Welcome to The Town of Gaston, South Carolina

Year founded: 1894

Population: Less than 1,000

Named for:
The story has it that Gaston was either named after
the nephew of a railroad engineer who worked there during
the summer of 1891, or for a couple of brothers, the Gastons,
who were from France. The Gaston brothers moved their families
to town from up North.

Slice of history:
The once-rural farming community had a
church, several schools, a skating rink, a mercantile, drug
store, doctor’s office and railroad depot.

What the town is known for:
The annual Gaston Collard Festival,
which began in September 1982, making it one of Lexington
County’s oldest festivals. A group of Gaston residents
wanted to start a family-oriented festival and tried to think of
something in abundance in the area. At first, the thought was
peanuts and a Gaston Goober Festival — but they quickly
changed their minds. The “main street”:
U.S. 321, formerly a two-lane dirt road that
was paved around 1927. If you’re passing through town:
On the way from Columbia on U.S. 321, watch for the ostriches,
emus and llamas in a pasture of Triple J Farms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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