Smithfield is located in the famous Research Triangle in Johnston County, North Carolina. The triangle refers to the North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the 1950s, the research capabilities and graduates of these education institutions attracted many companies to set up business in the region.

Smithfield is a very old town, having been incorporated in 1777. From 1804 until the Civil War, Johnston County became one of the leading producers of cotton in North Carolina. The war took a heavy toll on the county in terms of lives, agriculture, and livestock. Eventually, Smithfield recovered along with the whole county and shifted to tobacco production and livestock farming.

Today, Smithfield has over 12,000 inhabitants. Up until 2015, the town had a higher crime rate than most US cities but there has been a steady decline in recent years, according to the FBI 2018 annual report under its Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

In 2018, the town held national attention when Smithfield Foods, the world’s single largest pork producer, and subsidiary Murphy Brown, LLC were ordered to pay a whopping $50 million in damages to landowners adjacent to its pig farms in the area. The latter had sued the company for unsanitary and outdated hog waste management. In January 2020, Smithfield Foods is still trying to appeal payment of further new damage claims from other residents.

Being the seat of Johnston, the county courthouse is conveniently located in Smithfield. If you are thinking of pursuing legal action, cases may be filed there Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you need a Smithfield lawyer, LegalMatch can help you find one. We will ensure that you have all the options to select someone that has the knowledge and experience that suits your specific legal requirements. Once you present the details of your case, you may expect a response from local lawyers within 24 hours. Furthermore, the facts that you share are assured of utmost confidentiality.

Most of the lawyers in Smithfield obtained their degrees from the Campbell University School of Law, North Carolina Central University School of Law, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. If you are a student wishing to enter the profession, these three would be good choices for you.

If you are not yet ready to hire a lawyer, you may choose to do some individual research on our Online Law Library. We have over 10,000 articles on a diverse range of legal issues, which can help provide clarity for your legal inquiries.