Wayne County, NC - Heritage Series Reprinted with permission of the Mount Olive Tribune and cannot be reproduced without permission. Transcribed by Sloan Mason. "Our Heritage" by Claude MOORE. CLINTON, THE OLD AND THE NEW Clinton, the county seat of Sampson County is not only filled with history, but it is one of the prosperous trading centers for a large area. Industries came after World War II and they now employ more than 3,000 workers. When Sampson and Duplin were separated in 1784, the courthouse was built in 1785 on a tract of five acres given by General Richard CLINTON, who owned a plantation of more than 4,000 acres. This was part of a large survey owned by Colonel John SAMPSON, one of the pioneer settlers and office holders. A village grew up around the courthouse and was called the Sampson Courthouse. In 1818 the legislature authorized a town to be laid out and called Clinton. The village was named for Richard CLINTON (1721-1795) who had served as a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolution, in the General Assembly, and as Register of Deeds of Sampson County. The first church to be organized was St. Paul's Episcopal Church. It was organized in 1823 as a successor to St. Gabriel's Anglican Church located near Turkey. Shiloh Presbyterian Church, organized in 1831 was moved into Clinton in 1850. Soon thereafter the Baptist and Methodist churches were organized. The town is located near the center of the county. During the years nearly all the roads were built leading into Clinton. In latter years, Highways 701, 421, 403 and 24 all came through the town. Now with a population of 7,907, it is the largest town between Raleigh and Wilmington in one direction and between Fayetteville and Goldsboro in the other. The valuation of real estate in the town exceeds 275 million dollars. Sampson County has a population of 50,000 with a total work force in excess of 17,000. Industries currently employ 5,620 persons. The water system is supplied by six deep wells with a capacity of three and a quarter million gallons a day. Prior to World War II, Clinton was dependent on farming with a few sawmills and cotton gins. With the help of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce, and progressive and far-sighted leaders, new industries were attracted to Clinton and to other parts of the county. In and around the town, the following industries have located: Hamilton Beach employs 1,000 persons; Lundys meatpacking, 750; West Point Pepperell, 230; Spectrum Glass, 205; Vann Industries, 165; Happy Penguin, 250; and HW Carter and sons, 130. Mohasco and Joan of Ark (Pillsbury) and others are also employers of many. Clinton has been served by the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad since 1886 and today, much hog, chicken and turkey feed (grain) is brought in by rail. Much pulpwood is carried out by the same rails. The present county courthouse was remodeled in 1935 along early American lines. A large complex of county offices has been built on Rowan Road. Sampson Technical College, founded in 1967, is a great asset to the county and the area with a total enrollment of 5,700 (including students in continuing education). The new campus is located on Highway 24 West. Even though many of the old homes have been demolished to make room for new houses and buildings, there are still may architecturally interesting houses in the town, especially on Main, and Chestnutt and College streets. The new county library is one of the best in the state and has around 43,000 volumes. The late Dr. V.R. SMALL left his old house on College Street to the county and now it is used as a cultural arts center. The present and potential growth of Clinton is enhanced by the favorable climate for industries and commerce and the fact that it is the center of a rich and diversified agricultural county. Last year, Sampson County farmers sold hogs to the value of $52 million, broilers $11 million, turkeys $24 million, tobacco $23 million, truck crops $22 million and cotton brought in 1.5 million dollars. When I see these figures I begin to think we are not in such bad shape after all. Unless this went like may last $20 bill-I wonder where. ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sloan Mason ==============================================================