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Kenly, North Carolina
Kenly is a town of 2,359 people in Johnston County, North Carolina.
Why visit Kenly
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 6 places to eat and 4 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Tobacco Farm Life Museum.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 33°F.
Weather in Kenly
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Kenly
Kenly is a town in Johnston and Wilson Counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It was named for John R. Kenly, Northern Division superintendent of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, who later became president of the railroad in 1913. As of the 2020 census, Kenly had a population of 1,491.
From the Wikipedia article Kenly, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks2
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes6
Second Street Coffee & Cafe
Cafe · 0.6 mi
102 East 2nd Street, Kenly
Where to stay4
Deluxe Inn
Motel and hotel · 0.5 mi
403 South Church Street, Kenly
Quality Inn Kenly I-95
Motel and hotel · 0.5 mi
405 South Church Street, Kenly
History
The community was settled around 1875, developing along the "Short-Cut" rail line of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. It was incorporated in 1887 as Kenly, being named for railroad official J. R. Kenly. In 1897, the community's first school, Kenly Academy, a private boarding institution, was established. Kenly High School, a public institution, was opened in 1914. That year also, the town received its first electric service.
In July 2022, all five members of Kenly's police force resigned, citing a "hostile work environment", allegedly created by the newly appointed town manager.
From the History section of Kenly, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship8
Kenly Free Will Baptist Church
Place of worship · 0.6 mi
107 East Edgerton Street, Kenly
Kenly Presbyterian Church
Place of worship · 0.6 mi
179 South Alford Avenue, Kenly
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare2
Map of Kenly
36 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 33°F | 3.8 in | 0.8 in |
| Feb | 55°F | 34°F | 3.0 in | 0.4 in |
| Mar | 63°F | 40°F | 4.2 in | 0.1 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 49°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 80°F | 58°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 87°F | 67°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 71°F | 5.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 70°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 83°F | 64°F | 6.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 52°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 64°F | 41°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 56°F | 35°F | 3.6 in | 0.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Wilson 3 Sw Hcn (12 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Johnston County has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-06: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport (RWI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.
- Wilson 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
- Smithfield 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
- Archer Lodge 15 mi northwest, about 24 min by car
- Goldsboro 18 mi southeast, about 28 min by car
- Clayton 18 mi west, about 29 min by car
- Wendell 19 mi northwest, about 31 min by car
- Four Oaks 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Elroy 22 mi southeast, about 35 min by car
- Brogden 22 mi south, about 35 min by car
- Knightdale 24 mi northwest, about 39 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Kenly Town Hall, Gerry D, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kenly First Presbyterian, Gerry Dincher, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Piggly Wiggly -7 (24576834472), Gerry Dincher from Hope Mills, NC, CC BY-SA 2.0
- ISS015-E-15815 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-138734 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS055-E-43557 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-138735 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-139299 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS040-E-12178 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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