Gaston County is in Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) located southwest of Charlotte or the southern Piedmont area. It is the fifth largest county in the Charlotte MSA.
The county has fifteen incorporated towns:
Belmont Lowell, High Shoals , Bessemer City, Mount Holly, McAdenville, Cherryville, Ranio, Gastonia, Spencer Mountain, Kings Mountain, Dallas, Stanley.
In addition to fifteen incorporated towns and cities, there are several unincorporated communities such as Hardin, Lucia, Crowders Mountain, Sunnyside, Alexis, Tryon, and North Belmont.
