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Kenly, North Carolina
Kenly, North Carolina.jpg
Flag of Kenly, North Carolina
Flag
Official seal of Kenly, North Carolina
Seal
Motto(s): 
"Friendly"
Kenly, North Carolina is located in North Carolina
Kenly, North Carolina
Kenly, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
Kenly, North Carolina is located in the United States
Kenly, North Carolina
Kenly, North Carolina
Location in the United States
Country United States
State North Carolina
Counties Johnston, Wilson
Area
 • Total 1.82 sq mi (4.71 km2)
 • Land 1.81 sq mi (4.70 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
200 ft (60 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,491
 • Density 821.49/sq mi (317.10/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
27542
Area code(s) 919
FIPS code 37-35540
GNIS feature ID 2405935

Kenly is a town in Johnston and Wilson counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It was named for John R. Kenly, Northern Division Superintendent of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, who later became president of the railroad in 1913. The population was 1,339 at the 2010 census, down from 1,569 in 2000.

History

The community was settled in about 1875, developing along the "Short-Cut" rail line of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. It was incorporated in 1887 as Kenly, being named for railroad official J. R. Kenly. In 1897, the community's first school, Kenly Academy, a private boarding institution, was established. Kenly High School, a public institution, was opened in 1914. That year the town received its first electric service.

In July 2022, all five members of Kenly's police force resigned, citing a "hostile work environment", allegedly created by the newly appointed town manager.

Geography

Kenly is located in eastern Johnston County. A small portion of the town extends into the southwest corner of Wilson County. U.S. Route 301 (Church Street) is the main road through the center of town. North Carolina Highway 222 (Second Street) crosses US 301 in the center of Kenly. Interstate 95 runs along the northwest edge of Kenly, with access from Exit 107 (US 301).

According to the United States Census Bureau, Kenly has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2), of which 1.609 acres (6,513 m2), or 0.16%, are water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 137
1900 260 89.8%
1910 726 179.2%
1920 827 13.9%
1930 965 16.7%
1940 1,095 13.5%
1950 1,129 3.1%
1960 1,147 1.6%
1970 1,370 19.4%
1980 1,433 4.6%
1990 1,549 8.1%
2000 1,569 1.3%
2010 1,339 −14.7%
2020 1,491 11.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Kenly racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 704 47.22%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 503 33.74%
Native American 2 0.13%
Asian 9 0.6%
Other/Mixed 69 4.63%
Hispanic or Latino 204 13.68%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,491 people, 744 households, and 416 families residing in the town.

Arts and culture

Boyette Slave House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Education

  • Glendale-Kenly Elementary
  • North Johnston High School

Notable people

Culture

Kenly is the home of the Eastern North Carolina Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) State Executive Offices and Conference Center.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kenly (Carolina del Norte) para niños

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