Harrells traces its name to a lost traveler and his store
About 200 people live in Harrells, a community in Duplin and Sampson counties, full of plowland, farms and forests. “It’s just a little itty-bitty rural town,” says longtime local Judy Odom, a Realtor with Coastal Properties. “We don’t even have a proper stoplight – we have blinking stoplights for [North Carolina] Highway 41.” The community’s name goes back to the 1800s, when a man named William Harrells blew in from the west, supposedly lost. He stayed a while, set up shop, and soon the farming community was named after his business: Harrell's Store. The name stuck, even after the man and his store were long gone.
Few listings make it hard to track housing trends in Harrells
Listings are rare in Harrells, which limits sales data. Roughly, prices range from the mid $100,000s to the high $300,000s. There’s a blend of classic vintage and contemporary homes, from historic 1800s farmhouses and bungalows to midcentury ranch-style homes and contemporary cottages. Large lots, at least an acre or more, are the norm. Hurricane season ranges from early June to late November. Harrells is not in a high-risk area, but it is within the Black River floodplain. “My husband and I have drowned two 20-foot campers,” Odom says. “First was [Hurricane] Floyd in 1999. Then, in 2016, Matthew drowned the second one.”
Harrells students attend schools about 10 miles north
Sampson County Schools has a B-plus on Niche, and each school zoned for Harrells is around 10 miles north. Union Elementary, for pre-kindergarten through second grade, earns a B. Union Intermediate, for third through fifth grade, and Union Middle are graded B-minus. Union High gets a C-plus and offers dual enrollment with Mountain Empire Community College. Harrells Christian Academy offers private, faith-based education and earns an overall B-minus; it’s been a community staple since 1970.
Black River offers paddling, fishing and ancient cypress views
Formal parks and recreation options are limited. The town has a small, recently renovated community center. Beyond that, there’s the great outdoors, including the nearby Black River, a central recreational avenue in Sampson County. “It’s a lovely, lovely area that’s been on the news over the years for the cypress trees,” Odom says; she and her husband keep a collection of articles written about the ancient bald cypresses, some over 2,000 years old, along the riverbanks. The river is a freshwater fishing hub and paddling destination, accessible by a public boat ramp, less than 10 miles south of Harrells.
Clinton has the nearest ER and big-box shopping
Highway 41 has a small selection of shopping and dining options in the heart of town. There’s a Family Dollar, a gas station and a local general store. On the east side, El Crucero Tienda Y Taqueria serves authentic Mexican fare and sells everyday essentials like groceries and toiletries. For bigger shopping trips, Clinton is 23 miles up U.S. Route 421. The Sampson County seat is home to several chain stores and restaurants, from Food Lion and Lowe’s to Hardee’s and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. It also has the closest emergency room, located at Sampson Regional Medical Center.
Harrells sits near the junction of two key regional routes
The main roads in and out of Harrells are Highway 41 and Route 421, which intersect on the east side. Via Route 421, it’s under a 50-mile drive south to Wilmington, which has the closest major airport, Wilmington International Airport.
Written By
Micaela Willoughby
