaston is a town in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,645 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Gaston is named for the Gaston family.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 960 | — | |
| 1990 | 984 | 2.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,304 | 32.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,645 | 26.2% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 1,699 | 3.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,043 | 64.86% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 228 | 14.18% |
| Native American | 6 | 0.37% |
| Asian | 10 | 0.62% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 100 | 6.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 220 | 13.68% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,608 people, 684 households, and 458 families residing in the town.
Geography
Gaston is located at 33°48′57″N 81°6′3″W / 33.81583°N 81.10083°W (33.815927, -81.100937), on the banks of Bull Swamp Creek. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2), all of it land.
Gaston is home to Peachtree Rock-although it fell due to weather in 2013, located on the headwaters of Hunt Branch, right off of Highway 6 on Peachtree Rock Road. Hunt Branch feeds into Second Creek, which in turn flows into the Congaree River.
The Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve, a Nature Conservancy property preserving 3,460 acres (1,400 ha) of land, is home to several unique sandstone and ironstone formations. These formations, resemble upside-down pyramids. Millions of years ago, this area—now known as the Sandhills—was the southeastern coastline of the continent. The park contains 7.5 miles (12.1 km) of hiking trails,. It also contains the only coastal plain waterfall in South Carolina.
The rock formations at Peachtree Rock Nature preserve are made from different types of rock. Sandstone, also known as arenite, makes up the softer, bottom layers of the formations while ironstone accounts for the harder and less-eroded top layers.
Town finances and services
Gaston relies mostly on business fees.
In 2010, Gaston hired a police officer more than two years after dismantling its police department. Calhoun County Sheriff's Deputy Pat Regalis took over as police chief on August 2, 2010.
Economy
Gaston relies mostly on business fees.
Education
Gaston area students attend schools in Lexington School District 4 and Lexington School District 2, Frances Mack Intermediate and Sandhills Middle are located in Gaston, while the Early Childhood Center, Sandhills Primary, Sandhills Elementary, Swansea High Freshmen Academy and Swansea High School are located in Neighboring Swansea, South Carolina. Parts of Gaston also attend Airport High School in West Columbia, Pine Ridge Middle School in Pine Ridge, RH Fulmer Middle School in West Columbia, and Congaree Elementary School in South Congaree.
Gaston has a public library, a branch of the Lexington County Library.
