Town guide · Coastal Plain
Smithfield
The Johnston County seat on the Neuse River, home to the Ava Gardner Museum and the yearly Ham & Yam Festival.
35.51° N · -78.35° W · Johnston County
CRay Arts IndexGrade · see the report card ↓The town
About Smithfield
Smithfield is the county seat of Johnston County, about 30 miles southeast of downtown Raleigh near the Research Triangle. The General Assembly chartered it in 1777 as the county’s first town. The Neuse River runs west of downtown, separating it from West Smithfield, and Interstate 95 skirts the town’s southeastern edge. The town hosts the Ava Gardner Museum and Wild Bill’s Western Town, Shadowhawk. Visitors come for the yearly Ham & Yam Festival, strolls on the Buffalo Creek Greenway and a look at downtown’s historic blocks. Johnston Community College and the Johnston Health hospital of UNC Health Care are also in town. Source: Wikipedia
Events in Smithfield
On in town this week
Every art form on one list, each in its own color. Sample events — illustrative dates
All Smithfield eventsNothing posted for the next few weeks yet.
Make it a weekend
More towns in Coastal Plain
Ray Arts Foundation · North Carolina
Report Card
Ray Arts Index · 2026
- Town
- Smithfield
- County
- Johnston County
- Standing
- #16 of 60 graded towns
| Subject | Weight | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Local government supportExtra weightArts budget, arts office, grants, parks & rec arts | 18% | D |
| Arts educationExtra weightSchool district arts programs, arts schools and camps | 12% | C |
| Arts placesVenues, museums and galleries | 18% | B |
| ActivityArts events each month | 13.5% | D |
| FestivalsActive arts festivals | 13.5% | A |
| Arts organizationsArts nonprofits and their budgets | 13.5% | B |
| Creative economyArts businesses and working artists | 7% | F |
| HeritageLong-running arts institutions and history groups | 4.5% | Inc. |
Overall
C
HonorsNone yet
Marking scaleA 80+ · B 65+ · C 50+ (national typical) · D 35+ · F below 35 · Inc. not yet measured
Teacher’s remarks
The Ray Arts Index gives extra weight to local government support and arts education, because public investment in the arts, and in teaching it, is how creative communities grow.
For community leadersWhere Smithfield has the most room to grow, and the next steps that would raise its grade. Show the breakdownHide the breakdown
Where Smithfield has the most room to grow
- Local government support (grade D)
- Activity (grade D)
- Arts education (grade C)
Next steps
- Send us the adopted arts budget lines, grant programs and arts office details, so support is counted from evidence.
- Ask venues and arts groups to post their dates or an events feed, so activity is measured, not missed.
- Ask the school district to publish its arts-education plan and arts leader, and list arts schools and camps.
- Add founding years to long-running venues, festivals and arts groups.
- Request the full Smithfield advisory report from the Ray Arts Foundation.
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