1. History of Belmont 

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.

In 1833, the community known as Garibaldi Station was renamed as Belmont, which means “Beautiful Mountain”. This name was chosen due to the proximity to Crowders Mountain. 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. 

In 1901, the Chronicle Mill became the first textile facility within Belmont. Access to the railroad, proximity to Gastonia and Charlotte, and being surrounded by waterways, provided an ideal location for the emerging textile industry. By the 1930’s, over twenty textile mills called Belmont home. This caused the population to soar from 145 at the turn of the century to over 4,000.

Between the years 1970 and 2000 the textile industry would continue to decline throughout the Charlotte region. Belmont was able to reduce major losses until the late 80’s and early 90’s but would experience a short period of economic decline. Progressing into the Twenty-First Century brought a renewed interest in Belmont. Once again, Belmont’s proximity to Charlotte and abundant access to waterways have brought new investors and residents.