Johnston County

Forty years ago, Rick Childrey remembers having only two choices when going out to eat in Smithfield, the largest town in Johnston County. And if you didn't like barbecue or hot dogs, you were just plain out of luck.

Today, Childrey, who is the president of the Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce, can pick from more than 45 restaurants in his fast-growing region of county. While barbecue still rules, fares now range from tacos to fortune cookies.

A lot has changed in Johnston County, now one of the fastest growing counties in the state and even in the nation.

Subdivisions are sprouting where tobacco and cotton once grew. National retailers are opening large stores. New schools are being constructed. And the Triangle's growth just continues to explode down U.S. 70 into the neighboring county to the east.

"I never would have believed how the growth has caught fire in Johnston County," says Childrey, who moved to the area in 1967. "We are seeing new homes, stores and schools coming as fast as they can put them up."

Many travelers and newcomers once only knew Johnston County as a place to drive through on the way to Raleigh or to the North Carolina beaches. But, many of those who just passed through are now stopping and deciding to stay.

The growth numbers in the once largely rural county tell the story. In 2004, Johnston County ranked as the state's fastest growing county. According to census figures released in March 2006, the county's population increased 20.1 percent since April 2000, ranking it the 100th fastest-growing county nationwide among those with more than 10,000 residents. Johnston County's population of more than 140,000 makes it third among the 13 counties that make up the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. The majority of the growth has occurred in Clayton and the Cleveland community, near the Wake County line, where new neighborhoods now fill the fields.

For several years, the Clayton area has been a place for homeowners looking to get more house and land for their dollar than they could find in Wake County, county officials say. The town's population has exploded with these new commuters, going from 6,900 residents in 2000 to more than 13,000 today, says Clayton Town Manager Steve Biggs.

"The completion of the U.S. 64 Bypass which some day will tie into Interstate 540 about five miles away has helped bring another boom to our town," he says. "We are now starting to see larger scale developments with mixed use components."

These new developments will likely add another 6,000 residents to Clayton, about 50 percent of the town's current population, by 2012. Planned developments near the town include Biltmore with 652 acres, Cassedale with 75 acres and Creech Farm with 141 acres. Johnston County officials today face the continual challenge of preserving the county's important rural past while carefully shaping its urban future. Coping with a growing residential, commercial and retail market is a major balancing act, officials agree.

The growth has triggered the need for more schools across the county. With 1,500 more students enrolled this academic year than last, the county has 36 schools with 27,500 students. In recent years, four school construction bond referendums have been approved, the most recent in May 2005 for $85 million.

"More and more people are discovering the wonderful quality of life here in Johnston County," says Cookie Pope, chairwoman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. "This is a great place to raise a family and we want to work hard to keep it that way."

Located in the pathway of four major highways, Johnston County has attracted industrial and commercial growth along with its new residents. Interstate 95, Interstate 40, U.S. 70 and U.S. 42 all contribute to this development.

Last year, county business executives announced more than $170 million in new business locations or expansions and the creation of more than 1,200 new jobs, says Michael de Sherbinin, director of the Johnston County Econo-mic Development Com-mission.

SYSCO Corp., a food service marketer and distributor, is opening a $37 million dollar facility off the U.S. 70 Bypass in Selma this year. The company will employ 345 people initially and 600 by 2012. Nova Nordisk, the Danish insulin maker, is undergoing a $100 million dollar expansion of its Clayton facility. And, Talecris Biothe-rapeutics, a manufacturer of blood plasma products, purchased the former Bayer facility in the county.

About 10 percent of the state's bioprocessing workforce is based in Clayton, says Sherbinin, and Johnston officials want to ensure that the industry continues to flourish in the county. But, it is not all work and no play in Johnston County. A wide variety of entertainment opportunities continue to attract both residents and tourists alike.

One of the most popular attractions is the museum honoring John-ston County native and actress Ava Gardner. Located in downtown Smithfield, it features a collection of her mementos from her days on the big screen.

Nearby Selma features the annual Selma Rail-road Days, numerous antique shops and the Rudy Theater, home of the American Music Jubilee. For those seeking a glimpse of the county's past, the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly celebrates the rural farm heritage of the region.

The town of Benson attracts crowds at least twice a year with the annual Mule Days the fourth weekend in September and the yearly gospel singing convention the fourth weekend in June. History buffs can walk the Bentonville Civil War battlefield or visit the historic Harper House. For those with shopping in mind, one of the biggest attractions in the county is Carolina Premium Outlets with more than 80 stores offering brand name merchandise at discount prices. Located in Smithfield near I-95, the center features stores such as Brooks Brothers, Gap, Eddie Bauer, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren Polo.

As Johnston County continues to expand with residential, industrial and commercial developments, county leaders are working to keep up with the many challenges the growth brings. "When people come to Johnston County, they are impressed with our quality of life and all we have to offer," says Childrey. "We want to make sure we keep it that way for years to come."

By Karen Rhodes is a freelance writer