Gaston, South Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Gaston, South Carolina

|settlement_type = Town

|nickname =

|motto =

|image_skyline =

|imagesize =

|image_caption =

|image_flag =

|image_seal =

|image_map = SCMap-doton-Gaston.PNG

|mapsize = 250px

|map_caption = Location of Gaston, South Carolina

|image_map1 =

|mapsize1 =

|map_caption1 =

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_name1 = South Carolina

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 = Lexington

|government_footnotes =

|government_type =

|leader_title =

|leader_name =

|leader_title1 =

|leader_name1 =

|established_title =

|established_date =

|unit_pref = Imperial

|area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='45'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}

|area_magnitude =

|area_total_sq_mi = 5.32

|area_land_sq_mi = 5.32

|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00

|population_as_of = 2020

|population_footnotes =

|population_total = 1608

|population_density_sq_mi = 302.54

|timezone = Eastern (EST)

|utc_offset = -5

|timezone_DST = EDT

|utc_offset_DST = -4

|elevation_footnotes =

|elevation_ft = 499

|coordinates = {{coord|33|48|57|N|81|6|3|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}

|postal_code_type = ZIP code

|postal_code = 29053

|area_code = 803, 839

|blank_name = FIPS code

|blank_info = 45-28780{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}

|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

|blank1_info = 1231307{{GNIS|1231307}}

|website = [http://www.gastonsc.org/ www.gastonsc.org]

|footnotes =

|pop_est_as_of =

|pop_est_footnotes =

|population_est =

|area_total_km2 = 13.76

|area_land_km2 = 13.76

|area_water_km2 = 0.00

|population_density_km2 = 116.82

}}

Gaston is a town in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,645 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Gaston is named for the Gaston family.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n134 135]}}

Geography

Gaston is located on the banks of Bull Swamp Creek. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|3.4|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1980= 960

|1990= 984

|2000= 1304

|2010= 1645

|2020= 1608

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:45&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

|+Gaston racial composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4528780&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 14, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (non-Hispanic)

|1,043

|64.86%

Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

|228

|14.18%

Native American

|6

|0.37%

Asian

|10

|0.62%

Pacific Islander

|1

|0.06%

Other/Mixed

|100

|6.22%

Hispanic or Latino

|220

|13.68%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,608 people, 684 households, and 458 families residing in the town.

=2000 census=

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,304 people, 484 households, and 366 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|380.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 532 housing units at an average density of {{convert|155.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.71% White, 1.07% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.46% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.

There were 484 households, out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,411, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $21,680 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,546. About 17.1% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Gaston relies mostly on business fees.{{cite news|url=http://www2.wsav.com/news/2010/jul/26/sc-ytown-hires-1-man-police-department-ar-622854/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718122056/http://www2.wsav.com/news/2010/jul/26/sc-ytown-hires-1-man-police-department-ar-622854/| archive-date= July 18, 2011| agency= Associated Press| title= SC Town Hires 1-Man Police Department |publisher=WSAV |date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=December 10, 2013}}

Education

Gaston area students attend schools in Lexington School District 4 and Lexington School District 2, Frances Mack Intermediate and Sandhills Middle are located in Gaston, while the Early Childhood Center, Sandhills Primary, Sandhills Elementary, Swansea High Freshmen Academy and Swansea High School are located in Neighboring Swansea, South Carolina. Parts of Gaston also attend Airport High School in West Columbia, Pine Ridge Middle School in Pine Ridge, RH Fulmer Middle School in West Columbia, and Congaree Elementary School in South Congaree.

Gaston has a public library, a branch of the Lexington County Library.{{cite web | url=https://lexcolibrary.com/locations| title=Locations| publisher=Lexington County Public Library | access-date=September 28, 2022}}

References

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