I am a native from Pine Level. I had never seen/heard JoCo used until I joined Facebook. Now, I see and hear it everywhere. I am not really opposed to it, but I do agree that it seems to exemplify the laziness in our society. Or maybe people like it because it rhymes...who knows. I still say Johnston County, but I am old fashioned like that. I still say Kentucky Fried Chicken, Trans Siberian Orchestra, etc. To each his own.
I'm a Johnston County native and always say Johnston County. But if asked where I'm from always say "Benson"
Always Johnston County for me! Funny srory about Johnston County. In 1958 I was stationed at Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Tx. when in the Army. Someone came in and said there was a new guy from NC in D Battery. I went over and introduced myself. Here is the conversation: Bucky: Hi I heard you were from NC. Where bouts? Pope: Close to Raleigh Bucky: I'm from around Raleigh also. Pope: Close to Wilson Bucky: I'm from Johnston County Pope: I'm from Kenly Bucky: Clayton here, good to meet you! If you start the other way, Kenly or Clayton, you had to be from around here to know where these towns were located. LOL
where from Born in Mich. Came to NC from California, Been here since 1972. Moved to Raleigh in 1984. Moved to clayton in 1988, Where do I live? Johnston County, and proud of it. I guess JOCO might be ok if Writing sumtin quick.
Do you pronounce it "Bent-sen" or "Ben-sen"...Folks I know from Clinton rarely use the 't' in their pronunciation, I figured the loaned it to the folks in Benson. It's still a locus amoenus, in my book.
see, i'm from rahleigh (not rawleigh) and i never called it anything but johnston county. actually, we used the town names more than the county name...smithfield was about half way to kinston, which was about half way to the beach: time for a co-cola out of the cooler and a donut, or a nutty buddy from byrd's....
I call the place I live JoCoNOCo, when I am being vague, and McGee's Crossroads when I am not. I have lived here 16 years. I grew up In Elizabeth City(E City), and we had a road there named Elcinoco. Short for Elizabeth City, North Carolina. I kinda like it.
Saying "JoCo" is about like wearing your cap backwards. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Since when did four syllables become so difficult? :jester:
Funny about 'Rahleigh' and 'Rawleigh.' My grandmother was from Fremont (Wayne County) but spent most of the last 57 years of her life in suburban Maryland. She said 'Rawleigh'. Her sister, who moved from Fremont across the county line to Kenly, says 'Rahleigh.' I say Johnston County (or 'Cowny' on occasion!) because Garner means Wake Co. and we're too far from Clayton for it to count. If I find I am talking to someone familiar with the area, I will say Cleveland School. If you look at old maps of the county, there's only a handful of official towns, and a scant handful at that. Outside the county, saying 'Johnston County' is often the most accurate.