Johnston County, North Carolina Information & Johnston County, North Carolina Links at HealthHaven.com

Johnston County
	Johnston County, North Carolina
	Map
	; Location in the state of North Carolina
	; North Carolina's location in the U.S.
	Statistics
Founded	1746
Seat	Smithfield
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 796 sq mi (2,062 km²); 792 sq mi (2,051 km²); 4 sq mi (10 km²), 0.50%
PopulationEst.; - (2008); - Density	; 163,428; 205/sq mi (79/km²)
	Website: www.co.johnston.nc.us

Johnston County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of July 1, 2008, the estimated population was 163,428 (a 34% increase since 2000) making it the 77th fastest growing U.S. county with a population of 10,000 or more.^[1] Its county seat is Smithfield^[2].

[edit] 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.

[edit] Law and government

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.^[3] 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.^[4] Rapper Petey Pablo mentions Johnston County in his hit song Raise Up.^[5]

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[6] 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.

[edit] Settlements

[edit] Cities and Towns

Map of Johnston County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

The following cities and towns lie primarily within Johnston County.

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] Unincorporated communities

^[7]

[edit] Newspapers serving Johnston County

Clayton News-Star
Kenly News
The Four Oaks-Benson News in Review
Princeton News Leader
The Selma News
The Daily Record
The Smithfield Herald
The Cleveland Post
The Garner-Clayton Record
[1]
The News & Observer
[2]

[edit] References

^ [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2008-08.html US Census Bureau - 100 Fastest Growing Counties
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^ "Johnston County Arts Council". http://johnstoncountyarts.org/index.html. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
^ "Ava Gardner Museum and Film Festival". http://www.AvaGardner.org. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
^ Petey Pablo Raise Up lyrics on Yahoo! Music
^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^ triangle.com | Know

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 35°31′N 78°22′W / 35.52°N 78.37°W / 35.52; -78.37

[0] [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2008-08.html US Census Bureau - 100 Fastest Growing Counties

[GR6-1] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

[2] "Johnston County Arts Council". http://johnstoncountyarts.org/index.html. Retrieved 2008-01-13.

[3] "Ava Gardner Museum and Film Festival". http://www.AvaGardner.org. Retrieved 2008-01-13.

[4] Petey Pablo Raise Up lyrics on Yahoo! Music

[GR2-5] "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

[6] triangle.com | Know

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