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. Mt. Olive Tribune 10 August 1984 BICENTENNIAL YEAR AND SAMPSON COUNTY Our Sampson County Bicentennial Committee resolved at the beginning of the year that our objectives would not only include our heritage, but would also include promotion and development of the county. The Bicentennial activities have already done much to boost the county and to emphasize the great potential for the future. In fact, the city of Clinton is already the hub of a large trading center with a radius of no less than 30 miles. Industries are needed to furnish jobs for the young people and for others who are not now needed in mechanized agriculture. Sampson County ranks first in North Carolina in the production of vegetables or truck crops. In 1983, these crops brought nearly 30 million dollars to the county. Peppers were grown at Turkey by the late J.A. FAISON as early as 1895. Turkey was once famous as a great market for peppers, which were shipped to northern cities by rail. Last year, there were 8,000 acres of green peppers planted in the county, which brought in nine million dollars. There were 4,400 acres of sweet potatoes, 50 acres of Irish potatoes, 375 acres of cabbage, 65 acres of cantaloupes, 12 acres of tomatoes, 4,500 acres of cucumbers, 400 acres of eggplants, more than 1,000 acres of snap beans, 1,000 acres of squash, 2,800 acres of watermelons, 110 acres of blueberries, and 25 acres of strawberries. There is great potential in Sampson County for canneries and freezing plants. Sampson County ranks seventh in North Carolina in the production of tabacco. In 1983, there were 8,269 acres planted which brought in over 32 million dollars. Tobacco production will decline with time, but land suited for tobacco production can also produce food crops. Our county was one of the 10 largest producers of cotton at the turn of the century, but last year only 2,911 acres were planted, which brought in less than a million dollars. Last year, 386 acres of peanuts were planted, 45,000 acres of corn (7 1/2 million dollars) 9,000 acres of wheat, 400 acres of oats, 500 acres of barley and 1,500 acres of rye. Sampson ranks fourth in the state in the production of soybeans. Last year 78,000 acres were planted, which brought in 11 1/2 million dollars. Our county ranks first in hog production. More than 400,000 hogs were sold last year, which netted in excess of 40 million dollars. Beef cattle and calves brought in 1 1/2 million dollars, and milk production in the county amounted to over a million dollars. The county ranks third in the production of turkeys. Three and one-third million turkeys were sold, which netted nearly 23 million dollars and 7 1/2 million broilers sold for eight million dollars. Nearly two million hatching eggs brought in more than 1 1/2 million dollars. The forest industry (lumber and pulpwood) brought in more than 8 1-3rd million dollars. Sampson County ranks second in North Carolina in total cash farm receipts, Duplin being first. Last year, the farm receipts were in excess of 173 million dollars. Sampson County is located in a favorable climatic belt and has the types of soils suited for many crops which are not now grown here. We have some irrigation, but the time will probably come when irrigation facilities will be available for nearly all crop land. Besides the surface water in streams, there is a great subterranean supply of water, which could be used to irrigate crops. Our county covers 163 square miles (616,000) and is the largest county in the state. We are two-thirds the size of Rhode Island. The old pioneer spirit of free enterprise and hard work still prevails in Sampson County. As county historian, I foresee a great future for our county. ============================================================== 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 ==============================================================