Smithfield, North Carolina

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Smithfield, officially the Town of Smithfield, is a town in and the county seat of Johnston County, North Carolina,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,292.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="USCensusEst2019">Template:Cite web</ref> The town is located near North Carolina's Research Triangle and is about Template:Convert southeast of downtown Raleigh. The Raleigh-Durham-Cary combined statistical area has a population over 2 million residents.

Smithfield is home to the Ava Gardner Museum, Wild Bill's Western Town named Shadowhawk, and is situated along the Neuse River, where visitors enjoy the annual Smithfield Ham and Yam Festival, walks along the Buffalo Creek Greenway, and the historic downtown district.

Formation

Smithfield, Johnston County's first town and second county seat after Hinton's Quarter, was chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly on April 23, 1777.<ref name="Lewis">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="History">Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

Smithfield is in central Johnston County and is bordered to the northeast by Selma. Interstate 95 runs along the southeastern edge of the town, with access from Exits 93, 95, and 97. I-95 leads northeast Template:Convert to Rocky Mount and southwest the same distance to Fayetteville. U.S. Route 301 passes through Selma on Brightleaf Boulevard, leading northeast Template:Convert to the center of Selma and southwest Template:Convert to Benson. U.S. Route 70 passes just northeast of Smithfield, leading northwest Template:Convert to Raleigh, and southeast Template:Convert to Goldsboro. U.S. Route 70 Business passes through the center of Smithfield as Market Street.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.11%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010"/> The Neuse River runs through the town west of the downtown area, separating it from the neighborhood of West Smithfield.

Climate

Smithfield has a humid subtropical climate(Cfa), with cool winters and hot summers. Its climate is famous for the growth of pine forests with laurel understory as well as live oaks.

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Demographics

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2020 census

Smithfield racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	5,011	44.38%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	3,101	27.46%
Native American	40	0.35%
Asian	105	0.93%
Pacific Islander	6	0.05%
Other/mixed	363	3.21%
Hispanic or Latino	2,666	23.61%

As of the 2020 United States census, 11,292 people, 4,951 households, and 2,919 families resided in the town.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 11,510 people, 4,417 households, and 2,676 families resided in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. The 4,674 housing units had an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 62.66% White, 30.99% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 4.16% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 9.9% of the population.

Of the 4,417 households, 26.6% had children under 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were not families. About 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30, and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town, the age distribution was 21.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 97.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $27,813, and for a family was $37,929. Males had a median income of $29,567 versus $24,440 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,012. About 14.5% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.1% of those under 18 and 19.2% of those 65 or over.

Government

Smithfield has a council–manager form of government. The council, the town's legislative body, consists of seven members and a mayor. The council sets policy, and the manager oversees day-to-day operations.