Gaston County was created in 1846 from Lincoln County which had been created in 1779 from Mecklenburg County. Below is a list of "local" newspapers for this area which have survived. Newspapers in the 18th and 19th centuries reprinted many of their articles from other newspapers. Therefore searching all the newspapers available for the time period may help in locating news items.
Dates given here are the earliest and latest available for each title, but there may be missing issues in any newspaper.
During the early years, the nearest newspaper was in Salisbury. Even though this was more than 50 miles away, occasional Lincoln County court-ordered notices were published there as the nearest newspaper.
Visit Early Newspapers from the State Archives of North Carolina to search.
Go to: http://www.digitalnc.org/exhibits/early-newspapers-sanc/
These Charlotte papers contain many mentions of Lincoln and later Gaston Counties, both official notices and news items.
The Charlotte newspapers below can be searched at the Chronicling America site at the Library of Congress:
Online:
Microfilm at the Jonas Library, Lincolnton:
The Gastonia Gazette (later The Gaston Gazette starting January 2, 1989).
The Main Library has the Gastonia Gazette on microfilm beginning with the February 21, 1880 issue. However, there are many missing issues in the early years.
The Historic North Carolina Digital Newspaper Collection has digitized online content from some of the issues of the Gastonia Gazette. (More issues are available on microfilm at the Gastonia Main Library) Log in to NC Live with your library card number for online access.
The Gastonia Gazette (Gastonia, N.C.) has issues from the years: 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, and 1909 that are only available online at DigitalNC North Carolina Newspapers Collection.
At this time, there is only limited indexing to the Gazette and/or to the obituaries:
Miscellaneous Gaston County papers in order by earliest date:
See also our current newspapers page.
Microfilm copies of the following newspapers are in the North Carolina Collection at the Gastonia Main Library.
Guide to Newspapers on Microfilm in the North Carolina State Archives.
Go to: https://files.nc.gov/dncr-archives/Guide_Master_May_2019.pdf
Also search the North Carolina Newspaper Locator for newspaper microfilm by county, town, title, or date range housed at the N.C. Government & Heritage Library.
Go to: https://statelibrarync.org/newspaper/
Visit the Newspapers - Historical LibGuide for more print and online historical newspapers.
Digital collections:
North Carolina Newspapers Index
Find what North Carolina newspapers were printed in a county or city: North Carolina Newspapers Index, a pdf file.
This is NOT an index to newspaper contents.
Go to: http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p249901coll22/id/18084
Guide to Newspapers on Microfilm in the North Carolina State Archives
Guide to Newspapers on Microfilm in the North Carolina State Archives.a pdf file
Go to: https://files.nc.gov/dncr-archives/Guide_Master_May_2019.pdf
North Carolina Newspaper Locator
Also search the North Carolina Newspaper Locator for newspaper microfilm by county, town, title, or date range housed at the N.C. Government & Heritage Library.
Go to: https://statelibrarync.org/newspaper/
Genealogical Indexes and Abstracts of Newspapers
Search the State Library of North Carolina's Genealogical Indexes and Abstracts of Newspapers to find indexes to genealogical information in Newspapers. These indexes are located in the State Library's Genealogical Research Room unless otherwise indicated.
Go to: http://statelibrary.ncdcr.libguides.com/c.php?g=151279
Author: Gaston County Public Library
Title: Newspapers -- Historical
URL: http://gastonlibrary.libguides.com/serials/historical-newpapers
Revised: 6 October 2021
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