Dallas Township is a township

Civil township

A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...

 in north-central Gaston County

Gaston County, North Carolina

Gaston County is a county located just west of Charlotte in the southern Piedmont in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third largest county, by population, in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, officially designated the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of...

, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It includes the incorporated towns of Dallas

Dallas, North Carolina

Dallas is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina and a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. The population was 3,402 at the 2000 census. It was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States of America under James K. Polk.-Geography:...

, High Shoals

High Shoals, North Carolina

High Shoals is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 729 at the 2000 census.-History:High Shoals was the location of the High Shoals Iron Works, founded by Swiss-born John Fulenwider in about 1795. Fulenwider developed one of the earliest methods of making pig...

 (a portion of which is in Cherryville Township

Cherryville Township, Gaston County, North Carolina

Cherryville Township is a township in northwestern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It includes the incorporated City of Cherryville, the inactive incorporated town of Dellview, the unincorporated area of Tryon, and a portion of the town of High Shoals...

), and Stanley

Stanley, North Carolina

Stanley is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,053 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stanley is located at ....

 (shared with Riverbend Township

Riverbend Township, Gaston County, North Carolina

Riverbend Township is a township in northeastern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States....

). It also includes small portions of the City of Gastonia

Gastonia, North Carolina

Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...

 and a small outlying portion of the town of Ranlo

Ranlo, North Carolina

Ranlo is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,198.-Geography:Ranlo is located at ....

. Unincorporated areas in the township include Alexis

Alexis, North Carolina

Alexis is an unincorporated community in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is approximately 3 mi north of Stanley.Alexis had been incorporated in 1899. Alexis was formerly named Alex's Cross Roads for an individual named Alexander who owned land in the area.Alexis, North...

, Hardins

Hardins, North Carolina

Hardins is an unincorporated community in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is located approximately south of the town of High Shoals....

, Ashebrook Park

Ashebrook Park, North Carolina

Ashebrook Park is an unincorporated community in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is approximately northwest of Dallas, North Carolina....

, and Vinton Woods.

Demographics

As of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

 of 2000, there were 19,542 people and 8,004 housing units in the township. The population density

Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 334.5 people per square mile (129.2/km²) and the average density of housing units was 137.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 92.29% White, 7.59% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.38% from other races

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau

United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the township covers a total area of 58.64 square miles (151.9 km²), with 58.42 square miles (151.3 km²), or 99.6 percent, of it land. Pasour Mountain, a monadnock

Monadnock

A monadnock or inselberg is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain...

 ridge and local high point at elevation 1220 feet (371.9 m), forms the boundary between Dallas Township and Cherryville Township to the west.

Government

Townships in Gaston County do not exercise any administrative function and have no political leadership. They are, however, used for representation on the seven-member Gaston County Board of Commissioners. Those that file for a particular seat must live in that township. However, the vote is countywide or "at-large". Dallas Township has one seat on the Commission. It is currently held by Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

Tracy L. Philbeck of Dallas, who serves as Vice-Chairman of the Commission.