Our History
Your Health, Our Mission - Since 1908
What started as a nine-bed hospital in 1908 has grown into a comprehensive health system serving hundreds of thousands across the region. Through every decade, expansion and innovation, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to providing exceptional care with compassion, right here in the community you call home.
1908 | Gastonia's First Hospital
Nine-bed City Hospital opens its doors in Gastonia, marking a pivotal moment for the growing textile community. At a time when most medical care happened in homes, local physicians and civic leaders recognized the need for a dedicated facility. Within four years, the hospital relocates to Main Avenue and expands to keep pace with the booming textile industry that was transforming Gastonia into an industrial hub. This small hospital would become the foundation of what is now a regional healthcare leader.
1924 | A Growing Need
As Gastonia's population surges past 17,000, the hospital relocates once again to a newly designed facility with 46 beds. The 1920s brought unprecedented growth to the region, with textile mills operating around the clock and families flocking to the area for work. The expanded hospital introduced specialized services and modern equipment, reflecting the community's transformation from a small mill town into a thriving industrial center.
1946 | Exceptional Care With Purpose
In the aftermath of World War II, the community rallies together through a public fundraising campaign to purchase City Hospital, renaming it Gaston Memorial Hospital. This transition from private to community ownership reflected a shared commitment: healthcare should serve everyone, not just those who could afford it. The new nonprofit structure allowed the hospital to reinvest in better equipment, expanded services and a mission centered on community health rather than profit.
1950 | A Legacy of Compassion
Gaston Memorial Hospital enters an era of remarkable growth and innovation. New surgical suites, diagnostic equipment and specialized departments transform the hospital into a comprehensive medical center. Perhaps most significantly, the hospital establishes a School of Nursing, addressing the critical shortage of trained nurses in the region and creating a pipeline of compassionate caregivers. This investment in nursing education would become one of the hospital's most enduring contributions to the community.
1973 | An Opportunity to Care
The School of Nursing closes after 23 years of service, having graduated 307 nurses who went on to serve communities across the region. That first graduating class of just three nurses in 1950 had grown into a respected program that shaped the careers of hundreds of healthcare professionals. Many graduates spent their entire careers at Gaston Memorial Hospital, creating a culture of continuity and deep community connection that defines CaroMont Health to this day.
1973 | Solid Foundations
Recognizing that Gaston County's population had more than doubled since the 1940s, hospital leaders make a bold decision: build an entirely new, state-of-the-art medical center. On land leased from the county, the new Gaston Memorial Hospital opens on Cox Road, featuring 250 beds, cutting-edge technology and room to grow. The move from downtown to the current location wasn't just about space—it was about positioning the hospital to serve generations to come. Modern operating rooms, intensive care units and diagnostic imaging capabilities brought world-class healthcare to the community.
1993 | Specialized Medicine, Close to Home
Gaston Memorial Hospital achieves a significant milestone, becoming one of only seven hospitals in North Carolina to earn the Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program designation from the American College of Surgeons. This prestigious accreditation meant that local families facing a cancer diagnosis no longer had to travel hours for treatment. The comprehensive program offered everything from early detection and diagnosis to advanced treatment options and survivorship support—all delivered by a multidisciplinary team committed to compassionate, coordinated care.
2000 | Naming the Future
Gaston Memorial Hospital adopts a new identity: CaroMont Health. The name change reflected more than geography—it represented the organization's evolution from a single hospital into an integrated health system. "Caro" honored the Carolina region served by the system, while "Mont" paid tribute to the mountains that define the western horizon. More importantly, replacing "Hospital" with "Health" signaled a forward-thinking philosophy: true healthcare extends beyond hospital walls to encompass prevention, wellness and lifelong support for the community.
2004 | New Additions
CaroMont Regional Medical Center unveils the West Expansion, featuring The Birthplace—at the time, the largest single-room maternity care unit in the nation. The 52 "LDR" (Labor, Delivery, Recovery) suites revolutionized the birth experience, allowing families to stay in one comfortable, private room throughout their entire journey. No more transfers between rooms during vulnerable moments. The expansion also introduced a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), ensuring that even the tiniest, most fragile patients could receive life-saving care without leaving Gaston County. For families facing the stress of a premature birth or complications, this meant staying close to home, family and community support.
2015 | Help in a Heartbeat
CaroMont Health opens a free-standing emergency department in Mount Holly, bringing emergency care closer to the rapidly growing communities of eastern Gaston, southern Lincoln and western Mecklenburg counties. The 38,000-square-foot facility was designed with one priority: reducing the time between injury or illness and expert care. In its first year alone, the Mount Holly ED treated approximately 12,000 patients. For families in these communities, it meant the difference between a 30-minute drive in an emergency and a 5-minute trip.
2016 | Meeting the Need
The main Emergency Department undergoes a major renovation, adding 10,000 square feet of clinical space to accommodate increasing patient volumes. But the most significant addition was the Albert G. Myers, Jr. Pediatric Care Center—a dedicated space designed specifically for children. Bright colors, child-sized equipment and specialized pediatric emergency medicine physicians create an environment that reduces fear and anxiety for young patients and their families.
2025 | A New Chapter
On January 8, 2025, CaroMont Health opens a 66-bed hospital in Belmont, marking a historic milestone in the health system's expansion. The state-of-the-art facility features 24/7 emergency care with a 16-room emergency department, 54 inpatient beds and a surgical suite with two operating rooms. This comprehensive medical center brings advanced care closer to the communities of Belmont, Mount Holly and beyond, ensuring families in the eastern part of the county have access to exceptional healthcare right in their neighborhood.
CaroMont Health Today
More than a century after opening with just nine beds, CaroMont Health has grown into a comprehensive regional health system with two full-service hospitals: a 476-bed facility in Gastonia and a 66-bed hospital in Belmont. The system includes a freestanding Emergency Department in Mount Holly and over 50 primary and specialty care physician offices across the region. As a Level III Trauma Center with a nationally-accredited Cancer Center, state-of-the-art Birthplace and Level III NICU, CaroMont Health continues the legacy that began in 1908: caring for our community with compassion, innovation and excellence.