Smithfield, NC

Smithfield is a town located in Johnston County, North Carolina. The population was 9,814 at the 2010 census. Smithfield is known for its tobacco industry and its historic downtown district. The downtown district has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

The tobacco industry has been the mainstay of the economy in Smithfield since the early 1800s. In 1876, J.B. Duke and Company began processing tobacco in what is now known as Duke Power Plant No. 1 on West Main Street (now part of the Smithfield Town Center). By 1900, there were more than 100 tobacco factories in Johnston County, employing more than 10,000 people. The industry declined after World War II but was revived by cigarette companies such as Reynolds American and Lorillard Tobacco in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, there are only a few remaining tobacco factories in Smithfield; most of them have been converted to other uses such as storage or manufacturing plants for electronic equipment and medical supplies.

The downtown district is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Johnston County because of its history and architecture. The district was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 because it contains many examples of early-20th-century commercial architecture that are rare elsewhere in North Carolina. Some notable buildings include the former J&J Building (now occupied by Wells Fargo Bank), which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Wachovia Bank & Trust Company; First Citizens Bank & Trust Company; Riggs National Bank; and several department stores including Fidelity's Department Store (now Macy's) and Woolworth's Department Store (now Sears). There are also several restaurants, shops, galleries, museums, hotels, and theaters located within walking distance of the district。

Today, Smithfield is home to several major businesses including IBM Corporation’s Global Technology Services Headquarters (GTSH), which employs more than 1,000 people; NC Biotech Inc., which manufactures medical devices; SAS Institute Inc., which develops software used by businesses worldwide; BioMed Central Ltd., which conducts biomedical research; KPMG LLP’s North America headquarters office; Lowe’s Companies Inc.; PNC Financial Services Group LLC.; Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc.; Kroger Co.; Tyson Foods Inc.; Cardinal Health Inc.; Nucor Corp.; Eastman Chemical Co.; 3M Co.; Caterpillar Incorporated ; Ford Motor Company ; Michelin North America LLC 、and many others。