JOHNSTON COUNTY
County Offices
207 East Johnston Street
Smithfield 919-989-5100
https://www.co.johnston.nc.us/
Chamber of Commerce
1115 Outlet Center Drive
Smithfield 919-934-9166
https://www.johnstoncountync.org/
Beautiful Johnston County is ideally located at the crossroads of Interstates 40 and 95, placing this area in the strategic position of connecting the nation’s north-south and east-west corridors. The county offers an attractive and convenient home in the Research Triangle Park region, just a two-hour drive from the Atlantic Coast and four hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Services
First-rate educational opportunities on every academic level is one of the hallmarks of Johnston County and the entire Triangle region. Johnston County Schools is dedicated to structuring its curriculum, programs, and staff involvement to encourage a love of learning that will last a lifetime. From the hands-on observation and literature-based reading program in elementary school to teacher-based guidance programs and exploratory courses, the public school system strives to serve each child and each unique age group. The sprawling 100-acre campus of Johnston Community College is a benefit to the entire region, enrolling nearly 4,600 students each year. Students of all ages can take advantage of an affordable start on a four-year degree with college transfer programs or earn associate degrees and certifications in a wide range of fields from accounting and business administration to commercial art and advertising design. Three prestigious research universities combine with many other public and private colleges and universities within a 60-mile radius, elevating this region to one of the most academically rich in the entire nation. Every imaginable program and degree is available close to home in Johnston County, from two-year career programs to professional degrees.
The Johnston Health system, anchored by the Johnston Medical Center in Smithfield, ensures state-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities. The medical center serves residents of Johnston and surrounding counties with quality medical care in a setting that combines advanced technology with warmth and compassion. The medical center was founded in 1951 and has continually expanded and upgraded through capital improvement projects. Currently licensed for 175 beds, the medical center includes a 10-bed intensive care unit. One of the more recent additions is the Women’s Pavilion, another example of Johnston Health’s commitment to leading-edge care. Johnston Health also operates two family centers at McGees Crossroads near Benson and one at Kenly as well as two emergency care centers in the Garner-Cleveland area and Smithfield. More than 140 physicians are on staff at the medical center and specializations include internal medicine, gastroenterology, cardiology, urology, physical therapy, nuclear medicine, pediatrics, pulmonology, orthopedics, endoscopy, obstetrics, and gynecology. The 24-hour emergency department maintains physician coverage at all times. The $100 million renovation of the Smithfield campus is happening in concert with the construction of Johnston Medical Center-Clayton in the western part of the county to better serve regional patients.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Johnston County will find welcoming communities that share a common atmosphere: A relaxed atmosphere and a friendly spirit. From annual festivals and seasonal celebrations to local sporting events, residents enjoy a unique kaleidoscope of small-town life and a rich sense of history. The Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site marks the last major battle of the Civil War and the largest military engagement ever fought on North Carolina soil. The Tobacco Farm Life Museum preserves an authentic slice of eastern North Carolina’s rural heritage, while the Ava Gardner Museum celebrates a film icon who was born and raised near Smithfield. The Johnston County Heritage Center is a treasure house of historic material, from books and microfilm to photographs. The Johnston County Arts Council actively fosters and promotes the arts throughout the county, and Johnston Community College provides the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium with its beautiful 1,000-seat theater. In addition to the Performing Arts Concert Series, this venue presents celebrity concerts, ballet, opera, Broadway plays, military bands, and local shows. The American Music Jubilee in Selma delights audiences every weekend with a heaping helping of Southern hospitality, great music, and comedy. Several popular theatre groups produce musicals, comedies and dramas for a full calendar of cultural events.
Lush parks dot the landscape, adding panoramic green space and abundant opportunities for recreation close to home. Smithfield’s Town Commons with its riverwalk along the Neuse River is a popular place for concerts, festivals, and community gatherings. The Smithfield Community Park is filled with sports fields and facilities including a new aquatic center, while Brack Wilson Recreation Park anchors six community parks in the Selma area. Golfing is especially popular in this four-season mild climate, and families enjoy a wide variety of programs and amenities at the Johnston County YMCA. Boaters appreciate scenic Holt Lake just south of Smithfield as well as many regional lakes. With the Triangle area being one of the nation’s hottest sports markets, fans of professional and collegiate teams will always have something to cheer about. Shopping opportunities are diverse, crowned by the discount outlets shops in Smithfield that draw a regional crowd to everyday bargains on name-brand merchandise. The attractive housing options are another feather in the cap of Johnston County, where well-kept older properties blend with contemporary styles and handsome new construction. Sweeping lots, multi-acre properties, and homes graced by woodland settings are just a few of the options in this desirable part of the Triangle region.
Benson
Town Offices
919-894-3553
https://www.townofbenson.com/
Chamber of Commerce
919-894-3825
https://www.benson-chamber.com/
The unique community of Benson features a lively downtown district that draws residents to a pedestrian friendly retail and service corridor. Shops, cafes, and services line the charming Main Street, surrounded by a number of historical homes. Benson originally sprang up around a railroad junction in the 1800s; the railroad still traverses the town, carrying goods from Florida to the northern states. Town Hall, the Benson Museum of Local History, and a performing arts center occupy a beautifully restored former Benson school. This friendly small town is strategically located at the intersection of Interstates 94 and 40, making the area ideal for commuters who appreciate the quiet atmosphere and relaxed pace of living. Raleigh, Fayetteville, and the Research Triangle Park are all accessible within an hour’s drive from home. The Atlantic beaches are 90 minutes away and the North Carolina mountains are less than a half a day’s drive. Scores of churches dot the community, indicating strong spiritual values and a close-knit spirit that is warm and family friendly.
Clayton
Town Offices
919-553-5002
https://www.townofclaytonnc.org/
Chamber of Commerce
919-553-6352
https://www.claytonchamber.com/
The fast-growing town of Clayton is rapidly becoming the commercial and service hub for Johnston and surrounding counties. New developments and new businesses seem to blossom in this area almost weekly. Many national chain stores now line the Highway 70 corridor, while the Clayton Downtown District attracts residents and visitors with its quaint atmosphere and friendly charm. Proclaiming itself “the premier community for active families,” Clayton has a great deal of confidence in the community’s ability to appeal to newcomers and long-time residents alike. The town’s arts community benefits from the Clayton Center with its 600-seat auditorium for professional performances and cultural events around the calendar year. The many festivals and celebrations are crowned by the Harvest Festival, drawing artists and craftspeople from around the state. Indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities include lush parks and scenic trails throughout the town as well as programs for all ages. Just outside of Clayton, the state maintains the Clemmons Educational State Forest, a living environmental education center. Golfing, lake recreation, and sports events are other popular pastimes.
Four Oaks
Town Offices
919-963-3112
http://fouroaks-nc.com/
Chamber of Commerce
919-963-4004
https://fouroakschamber.com/
The charming small town of Four Oaks is located along Interstate 95 and US Highway 301, making it an ideal bedroom community for regional employment centers. Chartered in the 1800s, Four Oaks has managed to retain a relaxed atmosphere rooted in gracious Southern heritage. Residents enjoy the close-knit atmosphere of a community that offers a quaint historic downtown, friendly merchants, and a strong spirit of volunteerism and involvement. Each year, this small town proudly welcomes visitors to its popular and colorful Four Oaks Acorn Festival. Close proximity to the major market center of Smithfield gives residents easy access to expanded amenities and services, from entertainment and culture to education, shopping, government offices, and healthcare. The area between Smithfield and Four Oaks blends single-family homes with light commercial and industrial activity. Although Smithfield is less than five minutes away from Four Oaks, the major metropolitan center of Raleigh is just a 30-minute drive to the northeast.
Kenly
Town Offices
919-284-2116
https://townofkenly.com/
Chamber of Commerce
919-989-8687
https://www.johnstoncountync.org/kenly/
The small town of Kenly is ideally located off Interstate 95, welcoming a significant number of visitors who are drawn to area attractions. One of the regional highlights is located right in Kenly: the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, preserving the history and culture of Eastern North Carolina farm life. Started by local families, this venue has matured and grown into an internationally recognized, fully accredited museum that continues to interpret and present this important rural legacy. Other regional highlights include Southern National Speedway, the Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site, the Ava Gardner Museum, and the factory outlets in nearby Smithfield. Residents and civic leaders pride themselves in the quality of organized growth and progress in their small town, which is known throughout the region as “Friendly Kenly.” Together, they share a dedication to preserve the small-town charm of their hometown and protect the character is Kenly as an idyllic place to raise a family or start a business.
Pine Level
Town Offices
919-965-2284
http://pinelevel.org/
Chamber of Commerce
919-934-9166
https://www.triangleeastchamber.com/
Leading with the slogan, “The Best Little Place to Live,” Pine Level draws newcomers to a friendly small town with a thriving recreation program and a family friendly atmosphere. Sports programs are year-round in Pine Level, from Little League and Babe Ruth baseball to girls softball, basketball, soccer, football, cheerleading, and tee ball. Sam Godwin Recreation Park combines with several sports facilities at local schools in supporting these exceptional recreational opportunities. Even area seniors enjoy sponsored programs, including recreational trips to regional attractions and music shows at Rudy Theatre in Selma. Golfers will appreciate the Cardinal Country Club just north of Pine Level, also in Selma. Other nearby highlights include the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly, the bargain shopping at Smithfield’s outlet center, and the Country Music Showcase at Johnston Community College in Smithfield. Popular events around the four seasons include the Four Oaks Acorn Festival, the Smithfield Ham and Yam Festival, Selma Railroad Days, and the Benson Singing Convention.
Princeton
Town Offices
919-936-8171
https://www.myprincetonnc.com/
Chamber of Commerce
919-934-9166
https://www.triangleeastchamber.com/
The town of Princeton is located in eastern Johnston County, approximately halfway between Smithfield and Goldsboro along Highway 70. The town incorporated in 1861 with less than a dozen residents. Today, Princeton retains a small-town atmosphere with friendly neighbors who greet each other by name and a close-knit community spirit. In spite of its small size, Princeton has grown in commercial and service options to offer a convenient lifestyle. Local medical professionals and public education opportunities from kindergarten through 12th grade have helped to make Princeton a well-balanced and self-contained community. Close proximity to Smithfield greatly expands the urban amenities and advantages for Princeton residents, including entertainment and cultural centers, shopping, employment, healthcare, and higher education. With its rich sense of history, educational status, and successful businesses, Princeton has been dubbed by its leaders and residents as “Peaceful, Pleasant, Progressive and Proud.”
Selma
Town Offices
919-965-9841
https://selma-nc.com/
Chamber of Commerce
919-934-9166
https://www.triangleeastchamber.com/
Closely associated with the Johnston County seat, Smithfield, the town of Selma began in 1867 when property was sold around a newly established station along the North Carolina Railroad. The town’s proud railroad heritage is evident today with the renovated 1924 passenger depot that supports AMTRAK service to the historic Mitchener Station. Built circa 1855, the station is thought to be the oldest surviving train station in the state. Selma residents enjoy a friendly hometown atmosphere that includes an Uptown District lined with antique shops and malls for the serious collector as well as the casual shopper. Delightful treats like sipping an old-fashioned malt at a drug store soda fountain or visiting historic sites, along with shopping in a variety of specialty shops, makes Uptown a frequent destination. The American Music Jubilee variety show is one of the most popular events at the local Rudy Theatre, although nearby Smithfield great expands the cultural and entertainment options. One of the strong suits of the Smithfield-Selma area is the quality and variety of the housing, including lakeside estates, historic neighborhoods, attractive urban developments, contemporary subdivisions, and country manors.
Smithfield
Town Offices
919-934-2116
https://www.smithfield-nc.com/
Chamber of Commerce
919-934-9166
https://www.triangleeastchamber.com/
Involvement of residents in civic, social, and religious organizations and clubs is one of the hallmarks of this active, livable town. The local community college campus features a state-of-the-art auditorium that draws regional crowds to plays, musical concerts, ballet, opera, Broadway hits, and many other cultural events. A major medical center, great schools, a popular factory outlet center, and first-rate parks and recreational programs are some of the highlights in the town that also serves as the county seat of government. Golfing, a family YMCA, tennis, league sports, boating, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and lush parks are just a few of the recreational amenities just beyond the front door. As the ideal image of small-town charm and Southern hospitality, Smithfield offers beautiful homes in a variety of period styles. Wide front porches, stately columns, sweeping lawns, meticulous landscaping, and properties that show pride of ownership are frequent sights in this desirable community that serves as an urban hub and market center for the county.
