Editing Kenly, North Carolina (section)

==History==
The community was settled in about 1875,{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=262}} developing along the "Short-Cut" rail line of the [[Wilmington and Weldon Railroad]].{{sfn|Johnson|Barbour|1997|pp=8–9}} It was incorporated in 1887 as Kenly,{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=262}} being named for railroad official J. R. Kenly.{{sfn|Johnson|Barbour|1997|p=55}} In 1897, the community's first school, Kenly Academy, a private boarding institution, was established. Kenly High School, a public institution, was opened in 1914. That year the town received its first electric service.{{sfn|Johnson|Barbour|1997|p=58}}

In July 2022, all five members of Kenly's police force resigned, citing a "hostile work environment", allegedly created by the newly appointed town manager.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/johnston-county/article263736448.html|title=Town of Kenly to investigate police resignations. What will happen next?|access-date=August 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/entire-north-carolina-police-department-resigns-new-town-manager-hired | title=Entire North Carolina police department resigns after new town manager is hired | website=[[Fox News]] | date=July 22, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/us/north-carolina-police-resign-black-city-manager-reaj/index.html | title=An entire North Carolina police department resigned after a Black woman town manager was hired | website=[[CNN]] | date=July 29, 2022 }}</ref>