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Dunn is Harnett County's largest town and Lillington is the county seat.
Harnett County is located in the south-central portion of North Carolina. It lies partially in the Coastal Plain and partially in the Piedmont section. The Cape Fear River, which flows from northwest to southeast, is the main drainage system. The chief tributaries include the Upper Little River system, the Lower Little River and the Black River.
Harnett County is located within an hour's drive of North Carolina's thriving Research Triangle.
| Land Area |
594.93 square miles |
| Water Area |
6.25 square miles |
| Elevation |
325 feet above sea level |
| Annual Average |
62° F |
| Average in July |
78° F |
| Average in January |
39° F |
| Average Rainfall |
48 inches |
| Average Snowfall |
2.6 inches |
| Population (2008) |
110,098 |
| Increase (2000 - 2008) |
2.3% |
| Population Density (2008) |
185 people / square mile |
| Rank in Size (2005) |
24th out of 100 |
| Rank in Growth (2004) |
8th out of 100 |
Public Schools
Harnett County public schools provide quality education services to more than 17,515 students in twenty-six schools, including four consolidated high schools. Private co-educational schools are also available. For more information visit Harnett County School's Website.
Community College and Technical Schools
Through its Harnett County campus, Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) provides courses and programs that directly benefit local industries and businesses. CCCC offers customized training to area businesses and industries in a variety of technical and professional areas. These programs are designed to train workers with the essential, specific skills needed for local industries. For example, CCCC is home to the only laser and fiber optics laboratory in the southeast and is the largest program between Florida and Boston.
| Central Carolina Community College |
6,428 |
13,463 |
329 employees per year |
Source: Central Carolina Community College 2004 Data
Colleges and Universities
The County is distinguished by the presence of Campbell University, which offers professional degrees in law, pharmacology, business, education and divinity as well as a wide variety of undergraduate degrees. Campbell University is a private, four-year institution located in Buies Creek. With 7,000 students representing all 50 states and more than 40 countries, Campbell is North Carolina's second largest private university.
Thirteen colleges are within a one-hour drive of our county, including three major research universities: Duke University in Durham, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
| Campbell University |
Buies Creek |
| North Carolina State University |
Raleigh |
| Duke University |
Durham |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Chapel Hill |
| North Carolina Central University |
Durham |
| Peace College |
Raleigh |
| Shaw University |
Raleigh |
| Meredith College |
Raleigh |
| Fayetteville State University |
Fayetteville |
| St. Augustine's College |
Raleigh |
| Barton College |
Wilson |
| Mount Olive College |
Mount Olive |
| Methodist College |
Fayetteville |
Harnett County offers a wide variety of leisure and recreational opportunities.
There are eight golf courses in the area. One of our newest courses -- Anderson Creek, a Davis Love golf course -- was selected by the North Carolina magazine as the "Best New Course for 2001." Campbell University's Keith Hills Country Club is a championship facility voted as one of the "top 100 values" by Golf Digest. For the avid golfer, the prestigious Pinehurst area is only 45 minutes away. In less than two hours, you can play the championship golf courses of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Raven Rock State Park is located six miles west of Lillington. This 4,667-acre park on the Cape Fear River offers a prime location for camping, fishing, horseback riding, hiking and canoeing.
Public tennis courts, parks, municipal sports leagues and many area lakes provide recreation throughout the year. Six public libraries serve more than 10,000 people each month.
The Harnett County Arts Council is the umbrella organization for a number of interests, including the Harnett Regional Theater, the Harnett Art Guild, the Helena Wade Music Club and the Cape Fear Writers Guild. The Council provides numerous programs for the schools and general public, such as theatrical productions, appearances by regional dance groups, the North Carolina Symphony and guest lectures and exhibits. Campbell University sponsors a variety of events throughout the year, including concert and other musical performances, art exhibitions, plays and lectures. An impressive network of civic clubs and service organizations sponsor numerous social, cultural and celebratory events and activities throughout the year.
Harnett County residents are fortunate to reside within an hour's drive to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Fayetteville. Because of our proximity to urban centers, we have easy access to a vast array of cultural and recreational opportunities.
[Check out Harnett County's Festive Occasions]
Excellent medical facilities are offered by one local hospital. Betsy Johnson Memorial hospital is an acute care health care facility located in Dunn. A kidney center and multiple medical clinics also serve Harnett County.
Excellent health care institutions are located in our region. Duke University Medial Center is rated in the top ten hospitals in the nation and the University of North Carolina's Memorial Hospital offers nationally acclaimed care.
| The Daily Record |
Dunn |
Daily (M-F) |
| Harnett County News |
Lillington |
Weekly |
| Angier Independent |
Angier |
Weekly |
| The News and Observer |
Raleigh |
Daily |
| The Business Journal |
Raleigh |
Weekly |
| The Fayetteville Observer |
Fayetteville |
Daily |
| The Sanford Herald |
Sanford |
Daily |
[View list of regional newspapers]
[View list of regional radio and television stations]
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