Johnston County

Johnston County was formed in 1746 from Craven County and named in honor of Gabriel Johnston, who served as Royal Governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752. Major municipalities include Smithfield, Clayton, Selma, Benson, Four Oaks, Pine Level, and Kenly. Johnston County's geography features rolling plains and fertile agricultural land, with the Neuse River forming much of its northern boundary.

Johnston County is home to several significant landmarks including Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site, where one of the final major Civil War battles occurred in March 1865, and the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, honoring the Hollywood legend born in nearby Grabtown. Johnston County Tax Administration office, situated at 207 East Johnston County Street, handles property assessments and tax collection. Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court, also at the courthouse complex on East Smithfield area Street, manages court records and certain civil filings.

What makes Johnston County unique is its blend of rural agricultural heritage with rapid suburban development, acting as a bedroom community for Research Triangle Park while maintaining strong farming traditions in tobacco, cotton, and sweet potatoes.

Visitors can search by inmate name or booking number. Municipal law enforcement is provided by several police departments including the Clayton Police Department, Smithfield Police Department, Selma Police Department, Benson Police Department, Four Oaks Police Department, Pine Level Police Department, and Kenly Police Department, each serving their respective municipalities. Arrest records in Johnston County are considered public records under North Carolina General Statute § 132-1, the North Carolina Public Records Act, which mandates that public records be open for inspection by any person unless specifically exempted by law.

North Carolina General Statute § 132-1.4 specifically addresses criminal history record checks and governs access to certain law enforcement records.

District Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases up to $25,000, domestic matters including divorce and child custody, juvenile cases, estate administration, and small claims (magistrate level) up to $10,000. Magistrates are available 24 hours a day for initial appearances, search warrants, and other urgent matters. Court records can be searched through the North Carolina Judicial Branch's online system at www.nccourts.gov, which provides access to criminal and civil case information, though some sensitive records are restricted.

The Clerk's office charges fees according to the North Carolina General Court of Justice Fee Schedule: certified copies typically cost $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, with a $25 fee for exemplified copies. Online access through the statewide eCourts portal is free for basic searches, but NCAOC (North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts) charges for bulk data or full reports. Public access to court records is governed by North Carolina General Statute § 132-1 and Rule 26 of the General Rules of Practice for the Superior and District Courts.

Certain records, including juvenile proceedings, adoption records, and some domestic violence cases, are confidential under North Carolina law.

The Register of Deeds records and indexes deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, releases, plat maps, easements, rights-of-way, mechanics liens, judgment liens, UCC financing statements, military discharges (DD-214s), and vital records including birth, death, and marriage certificates. Johnston County offers a free online property search system through the Register of Deeds website, allowing users to search real estate records by grantor/grantee name, book and page, instrument number, or parcel identifier. Property tax records are maintained by Johnston County Tax Administration at 207 East Johnston County Street, Smithfield, and can be accessed by calling or online through their parcel search system at www.johnstoncountync.org/tax.

Johnston County operates a full GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping portal accessible through Johnston County website, offering parcel maps, zoning information, flood zones, aerial imagery, and property boundaries. The GIS system is free to use and integrates with tax and deed records.

Applicants must provide valid photo identification and demonstrate a direct and tangible interest as required by North Carolina General Statute § 130A-93. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. The marriage license is valid for 60 days from issuance.

Divorce records and divorce decrees are not maintained by the Register of Deeds but are available from Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court for people unable to obtain records locally, the North Carolina Vital Records Office in Raleigh maintains statewide records and can be reached at or online at https://vitalrecords.nc.gov. Online ordering is available through VitalChek at an additional service fee. Requestors must provide valid identification, proof of relationship or eligibility, and payment.

North Carolina General Statute § 130A-93 governs access to vital records and restricts access to immediate family members and legal representatives for records less than 100 years old.

The Secretary of State's Business Registration Division provides free online searches of all registered business entities, including status, registered agent information, formation dates, and annual report compliance. Businesses operating under an assumed name (DBA - doing business as) or trade name must file with the Register of Deeds in Johnston County where the business operates, which for Johnston County is the Register of Deeds office for Assumed name certificates cost approximately $26 to file and must be renewed every 10 years. Johnston County Planning and Zoning Department, located at 207 East Johnston Street, handles building permits, zoning compliance, and land use permits.

Johnston County's Inspections Department can be contacted through the office’s website. Business privilege licenses (local business licenses) are required for most businesses operating in Johnston County municipalities, with each town administering its own program. The Town of Clayton Finance Department, Town of Smithfield, and other municipalities handle their respective business licensing. North Carolina sales and use tax permits are issued by the North Carolina Department of Revenue and can be obtained online at www.ncdor.gov.

Professional and occupational licenses (contractors, electricians, plumbers, health professionals) are regulated by respective North Carolina licensing boards.

North Carolina law requires voter registration to be submitted at least 25 days before an election, though same-day registration is available during the early voting period for voters who register and vote simultaneously. Registered voters can verify their registration status, find their assigned polling place, view sample ballots, and check voter history through the State Board of Elections website voter lookup tool or by contacting Johnston County Board of Elections directly. Johnston County operates approximately 30 voting precincts on Election Day, with locations published on Johnston County elections website and mailed on voter registration cards.

Early voting is offered at multiple sites across Johnston County, typically beginning 17 days before Election Day and running through the Saturday before the election. All election records in Johnston County are public records under North Carolina General Statute § 163-82.10 and § 132-1. Voter registration lists are available for purchase for approved purposes under North Carolina law.

The next major election will be held on November 3, 2026, featuring U.S. House of Representatives races (Johnston County is split between Congressional Districts), North Carolina State Senate and House of Representatives seats, county commissioners, school board members, and various municipal offices depending on local election schedules. Voters can request an absentee ballot through the State Board of Elections online portal, by submitting a written request to Johnston County Board of Elections, or by completing the absentee ballot request form available on Johnston County elections website.

North Carolina requires witness signatures on absentee ballots. Johnston County provides transparency in elections through public posting of election results by precinct on election night, publishing voter turnout statistics, maintaining publicly accessible voter registration data, and conducting public logic and accuracy testing of voting equipment before each election. All Board of Elections meetings are open to the public as required by North Carolina Open Meetings Law.

Campaign finance disclosure reports for local candidates are filed with Johnston County Board of Elections and are available for public inspection.

Major employers include Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical manufacturer operating a large production facility in Clayton; Grifols, a global healthcare company with manufacturing operations; Caterpillar, which operates equipment facilities; and Johnston Health, Johnston County's largest healthcare system with multiple facilities. Agriculture remains economically significant, with Johnston County ranking among North Carolina's top counties for production of sweet potatoes, tobacco, cotton, soybeans, and hogs. The median household income in Johnston County is approximately $62,000 to $68,000 according to recent estimates, slightly below the state median but rising with suburban growth in Clayton and western portions of Johnston County.

Key economic sectors include advanced manufacturing, particularly pharmaceuticals and medical devices; logistics and distribution, capitalizing on interstate access; healthcare services; construction and real estate development; and agribusiness. Johnston County has invested heavily in industrial park development, including Johnston County Industrial Park and the Clayton Business Park. Amazon operates a fulfillment center in Johnston County, and numerous logistics companies have established distribution operations.

Unemployment in Johnston County typically tracks close to or slightly above the state average, ranging between 3.5% and 5.5% in recent years depending on economic conditions. Notable economic development projects include the ongoing expansion of pharmaceutical manufacturing, residential development in Clayton (one of the fastest-growing towns in North Carolina), and infrastructure improvements along the US 70 Corridor. Johnston County's tax base has expanded significantly with residential growth, though Johnston County maintains a balance between development and agricultural preservation through various zoning and farmland protection programs.