North Carolina

Johnston

215,999
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Johnston

Johnston, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 5,634. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 215,999.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 20 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Johnston's Army at Smithfield NC — Reorganization, Bentonville — Johnston's Surprise Attack (March 19, 1865), Bentonville — Mower's Assault Third Day, and 36 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020215,999
2010168,878
2000121,965
199081,306
198070,599
197061,737
196062,936
195065,906
194063,798
193057,621
192048,998
191041,401
190032,250
189027,239
188023,461
187016,897
186015,656
185013,726
184010,599
183010,938
18209,607
18106,867
18006,301
17905,634
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Johnston

Military engagements that took place in Johnston, North Carolina.

Johnston's Army at Smithfield NC — Reorganization
1865
Bentonville — Johnston's Surprise Attack (March 19, 1865)
1865
Bentonville — Mower's Assault Third Day
1865
Battle of Bentonville — Second Day
1865
Carolinas Campaign — Battle of Bentonville
1865
Action at Smithfield NC — Johnston Holds Line
1865
Battle of Bentonville (Last Major Battle in Carolinas)
1865
Bentonville — Day 2 Consolidation (March 20, 1865)
1865
Bentonville — Mower's Assault on Johnston's Rear (March 21, 1865)
1865
Battle of Bentonville — Day Three
1865
Bentonville — Harper House Field Hospital (March 19-21, 1865)
1865
Battle of Bentonville NC Mar 19-21 1865
1865
Skirmish at Flat Creek Bridge NC — Bentonville Aftermath
1865
Skirmish at Elevation NC — Bentonville Approaches
1865
Battle of Bentonville — Third Day
1865
Battle of Averasborough
1865
Battle of Bentonville
1865
Carolinas Campaign — Battle of Averasboro
1865
Battle of Bentonville — Day One Johnston's Attack
1865
Battle of Bentonville — First Day
1865

Historic places in Johnston

National Register of Historic Places listings in Johnston, North Carolina.

US Post Office, Former
Smithfield
Atkinson-Smith House
Smithfield
Hannah's Creek Primitive Baptist Church
Benson
Ellington-Ellis Farm
Clayton
Clayton Historic District
Clayton
Stevens, Everitt P., House
Selma
Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site
Princeton
Brooklyn Historic District
Smithfield
Downtown Smithfield Historic District
Smithfield
Harper House
Harper
North Smithfield Historic District
Smithfield
Princeton Graded School
Princeton
Clayton Graded School and Clayton Grammar School-Municipal Auditorium
Clayton
Four Oaks Commercial Historic District
Four Oaks
Cleveland School
Clayton
Smithfield Masonic Lodge
Smithfield
Downtown Selma Historic District
Selma
West Selma Historic District
Selma
Harrison, Richard B., School
Selma
Nowell-Mayerburg-Oliver House
Selma
Hastings-McKinnie House
Princeton
Benson Historic District
Benson
Hood Brothers Building
Smithfield
Union Station
Selma
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Johnston County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Johnston County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Johnston

When does Johnston first appear in the US census?
Johnston, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 5,634.
What is the population of Johnston?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Johnston had a recorded population of 215,999.
Were any battles fought in Johnston?
20 documented military engagements took place in Johnston, including Johnston's Army at Smithfield NC — Reorganization, Bentonville — Johnston's Surprise Attack (March 19, 1865), Bentonville — Mower's Assault Third Day.
How many historic places are in Johnston?
36 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Johnston, North Carolina.
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