Johnston County Genealogy
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The county was formed in 1746 from Craven County. It was named for Gabriel Johnston, Governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752.
In 1752 parts of Johnston County, Bladen County, and Granville County were combined to form Orange County. In 1758 the eastern part of Johnston County became Dobbs County. In 1770 parts of Johnston County, Cumberland County, and Orange County were combined to form Wake County. Finally, in 1855 parts of Johnston County, Edgecombe County, Nash County, and Wayne County were combined to form Wilson County. Source Wikipedia
The county seat of Johnston County is Smithfield. There are several historical sites located in Johnston County including the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site which is the largest Civil War battle site in North Carolina. The battle of Bentonville took place March 19-21, 1865 and was an attempt to stop General Sherman’s march through the south. There’s also an Ava Gardner museum (she was born and grew up in Johnston County), a Tobacco Farm Life Museum and the Johnston County Heritage Center.
Johnston County is divided into the following townships: Banner, Bentonville, Beulah, Boon Hill, Clayton, Cleveland, Elevation, Ingrams, Meadow, Micro, O’Neals, Pine Level, Pleasant Grove, Selma, Smithfield, Wilders, and Wilson Mills.
Johnston County Genealogy Resources
Johnston County NCGenWeb Archives
Johnston County Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 2373
Smithfield, NC 27577
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Johnston County Government
Johnston County Courthouse
PO Box 1049
County Courthouse
Smithfield, NC 27577
Census
1784-1786 State Census Transcription
1790 Federal Census Transcription – sorted by last name
1800 Federal Census Transcription – sorted by last name
1810 Federal Census Transcription – sorted by last name
1820 Federal Census Transcription – sorted by last name
1830 Federal Census Transcription – sorted by last name
1840 Federal Census Transcription – sorted by last name
1850 Federal Census Index – by last name only
Tax Records
1750 Quit Rent detailed transcription
1750 Quit Rent summary of names listed
Cemeteries
USGS listing of cemeteries in Johnston County
Johnston County Cemetery Census
Query Forums
Johnston County, NC Query Forum
Latest North Carolina Genealogy Query posts for Johnston County from the Forum:
Johnston County, NC at Genforum
Cities and towns of Johnston County:
Archers Lodge
Bagley
Benson
Clayton
Emit
Four Oaks
Kenly
Micro
Middlesex
Pine Level
Princeton
Selma
Smithfield (County Seat)
Whitley Heights
Wilsons Mills
News related to Johnston County, NC
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