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Wake County, North Carolina

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Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,129,410,[1] making it North Carolina's most populous county. From July 2005 to July 2006, Wake County was the 9th-fastest growing county in the United States,[2] with Cary and Raleigh being the 8th- and 15th-fastest growing communities, respectively.[3]

Wake County
County
Raleigh skyline
Wake County Courthouse
North Carolina State Capitol
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral
New Hope Valley Railway
NCSU Memorial Belltower
William B. Umstead State Park
Flag of Wake County
Flag
Official seal of Wake County
Seal
Official logo of Wake County
Logo
Map of North Carolina highlighting Wake County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°47′N 78°39′W / 35.79°N 78.65°W / 35.79; -78.65
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1771
Named forMargaret Wake
SeatRaleigh
Largest communityRaleigh
Area
 • Total
857.02 sq mi (2,219.7 km2)
 • Land834.59 sq mi (2,161.6 km2)
 • Water22.43 sq mi (58.1 km2)  2.62%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,129,410
 • Estimate 
(2023)
1,190,275 Increase
 • Density1,300/sq mi (510/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts2nd, 4th, 13th
Websitewww.wake.gov

Its county seat is Raleigh,[4] which is also the state capital. Eleven other municipalities are in Wake County, the largest of which is the town of Cary, the third-most populous city of the Research Triangle region and the seventh-most populous municipality in North Carolina.

It is governed by the Wake County Board of Commissioners, coterminous with the Wake County Public School System, with law enforcement provided by the Wake County Sheriff's Department. It is also part of the wider Triangle J Council of Governments, which governs regional planning.

History

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Early history

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Prior to English colonization, present-day Wake County was part of the Tuscarora nation.[5]

18th century

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Margaret Wake Tryon

Wake County was formed in 1770 from parts of Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County. The first courthouse was built at a village originally called Wake Courthouse, now known as Bloomsbury. In 1771, the first elections and court were held, and the first militia units were organized.

Wake County lost some of its territory through the formation of other counties. Parts were included in Franklin County in 1787, and in Durham County in both 1881 and 1911.

During the colonial period of North Carolina, the state capital was New Bern. For several years during and after the Revolutionary War, there was no capital, and the General Assembly met in various locations. Fayetteville was the state capital in 1786, 1789, 1790, and 1793, when Raleigh became the permanent state capital in 1794.[6] In 1792, a commission was appointed to select a site to build a permanent state capital. The commission members favored land owned by Colonel John Hinton across the Neuse River, but the night before the final vote, the committee adjourned to the home of Joel Lane for an evening of food and spirits. The next day, the vote went in Lane's favor.

Lane named Wake County in honor of Margaret Wake Tryon, wife of colonial Governor William Tryon.[7] Raleigh was named after Sir Walter Raleigh, and established in 1792 on 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) purchased from Lane. Raleigh had never set foot in North Carolina, but he had sponsored the establishment of the first English colony in North America on North Carolina's Roanoke Island in 1585. The city of Raleigh became both the state capital and the new seat of Wake County.

19th century

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Main article: Battle of Morrisville

The Battle at Morrisville Station was fought April 13–15, 1865, in Morrisville, North Carolina, during the Carolinas Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the last official battle of the Civil War between the armies of Major General William T. Sherman and General Joseph E. Johnston. General Judson Kilpatrick, commanding officer of the Union cavalry advance, compelled Confederate forces under the command of Generals Wade Hampton III and Joseph Wheeler to withdraw in haste. They had been frantically trying to transport their remaining supplies and wounded by rail westward toward the final Confederate encampment in Greensboro. Kilpatrick used artillery on the heights overlooking Morrisville Station and cavalry charges to push the Confederates out of the small village, leaving many needed supplies behind. However, the trains were able to withdraw with wounded from the Battle of Bentonville and the Battle of Averasboro. Later, General Johnston sent a courier to the federal encampments at Morrisville with a message for Major General Sherman requesting a conference to discuss an armistice. Several days later, the two generals met at Bennett Place near Durham on April 17, 1865, to begin discussing the terms of what would become the largest surrender of the war.

20th century

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In the 20th century, the average per capita income for the county was of $54,988, and the median income for a family was of $67,149. In the same period, the per capita income decreased from $44,472 to $31,579, especially for women. About 7.80% of the population was below the federal poverty line.

A county courthouse was built in 1915. Space for county government in the building grew increasingly inadequate in the 1960s, and another courthouse was built in 1970.[8]

21st century

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In August 2014, the county population surpassed 1,000,000 people.[9]

In November 2017, commissioners of Wake and Harnett counties discussed the possibility of redrawing the line between the counties using the latest technology. This boundary change would affect about 130 properties, with 27 having houses on them, meaning they would end up in a different county or divided between two.[10] An agreement was reached regarding the adjustment of the Wake, Chatham, and Harnett county lines in May 2018.[11][12]

Geography

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Interactive map of Wake County
 
Neuse River

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 857.02 square miles (2,219.7 km2), of which 834.59 square miles (2,161.6 km2) is land and 22.43 square miles (58.1 km2) (2.62%) is water.[13]

Wake County is located in the northeast central region of North Carolina, where the North American Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain regions meet. This area is known as the "fall line" because it marks the elevation inland at which waterfalls begin to appear in creeks and rivers. As a result, most of Wake County features gently rolling hills that slope eastward toward the state's flat coastal plain. Its central Piedmont location situates the county about three hours west of Atlantic Beach by car and four hours east of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Bodies of water that are located in Wake County include Crabtree Creek, Walnut Creek, the Neuse River, Lake Crabtree, Lake Johnson, Lake Raleigh, Lake Wheeler, Lake Benson, Harris Lake and portions of Falls Lake and Jordan Lake.

Climate

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Wake County enjoys a moderate subtropical climate, with moderate temperatures in the spring, fall, and winter. Summers are typically hot with high humidity. Winter highs generally range in the low 50s °F (10 to 13 °C) with lows in the low to-mid 30s °F (−2 to 2 °C), although an occasional 60 °F (16 °C) or warmer winter day is not uncommon. Spring and fall days usually reach the low to mid-70s °F (low 20s °C), with lows at night in the lower 50s °F (10 to 14 °C). Summer daytime highs often reach the upper 80s to low 90s °F (29 to 35 °C). The rainiest months are July and August.

The county, at the National Weather Service in Raleigh, receives on average 7 inches (180 mm) of snow in the winter. Freezing rain and sleet occur most winters, and occasionally the area experiences a major damaging ice storm.[14]

State and local protected areas/sites

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See also: Category:Protected areas of Wake County, North Carolina and Category:Parks in Wake County, North Carolina

Major water bodies

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See also: Category:Rivers of Wake County, North Carolina

Adjacent counties

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Parks and recreation

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Falls Lake State Recreation Area
 
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

State parks

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Wake County is home to three state parks: Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, and William B. Umstead State Park. Falls Lake Park is located in northern Wake County and contains the 12,000-acre (49 km2) Falls Lake and 26,000 acres (110 km2) of woodlands.[32] Umstead Park is situated between Raleigh and Cary near RDU. Located right off I-40, it is divided into two sections, Crabtree Creek and Reedy Creek, and contains 5,579 acres (22.58 km2) of woodlands.[33] Jordan Lake Park, which is partially located in Wake County near Apex, contains 13,940-acre (56.4 km2) Jordan Lake and 46,768 acres (189.26 km2) of woodlands. This park is known for being home to bald eagles.[34]

County parks and recreation centers

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There are 152 county parks, city parks, public swimming and public tennis facilities in Wake County. In addition, there are 53 community centers.[35] Notable parks include Pullen Park and Yates Mill Park. The American Tobacco Trail is a 22-mile (35 km) rail trail project that is located in the Research Triangle Park region. Fifteen miles of the trail is located in Wake County and is open to pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians (in non-urban sections), and other non-motorized users. The Capital Area Greenway system has over 100 miles (160 km) of paved walking and biking trails and connects to other systems operated by municipalities and neighboring counties.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179010,192—
180013,43731.8%
181017,09627.2%
182020,10217.6%
183020,3981.5%
184021,1183.5%
185024,88817.9%
186028,62715.0%
187035,61724.4%
188047,93934.6%
189049,2072.6%
190054,62611.0%
191063,22915.7%
192075,15518.9%
193094,75726.1%
1940109,54415.6%
1950136,45024.6%
1960169,08223.9%
1970228,45335.1%
1980301,32731.9%
1990423,38040.5%
2000627,84648.3%
2010900,99343.5%
20201,129,41025.4%
2023 (est.)1,190,275[1]5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[36]
1790–1960[37] 1900–1990[38]
1990–2000[39] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

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Wake County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[40] Pop 2010[41] Pop 2020[42] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 439,160 560,536 645,020 69.95% 62.21% 57.11%
Black or African American alone (NH) 122,648 182,793 204,535 19.53% 20.29% 18.11%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,821 2,537 2,760 0.29% 0.28% 0.24%
Asian alone (NH) 21,183 48,287 96,665 3.37% 5.36% 8.56%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 178 317 453 0.03% 0.04% 0.04%
Other Race alone (NH) 842 1,755 6,210 0.13% 0.19% 0.55%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 8,029 16,846 45,526 1.28% 1.87% 4.03%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 33,985 87,922 128,241 5.41% 9.76% 11.35%
Total 627,846 900,993 1,129,410 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, 1,129,410 people, 419,361 households, and 279,243 families were residing in the county.

2018 census estimate

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At the 2018 census estimate,[43] 1,092,776 people, 421,265 households, and 276,363 families resided in the county. The population density was 1,308.72 people per square mile (505.30 people/km2). The 458,953 housing units had an average density of 311 units per square mile (120 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.40% White, 14.29% African American, 9.24% Hispanics or Latinos of any race, 12.84% Asian, 4.04% from other races, 3.13% from two or more races, 0.16% Native American, and 0.03% Pacific Islander.

Of the 242,040 households, 34.0% had children under 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were not families. About 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51, and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the age distribution was 25.1% under 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,988, and for a family was $67,149. Males had a median income of $44,472 versus $31,579 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,004. About 4.90% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.60% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

In Wake County, 29% of the population is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, 22% are affiliated with the Catholic Church, 17% are affiliated with the United Methodist Church, 6% are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), and 27% are religiously affiliated with other denominations or religions, or are not religiously affiliated.

Law and government

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Further information: List of Sheriffs of Wake County, North Carolina
 
North Carolina State Capitol
 
North Carolina State Legislative Building

The county is governed by the Wake County Board of Commissioners, a seven-member board of county commissioners, elected at large to serve four-year terms.[44] Despite being selected by the whole county, each commissioner represents a district in which they live.[45] Terms are staggered so that every two years, three or four commissioners are up for election. The commissioners enact policies such as the establishment of the property tax rate, regulation of land use and zoning outside municipal jurisdictions, and adoption of the annual budget. Commissioners meet on the first and third Mondays of each month.[44] County voters also elect a register of deeds, who is responsible for maintaining legal records including property deeds, birth certificates, and marriage licenses.[45]

The first professional county manager was hired in 1965.[8] Wake County is a member of the regional Triangle J Council of Governments.

Politics

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For much of the 20th century, Wake County was politically dominated by conservative Democrats, many of them wealthy Raleighites. By the 1980s, enough socially-liberal Democrat and Republican professionals from the North had relocated to the county to break down this system of affairs.[46] In 1994, Republicans won their first majority on the county commission in over 100 years.[47] In 2009, Republicans won a majority on the Wake County Board of Education. Their majority lasted only two years due to several controversies including a student reassignment plan, and Democrats retook control of the board in 2011.[48]

In 2008, the county swung hard to Barack Obama, who defeated John McCain 56 to 43 percent. Obama became the first Democrat since Lyndon Johnson to win a majority of the county's vote. In 2012, Obama won Wake County again over Mitt Romney with 54 percent of the vote to Romney's 44 percent – the first time in almost half a century that a Democrat carried the county in consecutive elections. Obama's performance in Wake mirrored his strong showing along Interstate 85. In 2016, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won the county 57 percent to Donald Trump's 37 percent, and in 2020 Joe Biden won the county with 62 percent of the vote to Donald Trump's 36 percent, reflecting the nationwide shift towards Democrats in urban and suburban areas.[49][50] Biden's margin was the largest for a Democrat in the county since 1948. Trump was the first Republican in over 60 years to fail to receive at least 40 percent of the county's vote.

United States presidential election results for Wake County, North Carolina[51]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 236,735 36.22% 402,984 61.66% 13,861 2.12%
2020 226,197 35.80% 393,336 62.25% 12,297 1.95%
2016 196,082 37.16% 302,736 57.38% 28,806 5.46%
2012 211,596 43.50% 267,262 54.94% 7,569 1.56%
2008 187,001 42.28% 250,891 56.73% 4,353 0.98%
2004 177,324 50.83% 169,909 48.71% 1,611 0.46%
2000 142,494 53.13% 123,466 46.03% 2,260 0.84%
1996 108,780 48.18% 103,574 45.88% 13,401 5.94%
1992 86,798 41.84% 88,979 42.89% 31,690 15.27%
1988 81,613 56.87% 61,352 42.75% 539 0.38%
1984 81,251 61.61% 50,323 38.16% 297 0.23%
1980 49,768 47.31% 49,003 46.58% 6,422 6.10%
1976 44,291 49.89% 44,005 49.57% 479 0.54%
1972 56,808 70.32% 22,807 28.23% 1,174 1.45%
1968 28,928 43.08% 20,979 31.24% 17,250 25.69%
1964 22,542 41.59% 31,653 58.41% 0 0.00%
1960 18,436 41.44% 26,050 58.56% 0 0.00%
1956 15,194 40.39% 22,427 59.61% 0 0.00%
1952 15,057 39.16% 23,393 60.84% 0 0.00%
1948 4,850 19.86% 17,939 73.45% 1,634 6.69%
1944 3,996 18.13% 18,050 81.87% 0 0.00%
1940 2,665 12.84% 18,083 87.16% 0 0.00%
1936 2,456 11.01% 19,850 88.99% 0 0.00%
1932 2,170 12.56% 14,863 86.02% 246 1.42%
1928 6,720 41.84% 9,341 58.16% 0 0.00%
1924 2,975 25.14% 8,376 70.77% 485 4.10%
1920 3,653 31.29% 8,020 68.71% 0 0.00%
1916 2,461 34.70% 4,627 65.23% 5 0.07%
1912 282 4.86% 3,996 68.81% 1,529 26.33%
1908 2,961 44.30% 3,713 55.55% 10 0.15%
1904 1,267 26.96% 3,410 72.55% 23 0.49%
1900 3,947 45.18% 4,774 54.65% 15 0.17%
1896 4,675 46.19% 5,396 53.31% 50 0.49%
1892 1,987 22.98% 3,724 43.07% 2,935 33.95%
1888 5,029 52.23% 4,511 46.85% 89 0.92%
1884 4,291 47.45% 4,750 52.52% 3 0.03%
1880 4,622 51.46% 4,359 48.54% 0 0.00%
1876 4,441 50.72% 4,315 49.28% 0 0.00%

Democrats fared well in Wake County during the 2008 election. In the 1998 Senate race, John Edwards won in Wake County, which helped him defeat incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth. In 2000 Mike Easley won the governor's race here with 55% of the vote. In 2004, Easley won again, winning with 59 percent to 40 percent for opponent Patrick Ballantine. Democrat Beverly Perdue won Wake County in the 2008 Governor's election by a 51 to 45 percent margin. In 2002, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Elizabeth Dole defeated Democrat Erskine Bowles with 55% of the vote in Wake County, and won by a large margin statewide. However, in 2004, Bowles won the county with 52 percent, despite losing statewide to Richard Burr by the same margin. In 2008 Kay Hagan defeated Dole 56 to 40 percent.

Democratic strength is concentrated primarily in Raleigh. Republican strength is concentrated in the rural and exurban areas in the northern and western parts of the county. The outskirts of Raleigh, and the towns of Cary and Apex, are mostly home to swing voters.[52]

Economy

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Wake County's economy is heavily influenced by the Research Triangle Park (RTP), located between Durham and Raleigh. RTP is the country's largest industrial park and a primary center in the United States for high-tech and biotech research, as well as textile development. The park is home to more than 160 companies employing over 50,000 people.[53] The largest employers in the Park include IBM (11,000 employees), GlaxoSmithKline (6,400 employees), and Cisco Systems (3,400 employees).[54]

Wake County's industrial base includes electrical, medical, electronic and telecommunications equipment; clothing and apparel; food processing; paper products; and pharmaceuticals. The agriculture industry is visible in rural areas of the county, with tobacco, cotton, wheat, soybeans, and corn being the most common products grown.

SAS Institute, one of the largest privately held software companies in the world,[55] is located in Cary, and Raleigh is home to the headquarters of Fortune 500 retailer Advance Auto Parts. Other major companies based in Wake County include A10 Networks, Verizon, 3Dsolve, Carquest, Butterball, Cotton Incorporated, Epic Games, Lord Corporation, Lenovo Group (U.S. headquarters), Tekelec, Red Hat, Golden Corral and Martin Marietta Materials.

In 2007, Forbes magazine listed Raleigh and Cary among the best cities to find jobs in the United States,[56] as well as being the area ranked as the best place for business and careers.[57] Also in 2007, CNN ranked the region as the third best area for job growth, the top region for technology workers,[58] and Bizjournals.com ranked it as the fourth best place for young adult job seekers.[59]

On April 26, 2021, Apple Inc. announced that they would build a $1 billion hub in the Wake County portion of the Research Triangle Park. It is expected to house a 1,000,000 square foot facility and hire more than 3,000 people with a minimum average salary of $185,000 per year.[60]

Transportation

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Major highways

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  •   I-40 is the only major Interstate Highway that runs through the county. It offers direct access to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Cary, Garner, Morrisville, and Raleigh. It has two auxiliary routes in Wake County.
  •   I-42
  •   
          I-87 / Future I-87 will eventually connect I-40 to Norfolk, Virginia. Its Wake County section is concurrent with U.S. 64. The highway is currently signed as I-87 only where it already meets Interstate standards: along the Raleigh Beltline (where its southern terminus is at I-440's Exit 16 and I-40's Exit 301) and along the Knightdale Bypass, which runs from I-440 to the Business 64 exit between Knightdale and Wendell. East of this point, the road is a controlled-access freeway but does not meet interstate standards, so it is marked with "Future" I-87 signs. The "future" designation will be removed as the road is eventually upgraded by improving the road's shoulders, which are currently too narrow to qualify for an Interstate Highway designation. There is no timetable for these improvements.[61] Interstate 87 will run along the same routing, and will eventually will be extended along US 64, US 17, and other roads (some yet to be built) to Norfolk.
  •   I-440 is the northern, western, and eastern portion of the "Beltline" that encircles most of central Raleigh. The southern portion of the Beltline is I-40.
  •   
          I-540 / NC 540 Toll is a 66-mile (106 km) partially completed loop that currently connects the satellite towns of Knightdale, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, and Holly Springs. The completed portion in northern Wake County is called the Northern Wake Expressway (I-540). It continues as a non-Interstate route, NC 540, in western Wake County, almost all of which is a toll road. The remaining segments to be constructed will also be designated as NC 540 and will be tolled, with an approximate cost of $2.2 billion.[62]
  •  
          Future I-587
  •   
          I-885 / NC 885 Toll (originally NC 147 Toll)
  •   US 1
  •   US 64
  •  
          US 64 Bus.
  •   US 70
  •  
          US 70 Bus.
  •   US 264
  •   US 401
  •  
          US 401 Bus.
  •   NC 39
  •   NC 42
  •   NC 50
  •   NC 54
  •   NC 55
  •   NC 96
  •   NC 97
  •   NC 98
  •  
          NC 98 Bus.
  •   NC 231

Bicycles routes

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The "Mountain to Sea" North Carolina Bicycle Route 2 travels through Wake County, as does the Maine-to-Florida U.S. Bicycle Route 1. North Carolina Bicycle Route 5, the "Cape Fear Run", connects Apex to the coastal city of Wilmington.

Major infrastructure

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Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located in the center of Research Triangle Park

Education

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Higher education

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North Carolina State University Memorial Belltower

Wake County is home to eight institutions of higher learning. They include Meredith College, North Carolina State University, Campbell University's Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Peace College, Saint Augustine's College, Shaw University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Wake Technical Community College.

The State Library of North Carolina is an institution which serves North Carolina libraries, state government employees, genealogists, and the citizens of North Carolina. There are two locations in Raleigh.

Primary and secondary education

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Public education in Wake County is administered by the Wake County Public School System, the 15th largest public school district in the country with over 155,000 students.[66] There are 27 high schools, 33 middle schools, 104 elementary schools, and eight specialized schools. In addition, nine charter schools and 31 private schools are located in the county.

Libraries

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The Wake County Public Library system operates 22 branches throughout the county. There are 11 facilities in Raleigh. Cary and Apex each have two facilities. Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Wake Forest, Zebulon, Knightdale and Wendell each have one library facility. The Wake County library system keeps books, periodicals, and audio books and has recently expanded the selection to include downloadable e-books.[67]

Healthcare

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Wake County is served by three healthcare systems: WakeMed Health & Hospitals, UNC Rex Healthcare, and Duke Raleigh Hospital.

In addition to WakeMed's Raleigh main campus, the system operates two community hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, a mental health hospital and four outpatient "healthplexes" with full-service ERs in the county. [68]

Culture

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Museums

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Performing arts

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A number of outdoor concert venues regularly host major international touring acts. Among these are Coastal Credit Union Music Park, located in Southeast Raleigh, Red Hat Amphitheater, located in downtown Raleigh, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, located in Cary, and the North Carolina Museum of Art's Amphitheater, located in West Raleigh. Numerous smaller theaters and clubs also host concerts throughout the county. Occasionally the larger sporting venues such as PNC Arena and Carter-Finley Stadium do as well.

The Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts complex houses the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, the Fletcher Opera Theater, the Kennedy Theatre, and the Meymandi Concert Hall. Theater performances are also offered at the Raleigh Little Theatre, Theatre in the Park and Stewart Theater at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Applause! Cary Youth Theatre, Cary Players Community Theatre, Sertoma Amphitheater at Bond Park, are located in Cary. Other theaters and performing arts locations include The Halle Cultural Arts Center in Apex and Garner Historic Auditorium in Garner. Local colleges and universities add to the options available for viewing live performances.

Wake County is home to several professional arts organizations, including the North Carolina Symphony, the Opera Company of North Carolina, the North Carolina Theatre, and Carolina Ballet.

Visual arts

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The North Carolina Museum of Art, occupying a large suburban campus on Blue Ridge Road near the State Fairgrounds, houses one of the premier public art collections between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. In addition to collections of American art, European art, African art, and ancient art,[69] the museum recently has hosted major exhibitions featuring Auguste Rodin (in 2000) and Claude Monet (in 2006–07), each attracting more than 200,000 visitors.[70][71] The museum is currently hosting a special exhibition of contemporary installation art called You Are Here: Light, Color, and Sound Experiences.[72] Unlike most public museums, the North Carolina Museum of Art acquired a large number of the works in its permanent collection through purchases with public funds. The museum's outdoor park is one of the largest such art parks in the country.[73]

Located in downtown Raleigh, the Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh offers a continuously rotating and updated exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and multimedia.

Sports

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Professional

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Carolina Hurricanes hockey game at the RBC Center, now (PNC Arena)

The National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes franchise moved to Raleigh in 1999 from their temporary home of Greensboro, after having departed Hartford, Connecticut, in 1997. Their home arena, the PNC Arena, also hosts concerts and other public events. The Hurricanes are the only major league (NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB) professional sports team in North Carolina to have won a championship, winning the Stanley Cup in 2006, over the Edmonton Oilers.

North Carolina FC of the United Soccer League and the affiliated women's team North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League are located in Cary and play at the WakeMed Soccer Park. The Courage is the reigning NWSL Shield Winner and NWSL Champion, breaking the NWSL season record for most wins, points, and goals in the process.[74]

The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team located in eastern Wake County. Their ballpark, Five County Stadium, is located in Zebulon.

The Research Triangle region has hosted the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Nationwide Tour Rex Hospital Open since 1994, with the current location of play at Raleigh's Wakefield Plantation. In 2024 The Rex Hospital Open was changed to the UNC Health Championship and is now played at Raleigh Country Club, located on just east of downtown Raleigh.

College

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North Carolina State University, which is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, plays their home basketball games at the PNC Arena and home football games at Carter–Finley Stadium.

Other institutions of higher learning that compete in competitive sports include St. Augustine's College (NCAA Division II, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)), Meredith College (NCAA Division III and USA South Athletic Conference), William Peace University (NCAA Division III, USA South Athletic Conference), Shaw University Division II, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)), and Wake Technical Community College (NJCAA).

Amateur

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The Raleigh Cú Chulainn, which includes a Hurling team and a Gaelic football team, is based in Wake County. The football team won the 2014 Men's Junior Championship in North American Gaelic Athletic Association competition.

The North Carolina Tigers, an Australian Rules football club in the United States Australian Football League (USAFL) and competing in the Eastern Australian Football League (EAFL), are based in Raleigh.

Wake County is also home to the Carolina Rollergirls, an all-women flat-track roller derby team that is a competing member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The Carolina Rollergirls compete at the North Carolina State Fairground's Dorton Arena.

Because of the area's many billiards rooms, Raleigh is home to one of the largest amateur league franchises for playing pool, the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill American Poolplayers Association. There are leagues available in eight-ball, nine-ball, and Masters formats for players of any skill level.

The USA Baseball National Training Complex is located in Cary.

Home of the Capital City Steelers three time national champions of Pop Warner Football.

Also featured in Raleigh/Durham is the Carolina Phoenix, Women's Professional Tackle Football team.

Communities

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Map of Wake County with municipal and township labels

Cities

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  • Durham (small part; mostly in Durham County)
  • Raleigh (state capital, county seat, and largest community in the county; small part in Durham County)

Towns

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Townships

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Unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Wake County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Christie, Les. "Wake County, North Carolina". CNN. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  3. ^ "The 258 fastest growing U.S. cities". CNN. June 27, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ Johnson 2009, p. 5.
  6. ^ Connor, R.D.D. (1913). A Manual of North Carolina (PDF). Raleigh: North Carolina Historical Commission. p. 453-. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  7. ^ "Joel Lane House". United States National Park Service.
  8. ^ a b Johnson 2009, p. 77.
  9. ^ Tippett, Rebecca (March 26, 2015). "What you need to know about the 2014 population estimates". Carolina Demography. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Reeves, Jeff (November 13, 2017). "Shifting Wake/Harnett county line could affect dozens". WNCN. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  11. ^ Newland, Maggie (March 28, 2018). "Homeowners in Wake, Harnett could be switching counties after map redrawing". CBS17.com. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "Deal struck on Wake, Harnett, Chatham lines". WRAL.com. May 15, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  14. ^ – Wake County Facts & Numbers Archived March 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Wakegov.com.
  15. ^ "Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park". raleighnc.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  16. ^ "Blue Jay Point County Park". Wake County Government. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  18. ^ "A Forest Runs Through It". College of Natural Resources News. January 6, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  19. ^ "Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park". Fuquay-Varina, NC. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  20. ^ "Forest Ridge Park". raleighnc.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  21. ^ "Harris Lake County Park". Wake County Government. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  22. ^ "Hilltop Needmore Town Park & Preserve". Fuquay-Varina, NC. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Robertson Millpond Preserve". Wake County Government. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  24. ^ "Sandy Pines Preserve". Wake County Government. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  25. ^ "Turnipseed Nature Preserve". Wake County Government. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  26. ^ "Beaver Dam Lake in North Carolina". Paddling.com. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  27. ^ "Lake Benson Park". www.garnernc.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  28. ^ "LakeBetz". LakeBetz. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  29. ^ "Lake Johnson Park". raleighnc.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  30. ^ "Lake Wheeler Park". raleighnc.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  31. ^ "Harris Lake Hours & Information". Wake County Government. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  32. ^ N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation: – Welcome to Falls Lake State Recreation Area Archived March 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Ncparks.gov.
  33. ^ N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation: – Welcome to William B. Umstead State Park Archived March 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Ncparks.gov.
  34. ^ N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation: Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Ecology Archived March 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Ncparks.gov (September 23, 2012).
  35. ^ Links Archived January 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Wakegov.com.
  36. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  37. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  38. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  39. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  40. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wake County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  41. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wake County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  42. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wake County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  43. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  44. ^ a b "Commission Facts". WakeGOV.com. Wake County. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  45. ^ a b Johnson, Anna (November 5, 2020). "2 newcomers to be commissioners in Wake County". The News & Observer. p. B5.
  46. ^ Sherman 2012, pp. 80–81.
  47. ^ "Conservatives take Wake board". The Herald Sun (Raleigh extra ed.). November 13, 1994. p. 38.
  48. ^ Parcel & Taylor 2015, pp. 109–110.
  49. ^ "Wake County, NC General Election November 8, 2016". WakeGOV. December 9, 2016. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  50. ^ McMinn, Sean (November 27, 2018). "Where the Suburbs Moved Left – And How The Shift Swung Elections". KCUR. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  51. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  52. ^ Pathé, Simone (October 31, 2018). "The North Carolina Race That Wasn't Supposed to Be in Play". Roll Call.
  53. ^ The Research Triangle Park Archived January 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  54. ^ The Research Triangle Park
  55. ^ About SAS | SAS Archived August 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  56. ^ Clark, Hannah. "By The Numbers: The 25 Best U.S. Cities For Jobs". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  57. ^ "#1 Raleigh NC". Forbes. April 5, 2007.
  58. ^ "America's best jobs in the hottest markets". CNN. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  59. ^ "bizjournals: Rank of large metros for young adult job seekers". Archived from the original on June 29, 2008.
  60. ^ Brown, Joel; Kaplan, Jonah (April 26, 2021). "Apple unveils $1B investment to build east coast hub in Research Triangle, create at least 3,000 jobs". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  61. ^ "North Carolina Gets a New Interstate, with the I-495 Designation near Raleigh". NCDOT News Releases. North Carolina Department of Transportation. December 12, 2013. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  62. ^ "NCDOT: Complete 540". NCDOT. August 25, 2022. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  63. ^ Raleigh-Durham International Airport Archived September 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  64. ^ "RDU Tops All-Time Passenger Traffic Record". Raleigh-Durham International Airport. January 24, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  65. ^ "(5W5) Triple W Airport". www.aopa.org. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  66. ^ "District Facts / Overview".
  67. ^ Library Locations. Wakegov.com.
  68. ^ "About Us | WakeMed".
  69. ^ "Raleigh Attractions". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  70. ^ Lemberg, David. (September 2, 2006) ARTSCAPE: Dr. Lawrence Wheeler, Director, North Carolina Museum of Art, 8-25-06 Archived November 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Artscapemedia.com.
  71. ^ Monet Exhibit Sets New Attendance Record at N.C. Museum of Art. WRAL.com (January 15, 2007).
  72. ^ "You Are Here: Light, Color, and Sound Experiences | North Carolina Museum of Art". ncartmuseum.org. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  73. ^ North Carolina Museum of Art – The Museum Park Archived February 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  74. ^ "NC COURAGE BREAK MULTIPLE NWSL RECORDS IN 5-0 WIN OVER HOUSTON DASH". September 8, 2018. Archived from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.

Works cited

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Further reading

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  • "Wake County", Branson's North Carolina Business Directory...1867-68, Raleigh, NC: Branson & Jones, p. 105 – via hathitrust.org
  • "Wake County", Branson's North Carolina Business Directory, 1896, Raleigh, NC: Levi Branson, 1884, p. 606 – via archive.org
  • "Wake County", North Carolina Year Book and Business Directory, 1916, Raleigh, N.C.: News and Observer Publishing Company – via hathitrust.org
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wake County, North Carolina.
 
Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Wake County, North Carolina.
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