Micro, North Carolina

Micro, North Carolina, the smallest of Johnston County's towns, occupies an area of just 0.4 square miles. In fact, the town's name derives from the Greek word for "small." The median age of Micro's 454 residents (U.S. Census 2000) was 40 years. At the time of the 2000 census, the per-capita income in Micro was $15,629, compared with $21,587 nationally. In 1886, the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad completed a second major line through Johnston County, which gave rise to Micro, along with the towns of Kenly, Four Oaks, and Benson. The Town of Micro, sandwiched between Selma and Kenly, was originally called Jerome; it received a municipal charter in 1899, but it changed names in 1905 to Micro, avoiding confusion with a community. The Micro-Pine Level Elementary School and the North Johnston High School serve Micro; both are administered by the Johnston County Schools. The district serves over 32,000 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade--a student population that has doubled in the past 15 years. The closest college for Micro, NC residents is the Johnston Community College in Smithfield.

Micro residents can chose from a wealth of recreational, historical, and cultural activities in Johnston County. Historical attractions include the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly, the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site in Four Oaks, and the Heritage Center in Smithfield, which is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Johnston County.

The mild four-season climate in Micro, NC allows residents to enjoy its numerous parks and recreation facilities all year long. The surrounding countryside provides many opportunities for hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, hunting, and fishing. Travel connections along I-95 and I-40 make all of Johnston County easily accessible to Micro residents. Motorists from Micro need to take care to avoid speeding along the busy I-95 and I-40 corridors in Johnston County, NC, as driving 15 miles per hour over the posted speed limit or in excess of 70 mph is an offense subject to arrest. The Micro Police Department provides law enforcement services to the town.

In Micro, North Carolina, you'll find two trial courts that hear criminal cases: the Superior Court and the District Court. Micro utilizes the Johnston County Courthouse, located at 207 East Johnston Street in Smithfield. If you’re confused about the terms you hear in court, you may find this listing of criminal law terms helpful.

The State Superior Court is divided into eight divisions and 46 districts. This trial court hears felony criminal cases, as well as misdemeanor and infraction appeals from District Court. The Superior Court hears civil cases where more than $10,000 is in controversy. North Carolina District Courts are divided into four categories: civil, criminal, juvenile, and magistrate. Like the Superior Court, the District Court sits in the county seat. Civil cases involving less than $10,000 are heard in District Court, as are divorce, custody, and child support matters. The District Court also hears criminal matters involving misdemeanors, infractions without a jury and juvenile cases. A magistrate system is used to take guilty pleas in minor misdemeanors and traffic violations.

The Court of Appeals in Raleigh is NC's only intermediate appellate court. Fifteen judges sit in rotating panels of three, deciding questions of law on every case appealed from the Superior and District courts with the exception of death penalty cases. Appeals can range from a parking ticket case to a murder case. Cases where there is a dissent in the Court of Appeals go to the Supreme Court, as do those that the Supreme Court accepts for review through petition. Court of Appeals judges serve eight-year terms.

The Supreme Court of North Carolina, located in Raleigh, is NC's highest court and there is no further appeal in the state from its decisions. This court has a chief justice and six associate justices who sit together as a panel. The Supreme Court has no jury and makes no determination of fact; rather, it considers error in legal procedures or in judicial interpretation of the law.