Welcome to Johnston County, North Carolina.
Formed in 1746 from Craven County, Johnston County was named for Gabriel Johnston, the royal governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752.
Johnston County is located in the east-central part of North Carolina and is about 15 miles south of Raleigh and 29 miles from the Research Triangle Park. The Atlantic Ocean is only a two-hour drive from Johnston County, while the beautiful Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains are about four hours to the west. Johnston County is also located about halfway between New York City and Daytona Beach, Florida.
Much of the growth in the Johnston County area can be attributed to its strategic location at the intersection of two main interstates, I-95 and I-40. This convenient position has made this area a center for industry, education, recreation and cultural opportunities.
...a center for industry, education, recreation and cultural opportunities...
Johnston County’s close proximity to the Research Triangle Park, an area known for its draw of corporate growth and economic prosperity, contributes to its convenient position as a center for industry, education, recreation and cultural opportunities. Johnston County residents enjoy being a neighborly close-knit community with the advantages of small town lifestyles, while at the same time, residents are able to take advantages of the benefits of living close to the major metropolitan Research Triangle Park area.
Smithfield is the county seat and was incorporated in 1777. The town was established on the banks of the Neuse River and is one of the ten oldest towns in the state. Today, Smithfield incorporates 11 square miles and has a population of just over 11,000 residents.
Clayton, the fastest growing town in Johnston County...
Clayton, the fastest growing town in Johnston County, was named for Delaware Senator John Middleton Clayton (1796-1856). Clayton was built on the road cut by Governor Tryon’s troop when they marched from New Bern to Hillsborough against the Regulators around 1770. First known as Stallings’ Station, a depot for the North Carolina Railroad in Mrs. Sarah Stallings’ home, the name was officially changed to Clayton in 1856. The town was incorporated in 1869 and today is a wonderful community in which to live and work.
Other towns in Johnston County include Selma, Benson, Kenly, Four Oaks, Pine Level, Princeton, Wilson Mills and Micro.