Johnston County, North Carolina

Johnston County, North Carolina

Infobox U.S. County
county = Johnston County
state = North Carolina


map size = 250
founded = 1746
seat = Smithfield | area_total_sq_mi =796
area_land_sq_mi =792
area_water_sq_mi =4
area percentage = 0.50%
census yr = 2007
pop = 157,437
density_km2 =59
web = www.co.johnston.nc.us
|

Johnston County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In July 2007, the estimated population was 157,437 (a 29.2% increase since 2000) making it the 5th fastest growing U.S. county with a population of 10,000 or more. [ [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2007-08.html US Census Bureau - 100 Fastest Growing Counties] Its county seat is SmithfieldGR|6.

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.

Law and government

Johnston County is a member of the regional Triangle J Council of Governments.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 796 square miles (2,061 km²), of which, 792 square miles (2,051 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (10 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.

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 destructive march across 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. [cite web|url=http://johnstoncountyarts.org/index.html |title= "Johnston County Arts Council" |accessdate = 2008-01-13] Smithfield is home to an annual Ava Gardner Film Festival (AGFF), which celebrates the life of the actress. In 2008 the festival will screen over 40 films in four theaters, including world, regional and state premiers. [cite web|url=http://www.AvaGardner.org|title= "Ava Gardner Museum and Film Festival" |accessdate = 2008-01-13] Rapper Petey Pablo mentions Johnston County in his hit song Raise Up. [ [http://music.yahoo.com/Petey-Pablo/Raise-Up/lyrics/1984405 Petey Pablo Raise Up lyrics on Yahoo! Music ] ]

Adjacent counties

*Nash County, North Carolina - north-northeast
*Wilson County, North Carolina - northeast
*Wayne County, North Carolina - southeast
*Sampson County, North Carolina - south
*Harnett County, North Carolina - southwest
*Wake County, North Carolina - northwest

Major highways


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Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 121,965 people, 46,595 households, and 33,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile (59/km²). There were 50,196 housing units at an average density of 63 per square mile (24/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.09% White, 15.65% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.53% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 7.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 46,595 households out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 34.20% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,872, and the median income for a family was $48,599. Males had a median income of $33,008 versus $25,582 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,788. About 8.90% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 19.40% of those age 65 or over.

Settlements

Cities and Towns

The following cities and towns lie primarily within Johnston County.
*Benson
*Clayton
*Four Oaks
*Kenly
*Micro
*Pine Level
*Princeton
*Selma
*Smithfield
*West Smithfield
*Wilson's Mills

In addition, a small portion of the town of Zebulon lies within Johnston County, the majority of which lies in neighboring Wake County.

Townships

The county is divided into seventeen townships: Banner, Bentonville, Beulah, Boon Hill, Clayton, Cleveland, Elevation, Ingrams, Meadow, Micro, O'Neals, Pine Level, Pleasant Grove, Selma, Smithfield, Wilders, and Wilson Mills.

Unincorporated communities

*Archer Lodge
*Cleveland
*Emit
*Flowers
*Hocutts Crossroads
*Jordan
*McGee Crossroads
*Peacocks Crossroads
*Powhatan
*Stancils Chapel

[ [http://know.triangle.com/node/10275 triangle.com | Know ] ]

Newspapers serving Johnston County

* [http://www.claytonnews-star.com/ Clayton News-Star]
* [http://www.kenlynews.com Kenly News]
*The Four Oaks-Benson News in Review
* [http://www.princetonleadernow.com Princeton News Leader]
*The Selma News
* [http://www.smithfieldherald.com/about/index.htm The Smithfield Herald]
*The Cleveland Post

References

External links

* [http://www.co.johnston.nc.us Johnston County government official website]
* [http://www.johnstoncountync.org Johnston County Visitors Bureau, the official site for visitor information for Johnston County]

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Johnston County (North Carolina) — Verwaltung US Bundesstaat: North Carolina Verwaltungssitz: Smithfield Adresse des Verwaltungssitzes: County Courthouse P.O. Box 1049 Smithfield, NC 27577 1049 Gründung: 1746 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Cleveland, Johnston County, North Carolina —   Unincorporated community   …   Wikipedia

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Johnston County, North Carolina — Map of all coordinates from Google Map of all coordinates from Bing …   Wikipedia

  • Harnett County, North Carolina — Location in the state of North Carolina …   Wikipedia

  • Wake County, North Carolina — Infobox U.S. County county = Wake County state = North Carolina map size = 250 founded = 1771 seat = Raleigh | area total sq mi =857 area land sq mi =832 area water sq mi =25 area percentage = 2.95% census estimate yr = 2007 pop = 832970 density… …   Wikipedia

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  • Wilson County, North Carolina — Infobox U.S. County county = Wilson County state = North Carolina map size = 250 founded = 1855 seat = Wilson | area total sq mi =374 area land sq mi = 371 area water sq mi =3 area percentage = 0.85% census yr = 2000 pop = 73814 density km2 =77… …   Wikipedia

  • Sampson County, North Carolina — Infobox U.S. County county = Sampson County state = North Carolina map size = 250 founded = 1784 seat = Clinton | area total sq mi =947 area water sq mi =2 area percentage = 0.21% census yr = 2000 pop = 60161 density km2 =25 web =… …   Wikipedia

  • Franklin County, North Carolina — Infobox U.S. County county = Franklin County state = North Carolina map size = 250 founded = 1779 seat = Louisburg | area total sq mi =495 area water sq mi =3 area percentage = 0.52% census yr = 2000 pop = 47260 density km2 =37 web =… …   Wikipedia

  • Lee County (North Carolina) — Johnston County Courthouse, gelistet im NRHP mit der Nr. 79001729[1] Verwaltung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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