One of the neighborhood’s central stories is the rise and fall of the Square, Highland’s business district. The circumstances surrounding the construction of the county government complex were not clear to me; the land is occupied both city and county buildings. My review of county documents tells a pretty clear story that I’ll get into in the next few posts. For now, some aerial photos.

1938: The Highland community was well established north of Main Street. Highland the school is in the top left corner. Keep your eye on Walnut Avenue running west to east before and ending in a curve with Oakland Street on the right of the photograph.

1951: Infill takes up all available space as the community grows in number and wealth. Walnut St is where many influential citizens, including eventual Mayor T. Jeffries, lived.

1968: Middle class neighborhoods like Pinehurst and Green Acres are being built, pulling wealth away from the area as businesses and schools are integrating.

1984: Disinvestment has led to high crime and a large number of vacant lots, which the City of Gastonia purchases in a failed attempt at urban renewal.

1997: Construction on the courthouse is underway, with land cleared for the jail, a new Department of Social Services building. The City of Gastonia traded this land with the county for the old courthouse downtown.

2010: Remaining residential units sit abandoned and Walnut Street is lined by parking lots.