Johnston County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnston County
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County of Johnston | ||
Johnston County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
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North Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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Country | United States | |
State | North Carolina | |
Founded | June 28, 1746 | |
Named for | Gabriel Johnston | |
Seat | Smithfield | |
Largest town | Clayton | |
Area | ||
• Total | 796 sq mi (2,060 km2) | |
• Land | 791 sq mi (2,050 km2) | |
• Water | 4.2 sq mi (11 km2) 0.5%% | |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
ZIP Codes |
27501, 27504, 27520, 27524, 27527, 27529, 27542, 27555, 27557, 27568, 27569, 27576, 27577, 27591, 27592, 27597, 27603, 28334, 28366
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Area code | 919, 984 | |
Congressional district | 13th |
Johnston County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 215,999. Its county seat is Smithfield.
Johnston County is included in the Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Combined Statistical Area, which has a population of 1,998,808 as of U.S. Census 2012 Population Estimates.
Contents
History
The county was formed in 1746 from Craven County. It was named for Gabriel Johnston, Governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752. In 1752 parts of Johnston County, Bladen County, and Granville County were combined to form Orange County. In 1758 the eastern part of Johnston County became Dobbs County. In 1770 parts of Johnston County, Cumberland County, and Orange County were combined to form Wake County. Finally, in 1855 parts of Johnston County, Edgecombe County, Nash County, and Wayne County were combined to form Wilson County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 796 square miles (2,060 km2), of which 791 square miles (2,050 km2) is land and 4.2 square miles (11 km2) (0.5%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Nash County (northeast)
- Wilson County (east)
- Wayne County (southeast)
- Sampson County (south)
- Harnett County (southwest)
- Wake County (northwest)
Major highways
- Interstate 40
- Interstate 95
- U.S. Highway 70
- U.S. Highway 264
- U.S. Highway 301
- U.S. Highway 701
- NC 27
- NC 39
- NC 42
- NC 50
- NC 55
- NC 96
- NC 210
- NC 231
- NC 222
- NC 242
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1790 | 5,691 | — | |
1800 | 6,301 | 10.7% | |
1810 | 6,867 | 9.0% | |
1820 | 9,607 | 39.9% | |
1830 | 10,938 | 13.9% | |
1840 | 10,599 | −3.1% | |
1850 | 13,726 | 29.5% | |
1860 | 15,656 | 14.1% | |
1870 | 16,897 | 7.9% | |
1880 | 23,461 | 38.8% | |
1890 | 27,239 | 16.1% | |
1900 | 32,250 | 18.4% | |
1910 | 41,401 | 28.4% | |
1920 | 48,998 | 18.3% | |
1930 | 57,621 | 17.6% | |
1940 | 63,798 | 10.7% | |
1950 | 65,906 | 3.3% | |
1960 | 62,936 | −4.5% | |
1970 | 61,737 | −1.9% | |
1980 | 70,599 | 14.4% | |
1990 | 81,306 | 15.2% | |
2000 | 121,965 | 50.0% | |
2010 | 168,878 | 38.5% | |
2020 | 215,999 | 27.9% | |
2021 (est.) | 226,504 | 34.1% | |
U.S. Decennial Census</ref> 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 2020 |
2020 census
Race | Number | Percentage |
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White (non-Hispanic) | 136,464 | 63.18% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 33,041 | 15.3% |
Native American | 880 | 0.41% |
Asian | 1,831 | 0.85% |
Pacific Islander | 71 | 0.03% |
Other/Mixed | 9,312 | 4.31% |
Hispanic or Latino | 34,400 | 15.93% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 215,999 people, 73,567 households, and 53,743 families residing in the county.
Culture
Visitor attractions in Johnston County include several heritage museums and historic sites. The Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site is located in eastern Johnston County, and it is the largest Civil War Battlefield in North Carolina. The Battle of Bentonville was fought March 19–21, 1865, and was the only Confederate offensive targeted to stop General Sherman's march through the south.
The Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly has been collecting artifacts and showcasing the heritage of the Eastern North Carolina farmer for over 25 years. The site includes a museum and restored farmstead, working blacksmith shop, one-room school house and the site hosts several events each year.
The Ava Gardner Museum located in Smithfield is home to an incredible collection of artifacts such as scripts, movie posters, costumes and personal belongings of screen legend, Ava Gardner, who was born and raised in Johnston County.
The Johnston County Heritage Center is in Downtown Smithfield, and houses artifacts from all over the county. The Heritage Center has become known as one of the best equipped facilities in the country for studying local history and genealogy.
The Johnston County Arts Council promotes arts in the county and its schools. Smithfield is home to an annual Ava Gardner Film Festival (AGFF), which celebrates the life of the actress. In 2008 the festival screened over 40 films in four theaters, including world, regional and state premiers. Rapper Petey Pablo mentions Johnston County in his hit song Raise Up.
The Meadow community is home to Meadow Lights, an annual display of Christmas lights.
Communities
Towns
- Archer Lodge
- Benson
- Clayton
- Four Oaks
- Kenly
- Micro
- Pine Level
- Princeton
- Selma
- Smithfield (county seat)
- Wilson's Mills
Townships
- Banner
- Bentonville
- Beulah
- Boon Hill
- Brogden
- Clayton
- Cleveland
- Elevation
- Ingrams
- Meadow
- Micro
- O'Neals
- Pine Level
- Pleasant Grove
- Selma
- Smithfield
- Wilders
- Wilson Mills
Unincorporated communities
Education
Higher education
Johnston County is home to Johnston Community College (JCC), a public, two-year, post-secondary college located in Smithfield. The college has off-campus centers throughout Johnston County.
Primary and secondary education
Public education in Johnston County is served by the Johnston County School District, which has 46 schools and serves more than 35,400 students. In addition, one charter schools and five private schools are located in the county. In 2021, the county school board banned the teaching of critical race theory.
Libraries
The Johnston County Public Affiliated Library system operates six branches throughout the county. The library system keeps books, periodicals and audio books and has recently expanded the selection to include downloadable e-books. The Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library in Clayton left the Johnston County affiliated library system in 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Johnston (Carolina del Norte) para niños