2007 CENSUS ESTIMATE puts Johnston County's population at 157,437
That's an increase of 6,440 from the revised estimate for 2006. Click here for the full report that includes data for all 100 N.C. counties.
For historical Census data for Johnston County and its towns, click here.

WEATHER DATA
Temperature and conditions at Johnston County Airport
Regional radar from The Weather Channel
Neuse River depth at Smithfield from USGS
Monthly rainfall
9.2 inches in April!
– measured at the Smithfield Water Plant (2001-2008)

OFFICIAL TIME
Click here and set your clock

ALMANAC
Summer begins:
• June 20@7:59pm
Next full moon:
• May 19@10:11pm
Click here for a multi-year calendar of full moons.
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
Click here for a rundown of upcoming events – compiled by the Johnston County Visitors Bureau.
a Hometown Heritage site: updated 5/2/08
E-mail the editor:
Wingate Lassiter





SMITHFIELD'S NEW AQUATICS CENTER
This is the architect's rendering of the building now under construction at Smithfield Community Park next to Smithfield-Selma High School. A fund-raising campaign is supplementing appropriations from the Johnston County Board of Education and the Town of Smithfield to construct a fully equipped "Recreation and Aquatics Center."

TRACKING OUR LOCAL GOVERNING BOARDS:

JOHNSTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Click here for highlights of recent board meetings

JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Click here for highlights of recent board sessions

SMITHFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
Click here for minutes of meetings

SELMA TOWN COUNCIL
Click here for minutes of meetings
JOBLESS RATE
FOR MARCH 4.7%
– up from 3.7% a year earlier. The N.C. Employment Security Commission says 73,035 Johnstonians were employed and 3,601 unemployed in March. To get more labor statistics from the ESC, click here.

RETAIL SALES
OFF 7.4% IN JAN.
According to the N.C. Dept. of Revenue, taxable retail sales in Johnston County in Jan. '08 totaled $97 million - down 7.4% from $104.8 million a year earlier. Sales in Smithfield reached $35.3 million in Jan. '08 - down 8.2% from $38.5 million in Jan. '07. For monthly reports going back 10 years, click here.

 JOHNSTON STILL
NO. 1 IN TOBACCO
Local producers led the state in 2006 with gross tobacco income of $22,265,000. For more statistics about Johnston County agriculture, click here.

TRAFFIC COUNTS
ON LOCAL ROADS
from N.C. DOT and the S-S Chamber of Commerce
FOR THE LATEST LOCAL NEWS, check with radio station WTSB1090AM.