Weather

North Carolina has a temperate climate with all four seasons. While we won’t get much snow in the winter, we do get some. And while it can certainly get hot in the summers, it comes and goes like everything else. Historically, January is the coldest month with average lows of 34 degrees and average highs of 53 degrees. July tends to be the hottest month with average lows of 70 degrees and average highs of 90 degrees.

The bottom line is that with a little planning on what you wear, you can enjoy the great outdoors all year round.

Education

Public Schools in North Carolina are generally managed at the county level. This means students in our region are usually either going to attend a Johnston County Public School or a Harnett County Public School. Both offer access to excellent education and house various award-winning programs.

Higher Education in the area includes access to top-tier community colleges and first-class research universities. Within 60 minutes (45 miles) of our communities, there are 11 institutions of higher learning.

Workforce Development

The Workforce Development Center (WDC), located on Best Wood Drive in nearby Clayton, is a 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art educational and technical skills training center with a focus on life sciences programming, business training, and workforce development in biotechnology and other sciences. The WDC is a collaborative effort between Johnston County, Johnston County Public Schools, Johnston County Economic Development and Johnston County Community College, as well as local industries.

General Interests

State Parks, Preserves, and Outdoor Amenities

Whether you’re a hiker, biker, paddler, bird-watcher, sun-bather, or just a general all-around outdoor enthusiast, there are many must-see attractions in the area. The following list is just a partial set of the region’s many offerings:

• Raven Rock State Park

• Dunn – Erwin Rail Trail

• The East Coast Greenway runs right through Four Oaks

• Cape Fear River Canoe Trails

• Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center

• Waterskiing / Wakeboarding at nearby lakes

History

Some of the largest battles in the Civil War occurred nearby. If you’re so inclined, be sure to visit the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site and the Averasboro Battlefield Museum.

Mountains and Beaches

North Carolina is blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches and mountains in the world. With 300+ miles of coastline, you can find secluded spots to relax or popular hangouts to meet new friends. And you can be on the sand at Wrightsville Beach in 90 minutes. The Blue Ridge Mountains are some of the oldest in the world. While they don’t have the same elevation as the rockies – our highest peak is ~6,600 ft above sea level – they’re every bit as magical. Drive time to Boone, NC (elevation 3,330 ft) is just over 3 hours.