Cary is the seventh-largest municipality in North Carolina. Cary is predominantly in Wake, with a small area in Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the county's second-largest municipality 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. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town's population to be 159,769 as of July 1, 2015. Cary is 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. In 2015 Cary had a low crime rate of 84 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina, had 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 metro areas of the Research Triangle metropolitan region. 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 the 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. 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. 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.
Nearly all of Cary is in western Wake County, with neighborhood-sized sections in the northeast corner of Chatham County.
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. As of 2010, Cary claims a total area of 55.34 mi².
Climate
Cary has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) under the Köppen climate classification system. 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.
Townscape
Cary is divided into distinct east and west sections. The older eastern side 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 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 McMansions are commonplace, most notably those associated with the Preston community.
History
In 1750, Cary began as a settlement called Bradford's Ordinary. About 100 years later, the North Carolina Railroad between New Bern and Hillsborough was constructed 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 (1.2Â km2) surrounding the railroad junction in 1854 and named his development Cary, after Samuel Fenton Cary (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. 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 (3.9Â 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.
Demographics
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. The population was 73.1% White, 13.1% Asian, 8.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 2.6% identified as having ancestry of 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.
Educated prosperity
More than 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. The home ownership rate (owner-occupied housing units to total units) is 72.8%.
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 backronyms for its name such as "Concentrated Area of Relocated Yankees." 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.
Government
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 single-member districts; the remaining two seats are elected as at-largerepresentatives, meaning they must attract a majority of votes across the whole town.
The current (as of December 2016) town council consists of Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Representatives Jennifer Robinson (District A), Don Frantz (District B), Jack W. Smith (District C), Ken George (District D), Lori Bush (at-large), and Ed Yerha (at-large).
On October 9, 2007, Harold Weinbrecht defeated incumbent mayor Ernie McAlister in the 2007 mayoral election. Citizen concerns that rapid growth was adversely affecting infrastructure and environment over the effect rapid growth was having on the town, especially on roads, schools, and the environment, led to McAlister's ouster.
On December 26, 2009, The Nation reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had secret prisons in the United States, where it held suspected illegal immigrants indefinitely before deportation. It reported that at least one of these secret federal prisons is allegedly located in an office building in Cary. Part of the federal government's Department of Homeland Security, ICE has leased an office in Cary for more than 10 years. The town says that no detainees are kept at this location overnight. Other than protesters of punitive ICE policies picketing the facility, the town does not acknowledge any issues associated with the Cary ICE office.
Mayors
- From 1871 to present
Read left to right.
Economy
Notable businesses
- 3Dsolve â€" Simulation software used in training by military, recently purchased by Lockheed Martin
- Arista Networks â€" Computer networking manufacturer
- Cotton Incorporated â€" Industry trade-group.
- Epic Games â€" Video game developer
- IntelliScanner Corporation â€" Home and small business organization products
- Lord Corporation â€" Diversified technology company
- SAS Institute â€" Large software company and Cary's largest employer
- Western Wake Medical Center â€" Private hospital
Top employers
According to the Town's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the town are:
Education
Public schools
Cary public schools were established in the late 19th century. Today they are 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.
- High Schools
- Cary High School
- Green Hope High School
- Middle Creek High School
- Panther Creek High School
- Middle Schools
- Davis Drive Middle School
- East Cary Middle School
- Mills Park Middle School
- Reedy Creek Middle School
- West Cary Middle School
- Elementary Schools
- Adams Elementary School
- Alston Ridge Elementary School
- Briarcliff Elementary School
- Carpenter Elementary School
- Cary Elementary School
- Davis Drive Elementary School
- Farmington Woods Elementary School
- Green Hope Elementary School
- Highcroft Drive Elementary School
- Hortons Creek Elementary
- Kingswood Elementary School
- Mills Park Elementary School
- Northwoods Elementary School
- Oak Grove Elementary School
- Penny Road Elementary School
- Reedy Creek Elementary School
- Turner Creek Elementary School
- Weatherstone Elementary School
Private schools
- Cary Academy, private middle/high school
- Cary Christian School
- Chesterbrook Academy
- Grace Christian School
- Hopewell Academy
- Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic School
- Resurrection Lutheran School, Kâ€"8th grade
- Landmark Christian Academy, K3â€"10th grade
- Cardinal Charter Academy, K-8th grade
Higher education
- Wake Technical Community College
Transportation
Public transit
Public transit within the town is provided by GoCary, with six fixed-routes. There is 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
In 2010 the League of American Bicyclists designated Cary as 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".
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. 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, 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
- Interstate 40
- U.S. 1
- U.S. 64
- State Highway 54
- State Highway 55
- State Highway 147
- State Highway 540
- State Highway 751
- Cary Parkway
- Kildaire Farm Road
- Walnut Street (which appears on some maps as Cary-Macedonia Road)
- High House Road
- Harrison Avenue
- Maynard Road Loop
- Davis Drive (links to Research Triangle Park)
- Holly Springs Road
Public recreation
- Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
- Page-Walker Hotel
- WakeMed Soccer Park, where the soccer team NCFC (formerly the Carolina RailHawks) of the NASL plays.
- William B. Umstead State Park
- USA Baseball National Training Complex
- Thomas Brooks Park
- Sk8 Cary Skate Park
- Fred G. Bond Metropolitan Park
- Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
- MacDonald Woods Park
- Walnut Street Park
- Jack Smith Park
Tennis
- Cary Tennis Park
- Recreation Club of Lochmere
Golf
- Lochmere Golf Club
- Prestonwood Country Club
- MacGregor Downs Country Club
- SAS Championship
Events
Cultural
- Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival
- Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival
- Cary Diwali Celebration - Festival of Light
- Ritmo Latino Music, Art and Dance Festival
- NC Eid Festival
- Cary Band Day
Sports
- 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2015 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship
- 2009-2014 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship
- 2011 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships
- 2012 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Tennis Championships
- Home to North Carolina FC of the North American Soccer League
Honors and designations
- Money Magazine Best Place to Live ranked Cary as #5 in the nation in 2006.
Sister cities
Cary has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:
- Markham, Ontario, Canada
- County Meath, Ireland
- Hsinchu City, Taiwan
- Le Touquet, France
- Wardha, India
Notable people
- Jesse Boulerice â€" former National Hockey League player
- Marshall Brain â€" founder of the HowStuffWorks website
- Héctor Cotto - Olympic athlete
- James Goodnight â€" co-founder and CEO of SAS Institute
- Ron Hendren - former co-host of Entertainment Tonight
- Walter Hines Page â€" former United States ambassador to the United Kingdom
- Justin Jedlica - model and businessman
- U. Alexis Johnson - senior Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State who was born in Kansas, resided here near the end of his life, and is buried in D.C.
- Nathan Macias - former member of the Texas House of Representatives; lived in Cary while in the United States Air Force
- Bevin Prince â€" actress from One Tree Hill
- John Sall â€" co-founder of SAS Institute
- Rysa Walker - award-winning author of the Chronos Files series
- Aaron Ward â€" former National Hockey League player
- Glen Wesley â€" former National Hockey League player
- Evan Rachel Wood - actress, Thirteen, True Blood, The Conspirator
- Kay Yow â€" former head coach of the women's basketball team at North Carolina State University
See also
- I-85 Corridor
References
External links
- Official website
- Cary Chamber of Commerce
- Cary on the Triangle Wiki
- Cary Downtown - Heart of Cary
- Community Website for parts of Cary in Chatham County