Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (AFB) is located in Wayne County, on the
eastern‐center plain of North Carolina. Located within the City of
Goldsboro’s corporate limits, the installation comprises approximately
3,243 acres in the southeastern portion of the city, east of US Routes 13 and
117, and just south of US Route 70.
The Dare County Range (DCR) is located on the easternmost coast central to
Dare County, North Carolina. The DCR comprises 46,604 acres and is
surrounded by the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (ARNWR)
between the Alligator River and Croatan and Pamlico Sounds. This area
includes numerous marshes, forests and open spaces that allow for specific
training operations and protect the Range from encroachment.
The mission operations performed within Seymour Johnson AFB and the
DCR provide valuable insight into the importance of Seymour Johnson AFB
as a national strategic asset and its relationship with communities in the
region. The purpose of the information presented in this chapter is to
enable stakeholders to make informed decisions about the future
development and economic growth of communities proximate to Seymour
Johnson AFB and the DCR that could potentially impact the viability and
future of the facilities.
3.1
Installation Setting
Known as the Coastal Plain, Eastern North Carolina contains expansive
agricultural lands and offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities.
While ideal for farming, the abundance of level, open fields also provides
Seymour Johnson AFB and the DCR with airspace and terrain that is
necessary for accomplishing the Base’s mi