Lowell is a small city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, located east of Gastonia.

[4] The South Fork Catawba River borders Lowell on the north, and the city is part of the Cramerton Watershed.

It was named after Lowell, Massachusetts, in hopes the city would become a similar textile center.

The settlement dates back to 1848, when the Woodlawn Mill[5] was built on the South Fork Catawba River.

[6][7] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,654 people, 1,305 households, and 855 families residing in the city.

Southeastern parts of the city are in the attendance district for McAdenville Elementary School in McAdenville, and a small area in southwestern Lowell is in the attendance distinct for Gardner Park Elementary School in Gastonia.

The Lowell Branch of the Gaston County Public Library serves this community.

Freight rail service is provided by the Norfolk Southern Railway.

While Amtrak's passenger train also follows the Norfolk Southern main line, the nearest station is in Gastonia.