Charlotte metro, NC relocation guide
Moving to High Shoals, NC
About High Shoals
High Shoals (595 residents at the 2020 census) is a small city in northern Gaston County named for the high rocky shoal across the South Fork Catawba River (per Wikipedia, read September 24, 2026). It has an outsized industrial history: the High Shoals Iron Works was founded here around 1795 by Swiss-born John Fulenwider, who developed one of the earliest charcoal processes for making pig iron; during the War of 1812 his ironworks produced cannonballs for the U.S. Army, and it operated until 1875. In the late 19th century the entire community became company-owned by High Shoals Mills, a textile company founded by Charlotte industrialist Daniel A. Tompkins; the mill homes were later sold to private owners.
Home prices in High Shoals
Home prices in High Shoals vary by neighborhood and property type.
Top places in High Shoals
- The namesake shoals on the South Fork Catawba River
- High Shoals Iron Works historic site and cemetery
- Mill-village streetscapes from the Tompkins-era company town
- South Fork river access and paddling
Commuting from High Shoals
- About 25 miles northwest of Uptown via NC-16/NC-274 or US-321 to I-85. Typical drive: 35–50 minutes. No transit; car-dependent.
High Shoals FAQs
- What is the housing market like in High Shoals, NC?
Home prices in High Shoals vary by neighborhood and property type. - How is the commute from High Shoals, NC?
About 25 miles northwest of Uptown via NC-16/NC-274 or US-321 to I-85. Typical drive: 35–50 minutes. No transit; car-dependent.
Town links
Schools
Transit
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.