Cary, North Carolina

Cary, North Carolina
Town of Cary

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Location in Wake County and the state of North Carolina.
Coordinates: 35°46′44″N 78°48′1″W / 35.77889°N 78.80028°W / 35.77889; -78.80028Coordinates: 35°46′44″N 78°48′1″W / 35.77889°N 78.80028°W / 35.77889; -78.80028
Country United States
State North Carolina
Counties Wake, Chatham
Founded 1750
Incorporated April 6, 1871
Government
 • Mayor Harold Weinbrecht (D)
Area
 • Total 54.4 sq mi (143.6 km2)
 • Land 54.3 sq mi (140.8 km2)
 • Water 1.1 sq mi (2.8 km2)  1.97%
Elevation 480 ft (146 m)
Population (2013 Census Estimate)
 • Total 151,088
 • Density 2,782.5/sq mi (1,073.1/km2)
Demonym(s) Caryite
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP Code 27511-27513, 27518, 27519
Area code(s) 919, 984
FIPS code 37-10740[1]
GNIS feature ID 1019552[2]
Website www.townofcary.org

Cary /ˈkɛəri/ is the seventh largest municipality in North Carolina. Cary is in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham. The town's population was 135,234 as of the 2010 census (an increase of 43.1% since 2000), making it the largest town and seventh largest municipality statewide.[3] The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town's population to be 151,088 as of July 1, 2013.[4] Cary is currently the second most populous incorporated town (behind only Gilbert, Arizona) in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, Cary was the 5th fastest growing municipality in the United States between September 1, 2006, and September 1, 2007.[5] Cary is often considered one of the safest major cities in the US, due to its extremely low crime rate at just 84 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.[6] Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina, has a violent crime rate of 648 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, almost 8 times higher than Cary.

Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill make up the three primary cities of the Research Triangle metropolitan region even though today Cary is the 3rd largest municipality in the metropolitan area. The regional nickname of "The Triangle" originated after the 1959 creation of the Research Triangle Park, primarily located in Durham County, four miles from downtown Durham. RTP is bordered on three sides by the city of Durham and is roughly midway between the cities of Raleigh and Chapel Hill, and three major research universities of NC State University, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Effective June 6, 2003, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) redefined the Federal statistical areas and dismantled what had been for decades the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, MSA and split them into two separate metro areas. This resulted in the formation of the Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area and the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metro Area.

The Research Triangle region encompasses OMB's Combined Statistical Area (CSA) of Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill in the central Piedmont region of North Carolina. As of 2012, the population of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill CSA was 1,998,808.[7] The Raleigh-Cary Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as of Census 2010 was 1,130,490.

Geography

Located in the Piedmont region of the eastern United States, Cary is near North Carolina's Research Triangle. It is edged on the north and east by Raleigh, on the north and west by Research Triangle Park and Morrisville, on the south by Apex and Holly Springs, and on the west by the Jordan Lake area. The town is hilly, with much of the undeveloped land covered in dense woods. Several creeks and small lakes dot the area, most notably Lake Crabtree in the north.

Cary is in the Humid Subtropical climate zone. It receives hot summers and mildly cold winters, with several months of pleasant weather each year. Temperature extremes here range from the negatives to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Hurricanes and tropical storms can affect Cary, usually after weakening substantially from being over land. Some, such as Hurricane Fran in 1996, have caused great damage in the area. Snow falls every year, averaging around 6 inches annually.

Nearly all of Cary is in western Wake County, with neighborhood-sized sections in the northeast corner of Chatham County.[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.5 square miles (112.6 km²). 42.1 square miles (109.0 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (3.17%) is water. More recent Cary records show that as of 2010 the town has a total area of 55.34 mi².[9]

Townscape

Cary is divided into distinct east and west sections. The eastern side, being older, contains the downtown area as well as the town's oldest neighborhoods. Several of the town's iconic buildings, such as the Ashworth Drug Store, Fidelity Building, and Page-Walker Hotel are found in the eastern part of town. The western side is much newer and is visibly the center of wealth in Cary. Almost completely suburbanized, the area features sprawling neighborhoods, parks, and lakes. Golf courses and mansions are commonplace, most notably those associated with the Preston community.

The Cary Town Hall
The Fidelity Bank and Ashworth Drug Store
Downtown Cary, on Chatham Street

History

Page-Walker Hotel (now local history museum).

Today's Cary began in 1750 as a settlement called Bradford's Ordinary. About 100 years later, the construction of the North Carolina Railroad between New Bern and Hillsborough went through the town, linking Bradford's Ordinary to a major transportation route.

Allison Francis "Frank" Page is credited with founding the town. Page was a Wake County farmer and lumberman. He and his wife, Catherine "Kate" Raboteau Page bought 300 acres (1.2 km2) surrounding the railroad junction in 1854 and named his development Cary, after Samuel Fenton Cary[10] (a former Ohio congressman and prohibitionist he admired). Page became a railroad agent and a town developer. He laid out the first streets in Cary and built a sawmill, a general store and a post office (Page became the first Postmaster). In 1868, Page built a hotel to serve railroad passengers coming through Cary. Cary was incorporated on April 6, 1871, with Page becoming the first mayor.[11] In 1879, the Raleigh and Augusta Air-Line Railroad (later the Seaboard, now CSX Transportation) arrived in Cary from the southwest, creating Fetner Junction just north of downtown and spurring further growth.

In the early years Cary adopted zoning and other ordinances on an ad-hoc basis to control growth and give the town structure. Beginning in 1971, the town created Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning to accommodate population growth related to the growth of Research Triangle Park nearby. A PUD allows a developer to plan an entire community before beginning development, thus allowing future residents to be aware of where churches, schools, commercial and industrial areas will be located well before such use begins. Kildaire Farms, a 967-acre (3.9 km2) Planned Unit Development in Cary, was North Carolina's first PUD. It was developed on the Pine State Dairy Farm by Thomas F. Adams, Jr. Adams named a section of Kildaire Farms "Farmington Woods" in their honor. The local government has placed a high value on creating an aesthetically pleasing town.

In addition to the Page-Walker Hotel, the Carpenter Historic District, Cary Historic District, Green Level Historic District, Ivey-Ellington House, and Nancy Jones House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[12]

Demographics

The Preston Clocktower in West Cary
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880316—
189042333.9%
1900333−21.3%
191038315.0%
192064568.4%
193090940.9%
19401,14125.5%
19501,44626.7%
19603,356132.1%
19707,686129.0%
198021,763183.2%
199043,858101.5%
200094,536115.6%
2010135,23443.1%
Est. 2014155,227[13]14.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

According to the 2010 Census, there were 135,234 people and 55,303 households in the town. As of 2013, the population has increased to 151,088.[15] The population was 73.1% White, 13.1% Asian, 8.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 2.6% were from two or more races. In addition, 7.7% were Hispanic or Latino, of any race.

The median household income for Cary as of 2011 was $110,609.

Prosperity

Over two-thirds (68.0%) of Cary residents (aged 25 and older) hold an associate degree or higher, and 60.7% of adults possess a bachelor's degree or higher. Cary has one of the lowest crime rates (79% less than North Carolina) in the state for municipalities of its size.[16][17] The home ownership rate (owner-occupied housing units to total units) is 72.8%. The western part of Cary, most notably the community of Preston, is particularly affluent and educated.

In 2013, Cary moved up in the latest rankings of safe U.S. cities and is now considered the third-safest among municipalities with populations of 100,000 to 499,999 behind Amherst, New York, and Irvine, California. according to CQ Press, publisher of the annual “City Crime Rankings 2008-2009: Crime in Metropolitan America.”

Cary's reputation as a community for affluent transplants from outside the South has led to humorous backronyms for its name such as "Concentrated Area of Relocated Yankees."[18] Data from the 2000 Census shows 29.2% of Cary residents are native to North Carolina. 55.2% were born in other states. Additionally, 15.6% of the town's population were born outside the United States.[19]

Government

Cary Town Hall.

Cary has a council-manager government; the mayor and council members serve a four-year term, with half of the council seats being up for election each odd-numbered year. Four of the six council seats are elected by district; the remaining two seats are at-large representatives.

The current town council consists of Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Representatives Jennifer Robinson (District A), Don Frantz (District B), Jack W. Smith (District C), Gale Adcock (District D), Lori Bush (at-large), and Ed Yerha (at-large).

On October 9, 2007, Harold Weinbrecht defeated then-mayor Ernie McAlister in the Cary, North Carolina, mayoral election of 2007. Citizen concern over the effect rapid growth was having on the town, especially on roads, schools, and the environment, led to McAlister's ouster.[20]

On December 26, 2009, The Nation published an article on secret prisons in the United States run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement where suspected illegal immigrants can be held indefinitely before deportation. It was alleged that at least one of these secret federal prisons is located in an office building in Cary.[21] A part of the federal government’s Department of Homeland Security, ICE has leased an office in Cary off Evans Road for more than 10 years. The town claims this location does not house detainees overnight. Other than protesters picketing the facility, thery acknowledge no issues associated with the Cary ICE office.[22]

Mayors

From 1871 to Present

Read left to right.

Name Years Name Years Name Years Name Years
A. F. Page[23] 1871 J. H. Adams 1884 R. J. Harrison 1887 John Nugeer 1897
E. C. Hayes 1900 A.R. McGarrity 1902 R. J. Harrison 1903 H. B. Jordan 1903
N. C. Hines 1910 J. M. Templeton, Jr. 1912 G. S. Leacock 1914 T. H. Taylor 1916
W. G. Crowder 1916 E. P. Bradshaw 1921 W. H. Atkins 1921–25 G. H. Jordan 1925
E. P. Bradshaw 1925 Dr. F. R. Yarborough 1927–28 A. N. Jackson 1928–29 H. H. Waddell 1929–33
Dr. J. P. Hunter 1933–35 M. T. Jones 1935 T. W. Addicks 1935 L. L. Raines 1937–47
R. W. Mayton 1935–37 Robert G. Setzer 1947–49 H. Waldo Rood 1949–61 Dr. W. H. Justice 1961–62
James Hogarth 1962–63 Dr. E. B. Davis 1963–69 Joseph R. Veasey 1969–71 Fred G. Bond 1971–83
Harold D. Ritter 1983–87 Koka E. Booth[24] 1987–1999 Glen Lang 1999–2003 Ernie McAlister 2003–2007
Harold Weinbrecht 2007–present

Climate

Climate data for Cary, North Carolina
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 80
(27)		 84
(29)		 94
(34)		 95
(35)		 99
(37)		 104
(40)		 105
(41)		 105
(41)		 104
(40)		 98
(37)		 88
(31)		 81
(27)		 105
(41)
Average high °F (°C) 50
(10)		 54
(12)		 62
(17)		 72
(22)		 79
(26)		 86
(30)		 89
(32)		 87
(31)		 81
(27)		 72
(22)		 62
(17)		 53
(12)		 70.6
(21.5)
Average low °F (°C) 30
(−1)		 32
(0)		 39
(4)		 46
(8)		 55
(13)		 64
(18)		 69
(21)		 67
(19)		 61
(16)		 48
(9)		 40
(4)		 33
(1)		 48.7
(9.3)
Record low °F (°C) −9
(−23)		 −2
(−19)		 11
(−12)		 23
(−5)		 29
(−2)		 38
(3)		 48
(9)		 46
(8)		 37
(3)		 19
(−7)		 11
(−12)		 0
(−18)		 −9
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.02
(102.1)		 3.47
(88.1)		 4.03
(102.4)		 2.8
(71)		 3.79
(96.3)		 3.42
(86.9)		 4.29
(109)		 3.78
(96)		 4.26
(108.2)		 3.18
(80.8)		 2.97
(75.4)		 3.04
(77.2)		 43.05
(1,093.5)
Source: http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNC0107[25]

Economy

Notable businesses

Cary Chamber of Commerce.

Top employers

According to the Town's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[26] the top employers in the town are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 SAS Institute 5,209
2 Fidelity Investments 2,200
3 Verizon 1,700
4 American Airlines Reservation Center 1,300
5 Town of Cary 1,222
6 WakeMed 1,185
7 Wake County Schools Administration 801
8 Siemens Medical Solutions USA 700
9 Austin Quality Foods/Kelloggs 684
10 HCL America 507

Education

Public schools

Cary public schools were established in the late 19th century and are now part of the Wake County Public School System. Based in Cary, the Wake County Public School System is the largest public school system in North Carolina.

Private schools

Higher education

Transportation

Public transit

Public transit within the town is provided by C-Tran, with six fixed-routes. There is also a door-to-door service for the senior citizens (60+) and riders with disabilities. GoTriangle operates fixed-route buses that serve the metropolitan region and connect to the local municipal transit systems in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

Intercity rail

Amtrak's Silver Star, Carolinian and Piedmont passenger trains stop at the Cary Amtrak station. They offer service to Charlotte, New York City, Miami, and intermediate points.

Bicycle

The League of American Bicyclists has designated Cary one of the fourteen recipients of the first Bicycle-Friendly Community awards for "providing safe accommodation and facilities for bicyclists and encouraging residents to bike for transportation and recreation".[27]

The Maine-to-Florida U.S. Bicycle Route 1 passes through suburban Cary, as does N.C. Bicycle Route #2, the "Mountains to Sea" route.

Mountain bike trails are available just north of Cary in Lake Crabtree County Park. Information on other trails in the area is available at www.trianglemtb.com.

Pedestrian

Cary Greenways and Trails maintains a network of sidewalks and paved trails connecting neighborhoods and parks throughout the town.[27] These greenways place strict requirements on environmental conditions to preserve a park-like atmosphere. In addition, standard sidewalks and paths exist throughout the town.

Air

The Raleigh-Durham International Airport, located north of Cary via Interstate 40 between Cary, Raleigh and Durham, serves Cary and the greater Research Triangle metropolitan region. Raleigh-Durham offers more than 35 destinations, serving approximately 9 million passengers per year.

Freeways and primary routes

Public recreation

Cary Tennis Park

Tennis

Golf

Events

Cultural

Sports

Honors and designations

Sister cities

Cary has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International: [37]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "Subcounty population estimates: North Carolina 2000–2009" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2010-06-22. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for Incorporated Places 2010 to 2013". United States Census Bureau.
  5. ↑ New Orleans Population Continues Katrina Recovery; Houston Leads in Numerical Growth, U.S. Census Bureau News, 2008-07-10
  6. ↑ Wallace, Nick (November 16, 2015). "The Safest Cities in America". SmartAsset. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Population Estimates 2012 Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  8. ↑ "Town of Cary Municipal Limits within Chatam County" (PDF). Chatham County Planning Department.
  9. ↑ "Town of Cary - Our Community". Cary, North Carolina. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  10. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 70.
  11. ↑ "Looking Back". Cary, North Carolina. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  12. ↑ Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  13. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20140815134909/http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk. Archived from the original on August 15, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ "10 safest places to live in the US". www.clevelandsecuritybloggers.com. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  17. ↑ Bourne, Joel. "Suburbia Unbound". National Geographic. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  18. ↑ "America's most unusual planned communities". CNN Money. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  19. ↑ "Money Magazine Article - Part 2". Cary Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on June 6, 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  20. ↑ Carlson, Kelcey (2007-10-09). "Town of CaryWeinbrecht Wins Upset in Cary Mayoral Race". WRAL News (Capitol Broadcasting Company). Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  21. ↑ Stevens, Jacqueline (2009-12-16). "America's Secret ICE Castles". The Nation (Katrina vanden Heuvel). Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  22. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20110628232324/http://www.townofcary.org:80/Departments/Administration/pio/factsheet-caryice.htm. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ↑ Cary History: Frank Page, CaryCitizen, April 22, 2010.
  24. ↑ Profile: Former Cary Mayor Koka Booth, CaryCitizen, June 30, 2010.
  25. ↑ Weather Channel. "Cary, NC Weather". Weather Channel. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
  26. ↑
  27. 1 2 "Greenways". Cary, North Carolina. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  28. ↑ Cary Parks: Sk8 Cary Skate Park, Cary, North Caroline. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  29. ↑ Cary Parks: MacDonald Woods, CaryCitizen, November 3, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Prestonwood Country Club". Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  31. ↑ "MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary, NC". Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  32. ↑ "All About Lazy Daze". Cary Citizen.
  33. ↑ NC Eid Festival
  34. ↑ "Best Places to Live 2006". CNN. 2006. Archived from the original on Dec 21, 2006. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  35. ↑ "Cary, NC". Best places to live. MONEY Magazine. July 6, 2006. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  36. ↑ "USAB National Training Complex". USA Baseball. 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  37. ↑ "Interactive City Directory". Sister Cities International. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  38. ↑ "House Membership: Representative Nathan Mathias" (PDF). Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved February 22, 2014.

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