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… I’d say yes, and it’s been that way for at least the past three to five years but I’m curious to see what y’all think.
Depends on your definition of Flagship. Clayton is a nice town, but even though its in JoCo, I still think of it as an extension of Wake County and a Raleigh exurb. For people on these forums, I think Clayton would probably be considered the flagship. As for lifelong residents of JoCo, I think they might have a different opinion of Clayton and its rapid growth than we do.
Depends on your definition of Flagship. Clayton is a nice town, but even though its in JoCo, I still think of it as an extension of Wake County and a Raleigh exurb. For people on these forums, I think Clayton would probably be considered the flagship. As for lifelong residents of JoCo, I think they might have a different opinion of Clayton and its rapid growth than we do.
Really good point for considering the likely distinction that needs to be made between longtime residents and newbies.
Still there are criteria for what should be actual. And as you were saying flagship needs to be operationalized.
Let’s just use the Webster’s definition, which lends itself to a lot of subjectivity
“the finest, largest, or most important one of a group of things”
Clayton is larger in population
Clayton is larger in Surface Area
Clayton is more important than Smithfield’s
Clayton’s optics are finer than Smithfield’s
Really good point for considering the likely distinction that needs to be made between longtime residents and newbies.
Still there are criteria for what should be actual. And as you were saying flagship needs to be operationalized.
Let’s just use the Webster’s definition, which lends itself to a lot of subjectivity
“the finest, largest, or most important one of a group of things”
Clayton is larger in population
Clayton is larger in Surface Area
Clayton is more important than Smithfield’s
Clayton’s optics are finer than Smithfield’s
Do we have our answer?
Not sure i'd consider Clayton as the flagship for JoCo.
I grew up in JoCo and Smithfield is the county seat and was the largest and most important town up until the last couple of decades. Even though Clayton is now larger population wise, Smithfield is still the epicentre of the county.
Similarly, NCSU is larger than UNC-CH, but UNC-CH continues to be NC's flagship public university.
Not sure i'd consider Clayton as the flagship for JoCo.
I grew up in JoCo and Smithfield is the county seat and was the largest and most important town up until the last couple of decades. Even though Clayton is now larger population wise, Smithfield is still the epicentre of the county.
Similarly, NCSU is larger than UNC-CH, but UNC-CH continues to be NC's flagship public university.
Cmon unc, you’re better than this. Gotta give me more than this. You’re not giving me anything here .
Really good point for considering the likely distinction that needs to be made between longtime residents and newbies.
Still there are criteria for what should be actual. And as you were saying flagship needs to be operationalized.
Let’s just use the Webster’s definition, which lends itself to a lot of subjectivity
“the finest, largest, or most important one of a group of things”
Clayton is larger in population
Clayton is larger in Surface Area
Clayton is more important than Smithfield’s
Clayton’s optics are finer than Smithfield’s
Do we have our answer?
Smithfield is the county seat, so from a government operations perspective, it is the most important.
Finest is entirely subjective dependent upon who is making the assessment.
Smithfield is more representative of the county as a whole.
Its a debatable subject but I don't have a particularly strong opinion about it.
Depends on your definition of Flagship. Clayton is a nice town, but even though its in JoCo, I still think of it as an extension of Wake County and a Raleigh exurb. For people on these forums, I think Clayton would probably be considered the flagship. As for lifelong residents of JoCo, I think they might have a different opinion of Clayton and its rapid growth than we do.
Not sure i'd consider Clayton as the flagship for JoCo.
I grew up in JoCo and Smithfield is the county seat and was the largest and most important town up until the last couple of decades. Even though Clayton is now larger population wise, Smithfield is still the epicentre of the county.
Similarly, NCSU is larger than UNC-CH, but UNC-CH continues to be NC's flagship public university.
By the same argument, could we say that Tallahassee is the most important city in Florida since it's the seat of government?
By the same argument, could we say that Tallahassee is the most important city in Florida since it's the seat of government?
You're drawing inferences that were not intended. Just because I indicated that Smithfield is the county seat does not mean that I'm concluding that this alone makes it the flagship of the county.
Clayton's faster growth is a result of it's proximity to Wake County, but as far as JoCo is concerned, Smithfield is still the center of the economy and face of that county. That may very well change in the future.
Speaking of Florida, Jacksonville is the largest city proper in Florida, but we all know that Miami is the flagship city down there.
Both Clayton and Smithfield are significant towns, but they serve different roles and have distinct characteristics.
Smithfield:
Historical Significance: Smithfield is the county seat of Johnston County, which typically denotes its importance in administrative and governmental functions.
Institutions: Being the county seat, Smithfield houses the main county governmental offices, courts, and other critical institutions.
Economic Factors: Smithfield has a rich history tied to the agricultural industry, and it's also known for its retail outlets and shopping, especially the Carolina Premium Outlets.
Clayton:
Growth and Development: Over recent years, Clayton has experienced rapid growth, becoming one of the fastest-growing communities in the state. Its proximity to Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park has made it an attractive location for families and businesses.
Economic Factors: Clayton has seen a surge in new businesses, industries, and housing developments. Several major pharmaceutical companies have facilities in or near Clayton.
In terms of governmental importance, Smithfield, as the county seat, traditionally holds a significant role. However, in terms of recent growth, economic development, and population influx, Clayton might be considered "more important" by some metrics due to its rapid expansion and development.
It's essential to define "flagship" based on specific criteria, whether that's historical significance, economic growth, population size, cultural contributions, or another metric. Both towns play crucial roles in the makeup of Johnston County.
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