The town got its start in the 1870s as a stop on the Southern Railway line. It's still the place to be if you want a quick drive to Charlotte (15 minutes) or Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (10 minutes). The downtown area features tree-lined Stowe Park, with a stage and fountain. It's the spot for summer Movies in the Park and Concerts in the Park, as well as seasonal festivals.

Belmont lines the western bank of the Catawba River and offers fishing, boating, swimming, and lakeside housing. Population was 8,705 in the 2000 Census but growth has been steady in recent years, with new developments being constructed, as well as many attractive older homes, to serve newcomers.

Belmont extends across I-85 and includes Belmont Abbey, a Roman Catholic monastery, and Belmont Abbey College, a four-year liberal arts college.

Bessemer City began as a mining community when King George II of England granted land to James Ormand, who established Ormand Mining Co. in the mid-1700s. The city later acquired its name from Sir Henry Bessemer, who pioneered the process of making steel from pig iron. Now, more than 100 years later, one of the city's largest industries is FMC Lithium, which mines lithium ore (spodumene) and produces lithium products in North and South America.

Bessemer City includes Southridge Business Park, covering 98 acres just off I-85, home to Advanced Drainage Systems and Hunter Douglas Designer Shades, with room for other major businesses.

The city, population 5,200 in 2000, lies at the foot of Whetstone Mountain. It has six area parks, with 75 acres of walking tracks, basketball courts, ball fields and a swimming pool. Annual events include the Down Home Festival in May and Relay for Life fund-raisiers for the American Cancer Society.

Historic sites here include the Osage plant, Kennedy building, Caleb Mauney grocery, the Robbins building and Gamble's hardware, all more than 100 years old.

The city has a Montessori school and four public schools.

Cherryville www.cherryville.com

But Cherryville is also a town of growth that expects to move forward. Construction of new homes is under way, with more on the horizon. Cherryville's thriving downtown district offers everything from an old-fashioned pharmacy to many retail shops.

Each spring, the city holds its Cherry Blossom Festival. A citywide party that includes food, music and one of the county's largest fireworks disiplays marks each July 4. In addition to an annual Christmas parade, the Cherryville shooters preserve a centuries-old tradition of firing powder muskets to ward off evil spirits.

Cherryville has eight public parks offering family recreation opportunities, with a special emphasis on baseball. Its population in 2000 was 5,361.

In recent years local leaders have supported the building of sidewalks, parks and greenways. It's currently working on extending the River Park greenway and canoe launch. It's not uncommon to hear a newcomer say they moved to Cramerton because of its attractive trails and parks.

Town leaders also supported the conversion of the town's old Maysworth Junior High School into a residential building. A number of new single-family homes are also under construction.

Cramerton was originally named Maysworth, after J. H. Mays, who founded the town and a mill there in 1906. It was renamed Cramerton in 1996, after the mill was acquired by Stuart Warner Cramer.

Across US 321, Dallas also includes the main campus of Gaston College, a thriving community college serving more than 20,000 students a year, and several county and state office buildings. A 100-acre county park includes lakes, a walking train, ball fields, tennis courts, and an equestrian show ring with 125 horse stalls, where equestrian events are frequently held.

Gaston's first incorporated town in 1863, Dallas was named for George Mifflin Dallas, vice president of the U.S. when the town was established.

New commercial growth and residential subdivisions reflect Dallas's prime location between I-85 and the Hickory area to the north. A number of new households have one family member working in Charlotte and another in Hickory. Its 2000 population was 3,413 but is certainly higher now.

Gastonia is bisected by busy I-85 and has hundreds of businesses close to the interstate, including over 1 million square feet of retail, including many name brands. Passenger train service is available on the Amtrak line, and city bus service is a convenience for many residents. Gastonia Municipal Airport serves small business and recreational flyers.

Gastonia features the Schiele Museum of Natural History, one of the leading such museums in the South; two 18-hole public golf courses; seven parks including a baseball complex that has hosted regional tournaments; and many other recreational amenities. Crowders Mountain State Park in the southwest corner of the city has miles of hiking trails and a 1,624-foot summit that offers breathtaking views of the entire region.

Residential neighborhoods range from downtown historic beauties to brand new townhomes and large state-of-the-art houses. Gastonia includes the main and two branches of the public library, and Gaston Memorial Hospital, providing nationally-rated health care.

Recently the High Shoals area was selected as the site for the new manufacturing headquarters of UCS, America's leading manufacturer of track and field equipment for NCAA Championships, Olympic games, and other athletic events.

The town, incorporated in 1973, lies along the north bank of the South Fork River. It started out as an iron foundry, built in 1804 by John Fulenwider, a Swiss immigrant. Some claim that the later High Shoals Manufacturing Co. was one of the largest of its kind in North Carolina.

In the 1800s, textiles became the dominant industry. Daniel Augustus Tompkins developed a cotton manufacturing plant, as well as a traditional mill village.

The town still supports an annual Christmas parade, and current and former residents gather each fall for an Old Timers Reunion. Briarcreek Golf Course, Gallagher Trail and Gallagher Green are right outside the city limits.

Two murals painted on the sides of buildings in the downtown area show Kings Mountain's past. One portrays the Revolutionary War era, with a mountain scene and rolling hills as they might have looked at the time of the historic Battle of Kings Mountain nearby. The defeat of the British there in 1780 was considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War. An act of Congress established Kings Mountain National Military Park in 1931 to commemorate the historic event.

Kings Mountain celebrates a "Fabulous Fourth" each July 4, attracting 3,500 people from a wide area.

The Kings Mountain Historical Museum features collections of vintage clothing, World War I and II memorabilia, books, photographs and small machinery of the past. The Joy Performance Center, a remodeled theater, hosts "Reel to Reel," a significant independent film festival. A triathlon, Gateway Festival in October, and other events bring visitors from around the U.S.

Housing developments have been launched along the northern and eastern edges of town. Town leaders hope more restaurants, a hotel and a grocery store are on the way.

Lowell hopes to take advantage of its location between Gastonia and Charlotte, and easy access to I-85, to continue improving its economy destiny.

In addition to Lowell Elementary School and Holbrook Middle School, Gaston Christian School has constructed its athletic fields and gym, and will soon consolidate its campuses in Lowell for one of the county's largest private schools.

The town has also upgraded its offerings to young people, hiring its first recreation director and planning to increase its youth sports leagues in coming years. Those who like the outdoors already are at an advantage in Lowell, with the proximity of the county's George Poston Park. This 350-acre natural resource also has soccer and football fields and a jungle gym. But what really sets it apart is the 24-court, championship-caliber, lighted horseshoe pitching facility. The state already has held state championship tournaments there, bringing in competitors from across the state.

Originally, life in McAdenville revolved around Rufus Yancey McAden's textile mill. Citizens lived, worked and played in the town, creating a strong sense of community. Today most of the residents work elsewhere, but the majority of the town's acreage is owned by McAden's successor, Pharr Yarns, whose world headquarters are located at the downtown's main intersection.

Some of the old mill houses overlooking a scenic lake at the town center have been razed for a new residential development, which will include 200 new homes and townhouses. A new bridge over the South Fork River is also under construction, replacing one built in 1949. It will have bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides and will be lighted at night.

The sense of community in McAdenville is still quite strong. Hundreds of residents of all ages get involved in the annual Christmastown display. It begins with a traditional Yule Log Parade through the downtown area, and is highlighted by the official lighting ceremony. A McAdenville Elementary School student who wins a school contest has the honor of officially "turning on all the lights." At Easter, more than 300 children participate in the annual Easter Egg Hunt. And Community Day, celebrated for more than 50 years, is like a big family picnic for the entire community.

Plans for a major interchange on I-485 and a new U.S. Whitewater Center across the Catawba River from Mount Holly have spurred a visioning process for an improved downtown area. Ample parks, more open spaces, and a network of sidewalks and greenways would emphasize a walkable community.

The town has passed bonds for street improvements and approved alcohol sales to encourage new restaurants - in fact, three will soon be opening. Downtown also supports a variety of small businesses serving retail and business customers. Several large churches and homes with expansive lawns and spring flowers provide a green element to the downtown.

Mount Holly is working hard to preserve more than 200 acres along the Catawba River, with plans for hiking and biking trails plus other recreational opportunities. It has also acquired an old mill building which it plans to convert into a new city hall.

Buckeye Technologies has invested over $100 million to upgrade and operate the world's largest manufacturing plant for nonwoven airlaid absorbent materials such as those used in diapers and dusting pads.  DSM Desotech makes high-tech UV-curable coatings for fiber optics, computer touch screens and other electronic devices. US Leisure and Outdoor Lifestyle make outdoor seating and other leisure products, and several other companies produce diverse goods for the world marketplace.

Stanley was originally called Stanley Creek in the 18th Century, after a gold prospector who settled there. In 1862 its name was changed to Brevard Station for a number of years in recognition of the railroad station there. Longtime residents of the community began a museum in the former train station and have recently moved it to expanded quarters across the street.

Stanley's annual Country Fest draws about 5,000 people each October to celebrate the area's cultural heritage. About 200 vendors sell everything from food to handmade art.

Ranlo has also attracted Arrow Home Fashions, which makes comforters, "bed in a bag" sets, sheets and other fabric products for the bedroom and home, sold through major retailers.

New housing developments are also underway, and with them new retail businesses, as the community charts a new course for the future.

Pharr Yarns operated a mill in the area until recently and privately owns most of the land in the community.

"It's a quiet neighborhood, it's culturally diverse, there's no crime, and it's a great place to live," said Mayor Vivian Brooks.

Around Halloween, Spencer Mountain draws people looking for a scare from the W. T. Love House, an old mansion thought to be inhabited by ghosts. Just outside the city limits, the county's George Poston Park offers softball and soccer fields, a horseshoe complex and other recreational amenities.