Farms and land in Johnston County offer great opportunities for investors, developers and homebuyers looking for a rural setting with close-by amenities of a large city. Low taxes, low wages and a skilled workforce make it appealing to business and homebuyers. Just 30 minutes to Raleigh, the 796-square-mile Johnston County land is adjacent to Nash, Wilson, Wayne, Sampson, Harnett and Wake counties. Located in the Piedmont, it is fast becoming a bedroom community to Raleigh, and because I-95 and I-40 intersect within the county, it is a great transportation hub. Its population of 209,339 depends primarily on agriculture and manufacturing for its economic base. Farmlands take up 183,281 acres with 71% for crops and 17% in woodlands. Fifty-five percent of agricultural sales are for crops and 45% for livestock and poultry. Included in the top private employers are Grifols Therapeutics Inc., Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Novo Nordisk Pharmaceutical and Flanders Airpure NC Division. Fishermen take advantage of the Neuse River, its tributaries and more than 3,500 farm ponds to wet a line in search of largemouth bass, striped bass and crappies. Hunting is popular in the area where deer and turkeys are bagged. Johnston County Schools provides public education for K-12. Johnston Community College offers higher learning.
