Located in the southwestern part of the state of North Carolina and a city ad seat of Gaston County, Gastonia sits in the central Piedmont Plateau which is situated about 20 miles west of Charlotte. The area was first settled in the late 18th century. After the establishment of the area’s first cotton mill, Gastonia then became one of the United States’ largest textile-manufacturing centers. The city was the scene of a national strike that was held in which the chief of police was killed. The city’s economic activity still centers in textiles, however, its economy is now diversified which includes the manufacture of automotive parts, tools, and others.