2023 ESTIMATE RAISES
JOHNSTON POPULATION
TO NEW HIGH OF 241,955
That's up 25,291 from the 2020 Census – a 12% gain that ranks Johnston's population growth third in the state behind the urban counties of Wake (+60,923) and Mecklenburg (+48,167) over the past three years.

SMITHFIELD & SELMA
POPULATIONS UP, TOO
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Smithfield's population grew to 12,129 in 2022 – up 499 from the previous year. Selma's population is up to 6,806 – a gain of 205 above the 2021 estimate. View updated Census estimates for Smithfield, Selma, Johnston County, and all of North Carolina>

FOR LOCAL NEWS:
the Smithfield Weekly Sun and the daily JoCoReport.

LOCAL OBITUARIES
Links to funeral homes posting obituaries online:
Parrish & Underwood
Sanders Funeral Home
Walter Sanders F.H.

WEATHER DATA
Temperature and conditions at Johnston Regional Airport

Regional radar from weather.com

Neuse River depth at Smithfield from National Weather Service (current readings, predicted levels, historical high marks)

ALMANAC
View today's times of sunrise, sunset (plus moonrise, moonset)>

NEXT FULL MOON:

May 23 @ 9:55 a.m. DST

SUMMER ARRIVES:
June 20 @ 4:51 p.m. DST

OFFICIAL TIME
Set your clock according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology>

a Hometown Heritage site:
updated 4-24-24
E-mail the editor:
Wingate Lassiter







AMAZON DISTRIBUTION CENTER TO EMPLOY 1,000+

The 620,000-square-foot facility in West Smithfield is up and running. Company officials announced at a ribbon-cutting on April 23 that the initial goal of 500 employees here has been doubled. (Johnston County Economic Development photo)

TRACKING OUR LOCAL GOVERNING BOARDS

JOHNSTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Agendas for upcoming meetings
Highlights of recent board meetings
Minutes of board meetings
BUDGET for FY 2023-24
 

JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Meeting agendas and minutes
  BUDGET for FY 2023-24


SMITHFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting agendas and minutes
  BUDGET for FY 2023-24

SELMA TOWN COUNCIL

Meeting agendas and minutes
  BUDGET for FY 2023-24
JOBLESS RATE ROSE
TO 3.3% IN FEBRUARY
Johnston County's jobless rate rose to 3.3% in February as the number employed totaled 108,298 while the number without jobs totaled 3,748, reports the N.C. Department of Commerce. Get more news and stats from NCDC>

RETAIL SALES UP 3.76%
IN 4th QUARTER 2023
According to the N.C. Dept. of Revenue, taxable retail sales of $847,590,518 in Johnston County this past October, November, and December were $30.7 million above the total reported for the fourth quarter of 2022. Get more reports from NCDR>

JOHNSTON RANKS 5th
IN CASH FROM CROPS
Local farmers reported cash income of $119,453,911 from crops in 2021, ranking us 5th among the state's 100 counties, according to the latest report from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. That includes a ranking of No. 3 for sweet potatoes, No. 4 for vegetables, fruits, and nuts, and No. 4 for "all other crops" which includes tobacco and greenhouse products. We rank 19th in livestock, dairy, and poultry production – up from 29th in 2020 after a doubling of income from to almost $149.9 million.
Here's the latest report for all of the state's counties>

MORE ECONOMIC DATA
ABOUT JOHNSTON CO.
Visit the website of the county's Economic Development Office>

AMTRAK STOPS HERE Here's information about passenger trains that serve Selma Union Station>

THINGS TO SEE & DO
Check out this rundown of upcoming cultural events – compiled by the Johnston County Visitors Bureau.

SMITHFIELD-SELMA MAP

Open an interactive Google map of our area>