Wake County, North Carolina

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Wake County
County
Southwest Raleigh, Raleigh, NC, USA - panoramio.jpg
Raleigh skyline
Wake County Courthouse - Raleigh, NC - DSC05816.JPG
Wake County Courthouse
State capitol.jpg
North Carolina State Capitol
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral - Raleigh, North Carolina 09.jpg
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral
New Hope Valley Railroad bridge in Bonsal.jpg
New Hope Valley Railway
NCSU Lit Bell Tower.JPG
NCSU Memorial Belltower
Water and boathouse at Umstead State Park 2014.jpg
William B. Umstead State Park
Wake County Flag.jpg
Flag
Wake County Seal.gif
Seal
Wake County, North Carolina logo.svg
Logo
Map of North Carolina highlighting Wake County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina in United States.svg
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°47′N78°39′W / 35.79°N 78.65°W / 35.79; -78.65
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of North Carolina.svg  North Carolina
Founded1771
Named for Margaret Wake
Seat Raleigh
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 Increase2.svg
 • Density1,300/sq mi (510/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 2nd, 4th, 13th
Website www.wake.gov

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]

Contents

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

Early history

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

18th century

Margaret Wake Tryon Margaret Wake Tryon.jpg
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

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

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

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

Wake County, North Carolina
Interactive map of Wake County
Neuse River NeuseRiverWakeCoNC.jpg
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

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

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Parks and recreation

Falls Lake State Recreation Area Falls Lake in August 2022 3.jpg
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area Jordan Lake Boat Ramp.jpg
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

State parks

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

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

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 10,192—
1800 13,43731.8%
1810 17,09627.2%
1820 20,10217.6%
1830 20,3981.5%
1840 21,1183.5%
1850 24,88817.9%
1860 28,62715.0%
1870 35,61724.4%
1880 47,93934.6%
1890 49,2072.6%
1900 54,62611.0%
1910 63,22915.7%
1920 75,15518.9%
1930 94,75726.1%
1940 109,54415.6%
1950 136,45024.6%
1960 169,08223.9%
1970 228,45335.1%
1980 301,32731.9%
1990 423,38040.5%
2000 627,84648.3%
2010 900,99343.5%
2020 1,129,41025.4%
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

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)439,160560,536645,02069.95%62.21%57.11%
Black or African American alone (NH)122,648182,793204,53519.53%20.29%18.11%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1,8212,5372,7600.29%0.28%0.24%
Asian alone (NH)21,18348,28796,6653.37%5.36%8.56%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)1783174530.03%0.04%0.04%
Other Race alone (NH)8421,7556,2100.13%0.19%0.55%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)8,02916,84645,5261.28%1.87%4.03%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)33,98587,922128,2415.41%9.76%11.35%
Total627,846900,9931,129,410100.00%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

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

North Carolina State Capitol North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh.jpg
North Carolina State Capitol
North Carolina State Legislative Building North-Carolina-Legislative-Building-20080321.jpeg
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

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 236,73536.22%402,98461.66%13,8612.12%
2020 226,19735.80%393,33662.25%12,2971.95%
2016 196,08237.16%302,73657.38%28,8065.46%
2012 211,59643.50%267,26254.94%7,5691.56%
2008 187,00142.28%250,89156.73%4,3530.98%
2004 177,32450.83%169,90948.71%1,6110.46%
2000 142,49453.13%123,46646.03%2,2600.84%
1996 108,78048.18%103,57445.88%13,4015.94%
1992 86,79841.84%88,97942.89%31,69015.27%
1988 81,61356.87%61,35242.75%5390.38%
1984 81,25161.61%50,32338.16%2970.23%
1980 49,76847.31%49,00346.58%6,4226.10%
1976 44,29149.89%44,00549.57%4790.54%
1972 56,80870.32%22,80728.23%1,1741.45%
1968 28,92843.08%20,97931.24%17,25025.69%
1964 22,54241.59%31,65358.41%00.00%
1960 18,43641.44%26,05058.56%00.00%
1956 15,19440.39%22,42759.61%00.00%
1952 15,05739.16%23,39360.84%00.00%
1948 4,85019.86%17,93973.45%1,6346.69%
1944 3,99618.13%18,05081.87%00.00%
1940 2,66512.84%18,08387.16%00.00%
1936 2,45611.01%19,85088.99%00.00%
1932 2,17012.56%14,86386.02%2461.42%
1928 6,72041.84%9,34158.16%00.00%
1924 2,97525.14%8,37670.77%4854.10%
1920 3,65331.29%8,02068.71%00.00%
1916 2,46134.70%4,62765.23%50.07%
1912 2824.86%3,99668.81%1,52926.33%
1908 2,96144.30%3,71355.55%100.15%
1904 1,26726.96%3,41072.55%230.49%
1900 3,94745.18%4,77454.65%150.17%
1896 4,67546.19%5,39653.31%500.49%
1892 1,98722.98%3,72443.07%2,93533.95%
1888 5,02952.23%4,51146.85%890.92%
1884 4,29147.45%4,75052.52%30.03%
1880 4,62251.46%4,35948.54%00.00%
1876 4,44150.72%4,31549.28%00.00%

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

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

Major highways

Bicycles routes

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

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located in the center of Research Triangle Park RDU-27527.jpg
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located in the center of Research Triangle Park

Education

Higher education

North Carolina State University Memorial Belltower NCSU Belltower.png
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

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

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

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

Museums

Performing arts

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

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

Professional

Carolina Hurricanes hockey game at the RBC Center, now (Lenovo Center) Hurricanes Home Ice.JPG
Carolina Hurricanes hockey game at the RBC Center, now (Lenovo Center)

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 Levovo Center, 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

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

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

Map of Wake County with municipal and township labels Map of Wake County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG
Map of Wake County with municipal and township labels

Cities

Towns

Townships

Unincorporated communities

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Person County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Person County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 39,097 as of the 2020 census. The county seat is Roxboro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnston County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Johnston County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 215,999. Its county seat is Smithfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Durham County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 324,833, making it the sixth-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Durham, which is the only incorporated municipality predominantly in the county, though very small portions of cities and towns mostly in neighboring counties also extend into Durham County. The central and southern parts of Durham County are highly urban, consisting of the city as well as several unincorporated suburbs. Southeastern Durham County is dominated by the Research Triangle Park, most of which is in Durham County. The northern third of Durham County is rural in nature. Durham County is the core of the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 2,368,947 in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knightdale, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Knightdale is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Knightdale has a population of 19,435, up from 11,401 in 2010. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town's population to be 17,843, as of July 1, 2019. Knightdale's population grew 10.4% from 2010 to 2013, making it the second fastest-growing community in the Research Triangle region for that time period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendell, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina

Wendell is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. It is a satellite town of Raleigh, the state capital. The population was 5,845 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cary, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, US

Cary is a town in Wake, Chatham, and Durham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is part of the Raleigh-Cary, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2020 census, its population was 174,721, making it the seventh-most populous municipality in North Carolina, and the 148th-most populous in the United States. In 2023, the town's population had increased to 180,010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morrisville, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Morrisville is a town located primarily in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population was 29,630. Morrisville is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region, located midway between the cities of Raleigh and Durham. The Research Triangle region encompasses the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area. The operational headquarters of Lenovo is located in the municipal limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zebulon, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Zebulon is the easternmost town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,903 at the 2020 census. Zebulon is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region. In May 2022, Zebulon was ranked North Carolina's second fastest growing town, only behind neighboring Wendell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Research Triangle</span> Geographic region of North Carolina, U.S.

The Research Triangle, or simply The Triangle, are both common nicknames for a metropolitan area in the Piedmont region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Anchored by the cities of Raleigh and Durham and the town of Chapel Hill, the region is home to three major research universities: North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, respectively. The "Triangle" name originated in the 1950s with the creation of Research Triangle Park located between the three anchor cities, which is the largest research park in the United States and home to numerous high tech companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Pines Regional Council</span>

The Central Pines Regional Council is one of the 17 regional North Carolina Councils of Governments established by the North Carolina General Assembly for the purpose of regional planning and administration. Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, it serves Moore, Lee, Chatham, Orange, Durham, Wake, and Johnston counties. In 2023, TJCOG underwent a rebranding and name change, and is now known as CPRC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 540 (North Carolina)</span> Beltway encircling Raleigh, North Carolina

Interstate 540 (I-540) and North Carolina Highway 540 (NC 540) are part of a partially completed beltway around the city of Raleigh in the US state of North Carolina, forming the Raleigh Outer Loop. When complete, the route will completely encircle the city, meeting its parent route of I-40 in two locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Highway System</span> Network of state-managed highways and roads

The North Carolina Highway System consists of a vast network of Interstate, United States, and state highways, managed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. North Carolina has the second largest state maintained highway network in the United States because all roads in North Carolina are maintained by either municipalities or the state. Since counties do not maintain roads, there is no such thing as a "county road" within the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Highway 54</span> State highway in North Carolina, US

North Carolina Highway 54 (NC 54) is a 55.0-mile-long (88.5 km) primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The highway serves the Research Triangle area, between Burlington and Raleigh, connecting the cities and towns of Chapel Hill, Durham, Morrisville and Cary. The highway also links the campuses of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Highway 55</span> State highway in North Carolina, US

North Carolina Highway 55 (NC 55) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It serves as a traffic artery connecting Durham with Cary and numerous small cities and towns in The Triangle on its way toward the Pamlico Sound. A portion of NC 55 extends through Research Triangle Park. NC 55 is a major artery in the central part of The Triangle region, and is a four lane, divided highway between Durham and Cary and Apex. NC 55 is also a divided highway between Apex and Fuquay-Varina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crabtree Creek (Neuse River tributary)</span> Stream in North Carolina, USA

Crabtree Creek is a tributary of the Neuse River in central Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The creek begins in the town of Cary and flows through Morrisville, William B. Umstead State Park, and the northern sections of Raleigh before emptying into the Neuse at Anderson Point Park, a large city park located in East Raleigh.

Lake Crabtree County Park is a park in Wake County, North Carolina. It is a forested area between Cary, Morrisville, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport, bounded by the northeastern shore of Lake Crabtree, I-40, and Aviation Parkway. The main entrance is on the Aviation Parkway side and is equipped with two playgrounds, a boat dock, bathrooms, an observation tower, and other amenities. A system of hiking and biking trails crosses through the park, with the most used one along the lakeshore. This trail connects the park entrance to the Black Creek Greenway-Old Reedy Creek Road intersection, near the entrance to William B. Umstead State Park.

The Triangle Expressway (TriEx) is the first modern toll road built in North Carolina, and one of the first toll roads in the United States built to use only electronic toll collection instead of toll booths. The overall freeway consists of three segments called the Triangle Parkway, the Western Wake Expressway, and the Southern Wake Expressway, totalling up to 32.4 miles (52.1 km) long. The six-lane Triangle Parkway extends Interstate 885 (I-885) 3.5 miles (5.6 km) via North Carolina Highway 885 (NC 885) in Durham County to meet North Carolina Highway 540 (NC 540) in Morrisville in Wake County. The Western Wake Expressway extends 12.4 miles (20.0 km) long, extending NC 540 to meet NC 55 in Apex. The Southern Wake Expressway extends 16.5 miles (26.6 km) long, extending NC 540 to meet I-40 and I-42 southeast of Garner.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners is the governing board for Wake County, which includes the City of Raleigh.

Walnut Creek is a 17.93 mi (28.86 km) long 4th order tributary to the Neuse River in Wake County. Its source is Maynard Pond in south-central Cary, and it flows generally eastward through several small reservoirs, including Lake Cramer in Cary as well as Lake Johnson and Lake Raleigh in Raleigh, before reaching its confluence with the Neuse just south of Poole Road in East Raleigh. The course of the creek closely parallels Interstate 40, running mostly along the north side of the freeway.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "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.
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  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. 1 2 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.
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  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.
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  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).
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Works cited

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