Our Community

Smithfield, North Carolina, 11 square miles named in honor of landowner John Smith, is established along the banks of the Neuse River. Smithfield enjoys a centralized location in the heart of NC’s prestigious Triangle Region.

Smithfield, NC lies 22 miles outside of Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina, and 29 miles from the renowned Research Triangle Park. Smithfield, along with its neighboring city of Selma, forms one of the fastest expanding metropolitan areas in NC. According to data from the 2000 Census, Smithfield is home to 11,510 residents; however, more recent estimates report the population as closer to 12,000 residents. Selma’s 2000 population was nearly 6,000 residents. There were 1,858 married-couple families living in Smithfield, including 42.2 percent with children. Selma and Smithfield both lie in the center of Johnston County along Interstate 95, with easy access through additional highways such as Interstate 40 and U.S. 70.

Smithfield, NC serves as the seat of Johnston County, where the healthy economy affords an array of career opportunities. The booming international job market in the Smithfield region includes such well-known companies as Bayer, Caterpillar, Fresenius Kabi and Novo Nordisk. Residents and businesses also enjoy the close proximity to the Research Triangle Park (RTP). The esteemed RTP is home to several major companies such as IBM and provides employment for more than 45,000 individuals. In 2000, the median household income in Smithfield, North Carolina was $27,813, while the median family income was $37,929.

Johnston Community College serves the immediate higher education needs to residents in the area; however, the surrounding Triangle Region offers a multitude of additional options for post-secondary education. These include Duke University and North Carolina Central University in Durham and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Students at the primary and secondary level have access to top-notch public schools and several private school options.

Smithfield, NC boasts a well-balanced recreational scene complete with cultural activities that reflect the region’s heritage. Historic sites of interest include the stately Johnston County Courthouse, which holds a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the Heritage Center and a museum honoring one-time resident Ava Gardner. Three nearby lakes --  Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake -- provide the ideal setting for boating, fishing, swimming and other water-related sports.

Smithfield, North Carolina has public facilities for picnics, sports and recreation spread throughout the town’s 11 parks. Community events include the annual Ham & Yam Festival, the Ava Gardner Fest, Harvest Fair, Holiday Arts Walk and the International Day Celebration held at the local community college.

Smithfield, North Carolina maintains its friendly, small southern town appeal despite its tremendous growth. Residents have access to excellent schools, state-of-the-art health care and a prosperous job market. Such an outstanding quality-of-life, with all the amenities of the highly acclaimed Triangle Region, makes Smithfield an enviable locale.

Smithfield utilizes the Johnston County Courthouse, located at 207 E Johnston St., Smithfield, NC 27577. Domestic issues such as divorce, child support, custody, visitation, and division of the marital property are considered civil issues and all actions relating to family issues are handled in the District Court division of the courthouse.

Cases assigned to Family Court include juvenile delinquency charges; neglect and abuse charges; termination of parental rights and adoptions; domestic violence; child custody and visitation rights; divorce and related financial issues like child support, alimony, or equitable distribution of property; abortion consent waivers, paternity; involuntary commitments and guardianships.

Judges who hear domestic cases can provide referrals to mediators, counselors, or classes that may help families reach their own resolutions without having a judge make the decision for them. The judge becomes the last resort if there is no resolution. All issues involving one family are assigned to one judge, and a case manager helps families negotiate their way through the system. This is beneficial for families dealing with difficult issues such as child custody and visitation rights; divorce, child support, and alimony. The case manager also assures that cases comply with the Family Court time standards for disposing of the case.