Brogden is a rural community near Seymour Johnson AFB and Goldsboro
Located in the flat farmland of eastern North Carolina, Brogden is a collection of midcentury neighborhoods less than 10 miles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Goldsboro. “It’s an area where you get a lot of farmers and agriculture. It’s very rural,” says James Jones, a real estate agent with Legacy Builder who grew up in Wayne County. The area is a popular spot for first-time homebuyers, particularly for servicemembers who want to live off-base. “You'll see jets here and there, but you’ll probably not experience much noise,” Jones says.
Ranch-style and manufactured houses on spacious lots
Though surrounded by farms, much of Brogden has an established suburban feel, where mature trees shade spacious lawns that line curving streets. “It’s a lot of first-time homebuyers and individuals looking for country living,” Jones says. The ranch-style, split-level and manufactured houses here typically sit on around half an acre and were mostly built between the 1950s and ‘70s. Prices usually range from around $150,000 to $300,000. Properties along the Neuse River and its tributaries can be at risk for flooding.
Local schools have military-friendly programs
Kids can attend Wayne County Public Schools, which earns a B-minus from Niche and is a Purple Star District for its military-friendly programs, such as deployment support and the Student 2 Student mentor program. They can start at the C-plus-rated Brogden Primary and then go to the C-rated Brogden Middle. At the C-rated Southern Wayne High, students can join over 10 clubs, including Future Farmers of America, Men of Distinction and the Student Government Association. Nearby, the University of Mount Olive is a private college whose sports teams draw spectators from across the community.
Well-known barbecue restaurants are nearby
“We're known for barbecue,” Jones says. Two nearby restaurants are on the North Carolina Historic Barbecue Trail, a trail that highlights established restaurants that smoke meat the old-fashioned way. Grady’s BBQ in Dudley and Wilber’s Barbecue in Goldsboro both offer wood-smoked whole-hog barbecue, complete with classic sides like hush puppies and potato salad. Fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s and Bojangles are along U.S. Route 117, where there’s also a Food Lion and a Tropicana Supermarket. In Goldsboro, shopping includes the Berkeley Mall and Target.
A car-reliant community along Route 117
U.S. Route 117 is the community’s main thoroughfare, leading about 7 miles to Goldsboro. Interstate 42 in Goldsboro leads to Raleigh, a roughly 62-mile trip. Residents can drop off their trash at the Wayne County Landfill just west of Route 117. Houses of worship here include Brogden Church and May’s Chapel Original Free Will Baptist Church. UNC Health Wayne, the closest hospital, is 11 miles away. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a 76-mile trip.
Outdoor activities include ATV trails, lakes and golf
Nearby, Busco Beach and ATV Park has 2,000 acres of ATV and motocross trails, including dirt tracks, an ATV pond and mud pits. The park also features multiple lakes that are open for swimming and fishing, and there are campsites for recreational vehicles or tent camping. At Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield, trails around the park have information about the Civil War battle that took place here in 1862. The Southern Wayne Country Club is open to the public and has an 18-hole golf course and Olympic-size pool. In Goldsboro, Mina Weil Park has a playground, outdoor swimming pool and basketball courts. Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is a nearby hiking destination that also has boat rentals and fishing.
Military-centered events draw big crowds
Many of the area’s events celebrate the military. At NC Freedom Fest each September, families flock to downtown Goldsboro for live music, food vendors and kids’ activities. In off-numbered years, the Wings Over Wayne Air Show attracts nearly 200,000 people to watch the Air Force’s Thunderbirds, a demonstration squadron that performs precision maneuvers for the crowd.
Written By
Annie Franklin
