Gaston County, North Carolina

84 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 close to so much, yet we maintain our character which is rooted in our history, and we have areas in the county where we have that small-town feel.” With so much history and natural beauty, tourism is an important economic driver throughout the region, and Gaston County is no exception. “We’re really fortunate to be located where we are, as part of this rapidly growing metro area, with GASTON COUNT Y, NORTH CAROL INA easy accessibility and a lot of convenience to the southeast market by interstate 85,” says Michael Applegate, Director of Tourism and Development. “We’re also fortunate to have the natural resources that we have. The county is bordered on the eastern side by the Catawba River, and on the western side by Crowder’s Mountain. Those are two really iconic destinations that 1000s of drivers