[7] Beginning in June 1963, civil rights activists protested at City Hall for 29 consecutive days led by Golden Frinks.

[7] The Ku Klux Klan was very active in this part of the state during this time, including a well-documented rally in Williamston on October 5, 1963, attended by mostly local residents but with several carloads of attendees traveling over 150 miles to attend.

They said the goal was to get the attention of an elected official in hopes they would rethink the decision of the hospital being shut down.

[9][10] On August 14–15, Governor Roy Cooper visited Williamston to hold roundtable discussions about the lack of access of medical care in rural areas.

He used the recent closure of the hospital as an example of why he supported expanding Medicaid across rural areas of North Carolina.

[11] On October 5, four clinics in Williamston also closed, further adding to the current healthcare crisis in the town.

[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2), all land.

Many events including horse shoes, rodeos, tractor pulls, and monster truck shows take place in the Agricultural Center.

Williamston also draws thousands of people to its annual "Carolina Country Stampede" each year in September which is a two-day festival showcasing local food, vendors, business owners and bands typically with a well known headlining band to end the Festival such as Emerson Drive in 2017.