Kyle Smith, “if you enjoy the outdoors, you can get a breath of fresh air and enjoy dark skies at night without city lights or noise.” Yet as growth creeps into this rural gem, local leaders face a delicate balancing act of fostering economic development while preserving the quiet charm that defines Jones County. The county is currently navigating challenges from downtown revitalizations, strategic industrial projects, and new housing initiatives, all while capitalizing on its outdoor recreation assets. LIFESTYLE AND NATURAL ASSETS Jones County offers residents a quintessential rural lifestyle anchored by safety, strong schools, and wideopen spaces. “We pride ourselves on having a low crime rate, a good public school system, and a safe place to live and develop a family,” explains Smith. The area’s affordability and tight-knit community make it particularly appealing to military families from nearby bases and veterans seeking a peaceful home. Nature takes center stage here, with the White Oak River and Trent River providing both scenic beauty and recreational opportunities.“We pride ourselves on the aesthetics of Jones county, including a lot of our forest lands, which do habitat a lot of the recreational activities for us, including hunting, fishing, and hiking,” Smith adds. The county additionally supports organized sports like basketball, football, and soccer which cater to youth athletes. This blend of untouched landscapes and communityfocused amenities positions Jones County as a growing ecotourism and sports tourism destination. From stargazing under unpolluted skies to casting a line in the rivers, the county’s natural assets are central to its identity, and its future. REVITALIZING DOWNTOWNS Jones County’s downtowns are undergoing a remarkable transformation, particularly in Trenton and Pollocksville, which are still recovering from Hurricane Florence’s devastating floods in 2018. “They’ve both been redeveloped and are currently under projects for redeveloping those areas, including downtown renovations,” Smith notes. Trenton has seen new businesses emerge, including a popular barbecue restaurant that recently opened, a significant win for the small town.The municipality is also upgrading sidewalks to improve pedestrian access and constructing Hero Park, while restoring a historic 1800s church. Pollocksville has taken a different approach to its post-flood recovery, converting flood-buyout properties into community assets. “They’re using 161 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 05 JONES COUNTY, NC
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