BELMONT.

• Position: TALKING POINTS

12,046 ESTIMATED 2017 POPULATION

35% POPULATION GROWTH SINCE 2000, COMPARED WITH 15% OVERALL IN GASTON COUNTY

1872 A CATHOLIC PRIEST PURCHASED THE 500-ACRE GREENE WASHINGTON CALDWELL PLANTATION AND DONATED IT TO BENEDICTINE MONKS. IT LATER BECAME BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE.

CHRONICLE MILL

BELMONT'S FIRST TEXTILE PLANT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1901. BY THE 1930S, THE TOWN HAD MORE THAN 20 TEXTILE MILLS. ALL BUT ONE HAVE...