A Blend of Rural Charm and Strategic Growth

An outdoors-loving county preserving its agricultural roots while focused on future growth opportunities

Nestled in the heart of eastern North Carolina, Jones County prides itself on its agricultural roots, tight-knit communities, and natural beauty. With a low crime rate, top-rated schools, and proximity to four major military bases, the county offers a safe, family-friendly lifestyle. “We’re an agriculture-driven economy,” says County Manager 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 wide-open 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 community-focused 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 [the land] for green space to habitat nature for plants, wildflower-type aesthetic views, and then also for animals and people that may have dogs and give them a space to run and play,” Smith explains. Sidewalk renovations are also underway, enhancing the town’s walkability.

Meanwhile, Maysville is leading the county’s most ambitious downtown revitalization. The town is reconstructing historic buildings to attract retail businesses, recently opened an RV park to boost tourism, and is repurposing an old train depot into a workforce development center in partnership with Lenoir Community College. “They’re doing a lot of reconstruction to some old buildings so that they will bring some retail to that area, which will bring sales tax revenue back to the county and the town,” Smith says.  A short drive from the Crystal Coast, there is hope that tourism will play a larger role in the future too.

With these strategic investments, Jones County’s downtowns are reclaiming their roles as vibrant community hubs.

Economic Growth and Infrastructure

Jones County is taking proactive steps to stimulate economic growth through strategic infrastructure investments and business development initiatives. At the forefront is a new industrial project in Trenton. “We’re about to put a shell building in our industrial park,” says Economic Development Director John Bender. “We’re putting up a building to help increase some profit investment into the area. With us being a rural county like we are, private investment is a little bit slower here than it is in some of the surrounding areas that are more developed industrial-wise,” he adds.

“It’ll be a 20,000 square foot building. We currently have nobody on the hook as far as going into it, but it’ll be there to market so that we’re prepared for that next business that wants to come to this area,” Bender explains. “With that, we’re going to make sure it turns into a program. We don’t want to just throw up a building and then we wait another several years before we have something else.We’re going to try to get this building up and immediately start looking into the next building.”

This speculative construction represents a significant commitment to attracting new industry to the rural county.

Small businesses remain vital to the local economy, particularly in revitalized downtown areas. “A lot of our downtowns have ample room for some small businesses to pop up. In fact, that’s probably the most important aspect of economic development to our citizens here in Jones County. They want to see our downtowns thrive. They want the restaurants and the local small retail shops to open up, so I’d say that is at the forefront of our vision here,” Bender explains.

Trenton serves as a success model, with Bender noting that “most of the storefronts in downtown Trenton are filled with small businesses.” The county is replicating this approach in other towns, including Pollocksville where a former bank has been transformed into a restaurant. “They’re trying to make it more approachable for folks wanting to come in and lease or buy one of these buildings to put their small business in,” Bender adds.

Critical infrastructure improvements are supporting this economic growth. Broadband expansion has been a priority, with the county participating in the CAB (Completing Access to Broadband) program. “We’re in a lot better shape than we were five years ago,” says Smith. “We’ve come a long way in a short period of time.”

The improved connectivity helps businesses operate more efficiently while addressing educational needs that became apparent during the pandemic.

Housing and Future Development

Jones County faces a pressing housing challenge that mirrors national trends, with Smith noting, “there’s just a very few number of homes that are on the market here in Jones County.” The most affordable properties move quickly, while higher-end homes linger. “Most of the economical homes, they sell very quickly,” Smith explains, highlighting the acute need for diverse housing options.

“One of our biggest, heaviest lifts here in Jones County is going to be land acquisition in general, whether that’s through the government trying to acquire land or even for a private citizen to try to acquire land to move to the area, so just very little land availability,” he adds.

To address the housing shortage, Maysville is developing a key solution with a 40-unit apartment complex. This new development “will really help out,” says Smith, emphasizing its importance for the county’s substantial military and veteran population. Located near Seymour Johnson, Cherry Point, New River, and Camp Lejeune bases, the project specifically targets service members and their families.

“John and I partnered with the town of Maysville to do a Carolina Across 100 program offered through the UNC School of Government to kind of tackle that initiative on affordable housing and develop a scheme of how we can help combat that issue here in Jones County,” Smith adds.

Infrastructure improvements are paving the way for future growth. A major water expansion project is underway with neighboring Craven County. “Jones County is working currently to expand water so that it could supply this two-county joint industrial park,” explains Bender. This collaboration represents a forward-looking approach to regional economic development, with Bender anticipating “some movement on [the park] within the next five years.”

Together, these housing and infrastructure initiatives demonstrate Jones County’s proactive planning to accommodate growth while maintaining its rural character.

Recreation and Wellness

Jones County is making bold investments in community health with its new 35-acre recreation hub, strategically located across from the K-12 school. “We’re planning to build a recreation and wellness center site,” announces Smith, noting the county recently closed on the land. The first phase will deliver a playground and fitness court this year through the National Fitness Campaign, followed by a full-scale wellness center in 2026 featuring multipurpose rooms, gymnasiums, and outdoor fields.

This ambitious project serves dual purposes: combating declining school enrollment by enhancing quality of life, and creating intergenerational gathering spaces.

“In conjunction with recreation, what we’re expecting this to do is to maybe even turn our pupil count and our public school system’s numbers around where they may be on increase.

I know we’re seeing really across the state and even nation, we’re seeing numbers dwindle in the public school system. So we want to try to get that number back up, and we think that we can contribute that from an athletic side by offering after-school type activities in close proximity to our K-12 school,” Smith explains.

“We can have senior citizens come out, get some fresh air while also facilitating exercise opportunities,” Smith adds. The design intentionally bridges age groups, from youth sports programs to senior fitness activities, while supporting the county’s growing ecotourism appeal. With sewer system upgrades underway to support the complex, the recreation hub represents Jones County’s commitment to building healthy communities for all residents.

Steering Change While Staying True

Jones County’s leadership demonstrates a clear vision for navigating the challenges of rural development. Smith emphasizes adaptability as crucial for progress, “It’s important that we stay ahead of the curve, if you don’t, you’re going to get left behind.” His approach balances innovation, from AI preparedness to broadband expansion with essential services like new EMS substations to improve emergency response times.

Bender highlights how collaboration fuels growth, crediting networking for successes like the Trenton shell building project. “Leaning on my counterparts in other counties… completely opened my eyes and opened up this county to so many more opportunities,” he reflects.

He acknowledges the delicate balance ahead, “we have an image and a way of life here in Jones County that we all know and love, and it’s what attracts people to want to live here. I think that with a little bit of growth, both in industrial growth and residential growth, will be a blessing to this county.”

“It’s important that we push forward here in Jones County, and although it may be new to us, change is inevitable. It’s important that we adapt to change, we communicate the change with each other so that we can get on the positive side of that curve and make sure we can provide the best service that we can to our citizens here in Jones County,” Smith shares.

Together, these perspectives frame Jones County as a model for rural communities nationwide, one that embraces necessary change while protecting its character. From downtown revitalizations to recreational investments, the county proves strategic planning and partnerships can create sustainable growth.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Jones County, NC

What: A rural county balancing agricultural heritage with strategic growth in infrastructure, housing, and economic development

Where: Eastern North Carolina

Website: www.jonescountync.gov