Kinston, North Carolina

About Kinston

Kinston is a close-knit town in eastern North Carolina counting 19,519 people who proudly call it home.

Kinston holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 18.28 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,068 residents per square mile.

📰 Kinston News Today

• Kinston, NC supports the A350’s success Airbus · Jul 8
• Carl Thomas Smith Obituary | Garner Funeral Home | Kinston, NC Tribute Archive · Aug 17
• Congressman Don Davis highlights aerospace opportunities during F-35 event in Kinston WCTI · Aug 13
• Anne Toler Foss Obituary (2026) - Kinston, NC - Rouse Mortuary Service & Crematory Legacy obituary · Aug 12
• Woman accused of money laundering at arts council she led 27 years, NC police say Charlotte Observer · Jul 17

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Kinston Unique

• Positioned in eastern North Carolina, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of North Carolina — one of 776 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 19,519.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 10 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Kinston

• Chef and the Farmer — regional
• Hawk's Nest Cafe and General Store
• King's Restaurant — barbecue
• Waffle House — american
• Aggie's Steak Subs
• Antnee's Stop n Dine
• Baron & the Beef
• East Coast Wings and Grill
• El Nuevo Tequila Mexican Restaurant — mexican
• HOW II — chinese

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Caswell Number 1 Fire Station Museum · Museum
• CSS Neuse II · Museum
• CSS Neuse Interpretative Center · Museum
• Caswell Memorial · Museum
• Ellis Planetarium · Museum
• G I Joe Military Museum-Salute · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Kinston

• Barnet Park reviews ★
• Bill Fay Memorial Park reviews ★
• Caswell Farm Game Land · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Common Ground Community Garden · Garden reviews ★
• Emma Webb Park reviews ★
• Fairfield Park reviews ★
• Holloway Park reviews ★
• Neuse/Caswell Historic Park reviews ★
• Neuse/Caswell State Historic Site reviews ★
• Neuseway Nature Center reviews ★
• Neuseway Park reviews ★
• Southeast Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Kinston

• Banks Elementary
• Children's Village Academy
• Contentnea-Savannah School
• Kinston High
• Lenoir County Early College High
• Lenoir County Learning Academy
• Moss Hill Elementary
• Northeast Elementary
• Northwest Elementary
• Rochelle Middle
• Southeast Elementary
• Southwood Elementary
• Woodington Middle

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• Unc Lenoir Health Care ★★★★ (4/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Kinston

🏘️ Nearby Communities