Downtown Smithfield Historic District is a national historic district located at Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina. It encompasses 24 contributing buildings in the central business district of Smithfield.

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9 on the National Register · #53 in NCHistoric places →

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The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Smithfield

Town in and county seat of Johnston County, North Carolina

1777Established

11,292Population

12.1 sq miArea

148 ftElevation

Smithfield is a town in and the county seat of Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,292. The town is located near North Carolina's Research Triangle and is about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of downtown Raleigh. The Raleigh-Durham-Cary combined statistical area has a population over 2 million residents. Smithfield is home to the Ava Gardner Museum, Wild Bill's Western Town named Shadowhawk, and is situated along the Neuse River, where visitors enjoy the annual Ham & Yam Festival, walks along the Buffalo Creek Greenway, and the historic downtown district.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Smithfield ranks

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#9Cheapest rent in NC #26Closest to a top hospital in NC #28Lowest depression in NC All NC rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code27577

Area code919

Living in Smithfield

Housing in Smithfield

$291K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Smithfield home is worth about $291,000, about the same as a year ago, 13% below the North Carolina typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market60

Sale-to-list97.6%

Sold in May22

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Smithfield

Safety Grade D

Smithfield reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 91% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Smithfield 2.9

North Carolina 3.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Smithfield 38.7

North Carolina 18.1

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Smithfield

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Most working residents leave Smithfield for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Raleigh (16%), Durham (4%) and Garner (3%). Half commute less than 26 miles.

Raleigh

16%

Durham

Garner

Clayton

17%Work in townlive and work in Smithfield 26 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 13,696Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Smithfield →

Health in Smithfield

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 16% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 56% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with North Carolina

2better than NC·17worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 13 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits 1▲ 2▼ 1 close Care 1▲ 2▼ 4 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.8%Fewer binge drinkersNC 14.7% · better 80.3%More adults treating high blood pressureNC 76.7% · better 16.9%More uninsured adultsNC 10.4% · worse

Care nearby

Johnston HealthSmithfield · 2.6 mi · ER

Commwell Health of SmithfieldSmithfield · 1.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Smithfield · CMS · HRSAHealth in Smithfield →

Natural hazards in Smithfield

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 37% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌀 Hurricanes

135Does Smithfield flood?paid flood claims since 1980 8Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Smithfield

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Smithfield →

Climate in Smithfield

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Smithfield has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 32°, and snow is almost unheard of.

55° / 33°Winter

73° / 48°Spring

89° / 68°Summer

73° / 50°Fall

How much snow does Smithfield get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 5, with the last in spring around Mar 29.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Smithfield →

Schools in Smithfield

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B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Smithfield’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 53% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Smithfield’s schools compare in NC →

DistrictJohnston County Public SchoolsSchools9

South Smithfield Elementary C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 450 students Smithfield Middle C-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 573 students The Innovation Academy at South Campus B+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 263 students Smithfield-Selma High CHigh · Grades 9–12 · 1,548 students Johnston Co Early College Academy A+High · Grades 9–13 · 251 students Johnston County Schools Career Technical A+High · Grades 9–13 · 241 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NC. Ratings are from neighbors.