[7] Smithfield is home to the Ava Gardner Museum, Wild Bill's Western Town named Shadowhawk, and is situated along the Neuse River, where visitors enjoy the annual Smithfield Ham and Yam Festival, walks along the Buffalo Creek Greenway, and the historic downtown district.

The town is located near North Carolina's Research Triangle and is about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of downtown Raleigh.

The settlement was first known as Johnston County Court House and was incorporated as Smithfield in 1777.

I-95 leads northeast 46 miles (74 km) to Rocky Mount and southwest the same distance to Fayetteville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.1 square miles (31.4 km2), of which 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2), or 0.11%, is covered by water.

Smithfield has a humid subtropical climate(Cfa), with cool winters and hot summers.

Its climate is famous for the growth of pine forests with laurel understory as well as live oaks.

As of the 2020 United States census, 11,292 people, 4,951 households, and 2,919 families resided in the town.