Johnston County
… was formed in 1746 from Craven County. Located in the E section of the state, it is bounded by Wilson, Wayne, Sampson, Cumberland, Harnett, Wake, and Nash Counties. It was named for Gabriel Johnston (1699-1752), governor of North Carolina, 1734-52. Area: 795 sq. mi. County seat: Smithfield, with an elevation of 155 ft. Townships are Banner, Bentonville, Beulah, Boon Hill, Clayton, Cleveland, Elevation, Ingrams, Meadow, Micro, O'Neals, Pine Level, Pleasant Grove, Selma, Smithfield, Wilders, and Wilson's Mills. Produces tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, cotton, poultry, hogs, livestock, dairy products, sweet potatoes, turkeys, lumber, watermelons, furniture, chemicals, cottonseed oil, pharmaceuticals, wood products, heavy equipment, and crushed stone.
