Keener is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sampson County, North Carolina, United States.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29 km2), all land.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 508 people, 206 households, and 149 families residing in the CDP.

There were 206 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families.

25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.