Gaston, a S. W. county of North Carolina, bordering on South Carolina, bounded E. by Catawba river and intersected by Catawba creek; area, about 350 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 12,602, of whom 4,172 were colored. It has a diversified surface and a fertile soil. Gold has been obtained. It is traversed by the western division of the Wilmington, Charlotte, and Rutherford railroad. The chief productions in 1870 were 64,468 bushels of wheat, 338,023 of Indian corn, 79,717 of oats, and 762 bales of cotton. There were 1,218 horses, 1,166 mules and asses, 2,709 milch cows, 4,706 other cattle, 7,362 sheep, and 12,858 swine; a cotton factory, and a quartz mill. Capital, Dallas.