$6 million in gold was mined here prior to the Civil War and a mint was located in Charlotte as a result.

[5] In the 1840s, Gold Hill was "a raucous mining camp town with a considerable number of saloons and brothels.

The California Gold Rush and the American Civil War significantly reduced the mining activity.

Founders' Day became an annual event on the fourth Saturday in September, and they were moved from the fire department to the park located at 735 St. Stephens Church Road.

The File Store from Craven, North Carolina near Salisbury was built in 1906 and moved to Gold Hill in 2001.