About - Belmont, NC

Early Roots

Originally settled around the colonial era, the first fort was built by a group of Dutch settlers near the junction of the South Fork and Catawba River in the 1750s. This early community came to be known as Garibaldi Station. As the years passed, the early inhabitants relied heavily on agriculture for their livelihood and operated many farms within the area. Due to being located at the northern end of a large peninsula and surrounded by the Catawba River to the east, Lake Wylie to the south, and the South Fork of the Catawba River to the west, early settlers did not travel to neighboring towns very often, as it required crossing a river in either direction. Although this location insulated early settlers from the changes of the surrounding communities of Gastonia and Charlotte, it would play a large role in the growth of the community in the coming century.

A Name is Chosen

In 1886, the community known as Garibaldi Station was renamed as Belmont, which in Latin, "bellus mon", means “Beautiful Mountain”. This name was chosen due to the proximity to mountains in the area, most likely Spencer Mountain.

Industrial Revolution

Although the Industrial Revolution had been taking place in the United States for decades, Belmont didn't experience it's effects until 1853 when the Stowesville Cotton Mill was opened.  This mill was one of the first three Cotton Mills in Gaston County. After the mill was erected, Belmont continued to have a very small population. It was not until textile manufacturing arrived that Belmont really experienced an economic boom. Textile manufacturing became an important industry for much of the south, including the Charlotte metropolitan area. Gastonia, located just west of Belmont, was the fourth largest textile center in the state. As Gastonia and Charlotte grew, Belmont continued to maintain much of its agricultural character and did not experience the true effects of the industrial revolution for a few more decades.

The Railroad Arrives

In 1871, the construction of the railroad through Downtown Belmont provided a link with the rest of the region. This event would later be considered the primary turning point in Belmont’s history that paved the way for the City we know today.

The Abbey is Founded

In 1872, the Caldwell Plantation was purchased and subsequently donated to the Benedictine monks and eventually led to the formation of Belmont Abbey. As the area surrounding Belmont and the Abbey developed, the downtown and main street portion of Belmont began to take shape. Most land outside of the town, including the peninsula, continued to remain rural.