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75-528: Fuquay-Varina ( / ˈ f juː k w eɪ v ə ˈ r iː n ə / FYOO -kway vuh- REE -nuh ) is a town in southern Wake County, North Carolina , United States, lying south of Holly Springs and southwest of Garner , and north of the Harnett County town of Angier and west of the unincorporated community of Willow Springs . The population was 17,937 at the 2010 census , and estimated at 36,736 as of July 2021. The hyphenated name attests to

150-414: A register of deeds , who is responsible for maintaining legal records including property deeds, birth certificates, and marriage licenses. The first professional county manager was hired in 1965. Wake County is a member of the regional Triangle J Council of Governments . For much of the 20th century, Wake County was politically dominated by conservative Democrats , many of them wealthy Raleighites. By

225-462: 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. 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

300-597: A historic park. Lexie McLean owned and operated McLean's Grocery on Academy Street for many years. McLean was a community leader and considered a major factor in the growth and development of the Fuquay-Varina area. Edward N. Farnell was the principal of the Fuquay Spring High School from 1952 through 1967. Farnell was an important community leader and educator; many of his students went on to become community and state leaders. From 1970 to 2000,

375-534: 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

450-429: 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

525-486: A publicly funded charter school serving grades 6 through 12, is also located in Fuquay-Varina. Hilltop Christian School is a private school located in the town. The area is served by Wake Technical Community College , located between Fuquay-Varina and Raleigh. The enrollment was approximately 64,000 as of 2024. Two state routes and one U.S. route run through Fuquay Varina. All three routes occupy part of Main Street in

600-423: A tribe called Sippihaw, there are historical accounts in the area of a tribe called Susippihaw. Around 1858, while plowing the fields of the family tobacco farm, Stephen Fuquay, son of William, discovered a spring . Originally the spring was used solely for drinking water. Stephen soon came to the conclusion that the mineral water flowing from the springs had healing properties. As word spread, locals began to help

675-433: A two-year term. The mayor is elected at-large for a two-year term, and serves as chairman of the board. The mayor and commissioners are elected on a nonpartisan basis. Wake County, North Carolina 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, making it North Carolina's most populous county . From July 2005 to July 2006, Wake County

750-608: Is Blake Massengill, who was elected in 2021 with 50% of the vote over Commissioner Bill Harris. Prior to being elected as mayor, Blake served as Mayor Pro-Tem for six years. Fuquay-Varina is also the former hometown of Internet personalities Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal , who moved their studio there in 2010, as well as Link who until then lived in Apex, North Carolina . In addition to the Ben-Wiley Hotel, Fuquay Springs Historic District, and Varina Commercial Historic District,

825-591: 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. As of

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900-668: Is an institution which serves North Carolina libraries, state government employees, genealogists , and the citizens of North Carolina. There are two locations in Raleigh. 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. 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

975-700: 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. Prior to English colonization, present-day Wake County was part of the Tuscarora nation. Wake County was formed in 1770 from parts of Cumberland County , Johnston County , and Orange County . The first courthouse

1050-525: 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 km ) Falls Lake and 26,000 acres (110 km ) of woodlands. 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 km ) of woodlands. Jordan Lake Park, which

1125-566: Is land and 0.08 square miles (0.2 km), or 0.51%, is water. Fuquay-Varina 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. Its central Piedmont location situates Fuquay-Varina approximately three hours west of Atlantic Beach by car and four hours east of

1200-446: Is land and 22.43 square miles (58.1 km ) (2.62%) is water. 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

1275-495: Is one of the largest such art parks in the country. Located in downtown Raleigh, the Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh offers a continuously rotating and updated exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and multimedia. Mercantile Stores Company, Inc. Each store offered a wide selection of merchandise with special emphasis placed on fashion apparel, accessories and fashion home furnishings. This

1350-435: Is partially located in Wake County near Apex, contains 13,940-acre (56.4 km ) Jordan Lake and 46,768 acres (189.26 km ) of woodlands. This park is known for being home to bald eagles . There are 152 county parks, city parks, public swimming and public tennis facilities in Wake County. In addition, there are 53 community centers . Notable parks include Pullen Park and Yates Mill Park . The American Tobacco Trail

1425-729: 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. 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

1500-430: The 2020 census , 1,129,410 people, 419,361 households, and 279,243 families were residing in the county. At the 2018 census estimate , 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/km ). The 458,953 housing units had an average density of 311 units per square mile (120 units/km ). The racial makeup of

1575-583: The Fuquay Mineral Spring , Fuquay Springs High School , Fuquay Springs Teacherage , Fuquay-Varina Woman's Club Clubhouse , J. Beale Johnson House , Kemp B. Johnson House , Jones-Johnson-Ballentine Historic District , and Wayland H. and Mamie Burt Stevens House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 34,152 people, 9,494 households, and 7,150 families residing in

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1650-509: The Great Smoky Mountains . Fuquay-Varina 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 (15 °C) or warmer winter day may occur. Spring and fall days usually reach

1725-653: 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 . Raleigh was named after Sir Walter Raleigh , and established in 1792 on 1,000 acres (4.0 km ) purchased from Lane. Raleigh had never set foot in North Carolina, but he had sponsored

1800-744: The Varina Commercial Historic District . Area landmarks located in these districts include the Ben-Wiley Hotel , the Ballentine-Spence House, and the Dr. Wiley S. Cozart House, built across the street from the springs by the original owner and proprietor of the Ben Wiley. The springs are now contained in a small park developed on the site in 1945 which was handed over to the town in 1998 to maintain as

1875-577: The 1980s, enough socially-liberal Democrat and Republican professionals from the North had relocated to the county to break down this system of affairs. In 1994, Republicans won their first majority on the county commission in over 100 years. 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

1950-529: 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

2025-608: The Bank of Fuquay (now Fidelity Bank). Several warehouses for the growing tobacco business were built in town over the next few years, capitalizing on the railroad connections. Another supply store and a knitting factory followed. As Varina came into its own as a hub for area agriculture, the Fuquay Springs Corporation was formed and began bottling and selling mineral water from the springs commercially. Area businesses continued to develop and, in 1927, U.S. Route 401

2100-636: 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. 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. Despite being selected by

2175-777: 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

2250-819: 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

2325-422: The Park include IBM (11,000 employees), GlaxoSmithKline (6,400 employees), and Cisco Systems (3,400 employees). 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

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2400-462: 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. 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

2475-421: The age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99. In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under

2550-460: The age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 42,903, and the median income for a family was $ 49,531. Males had a median income of $ 35,497 versus $ 28,551 for females. The per capita income for

2625-514: The area today includes numerous residential communities and commercial sites along the major roadways into town, many of the older structures from its past remain within the town limits. The Victorian , Craftsman, and Colonial Revival homes constructed in the late 19th century and early 20th century are contributing structures to the Fuquay Springs Historic District , while the downtown shops and businesses are part of

2700-400: The area. This house, a local historic landmark, still stands today. The Fuquay Mineral Spring's popularity grew in the 1890s and around the start of the 20th century as local businessman John Mills developed the idea to offer "Moonlight Excursions" to the springs. He fitted flat rail cars with seats and offered nighttime train trips to southern Wake County from Raleigh. As more guests came to

2775-566: 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

2850-480: The best cities to find jobs in the United States, as well as being the area ranked as the best place for business and careers. Also in 2007, CNN ranked the region as the third best area for job growth, the top region for technology workers, and Bizjournals.com ranked it as the fourth best place for young adult job seekers. On April 26, 2021, Apple Inc. announced that they would build a $ 1 billion hub in

2925-597: The board in 2011. 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

3000-448: The coast as travel times decreased. During this time, however, the tobacco industry continued to drive the area economy, with five warehouses, a cotton buyer, and fifteen stores established by the end of the 1920s. The shared emphasis on agricultural and industrial growth brought the towns to a shared vision, and as their residents worked, played, and attended church together, the towns merged into Fuquay-Varina in 1963. While development in

3075-414: The coastal city of Wilmington . 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

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3150-524: 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. An agreement was reached regarding the adjustment of the Wake, Chatham , and Harnett county lines in May 2018. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 857.02 square miles (2,219.7 km ), of which 834.59 square miles (2,161.6 km )

3225-453: 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. 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. Democrats fared well in Wake County during

3300-512: 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

3375-447: The county. 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. Wake County

3450-562: The county. The outskirts of Raleigh, and the towns of Cary and Apex , are mostly home to swing voters. 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. The largest employers in

3525-552: The dances and celebrations. Hotels like the Ben Wiley Hotel (now called the Fuquay Mineral Spring Inn & Garden) catered to the out-of-towners and became as much a center of town life as the springs. In 1902, Sippihaw was renamed "Fuquay Springs" in honor of its founding family and was officially incorporated in 1909. When it was incorporated, the new Fuquay Springs town limits included the core of

3600-723: 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. 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

3675-475: The first postmaster at the new post office in town in 1880, he named it "Varina" in her honor. A community grew just south of the springs, near the post office and the couple's Varina Mercantile Company general store . In time, it adopted the same name. Ballentine's business success allowed him to construct the Ballentine Spence House in 1910, the first house to have plumbing and electricity in

3750-514: 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

3825-409: 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 month is July. Frenchman William Fuquay first settled in the small farming town of Sippihaw, named for the original Native American tribe that inhabited the area. Although there is no history of

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3900-480: 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 . Wake County

3975-501: The main business district in town, and each goes in a different direction outside of the main business district. The town is served by the following parks: Fuquay-Varina is governed by a council-manager form of government. The current mayor is Blake Massengill while the town manager is Adam Mitchell. The Town Board serves as the main legislative body, whose members, called commissioners, are all elected at-large for staggered four-year terms, with one member serving as mayor pro ten for

4050-635: The most common products grown. SAS Institute , one of the largest privately held software companies in the world, 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

4125-499: 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. The museum is currently hosting a special exhibition of contemporary installation art called You Are Here: Light, Color, and Sound Experiences . 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

4200-614: The neighboring town of Varina, consisting of its business district and the rail junction of the Cape Fear and Northern Railway and the Norfolk Southern Railway . But Varina reestablished itself the following year when the Varina Union Station was erected and a new post office was created, spurred by the lobbying of Ballentine. Four years later, the Bank of Varina was established, competing directly with

4275-829: 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. 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 ,

4350-473: The population more than doubled, growing from 3,576 residents to 7,898. The population more than doubled again between 2000 and 2010, growing to 17,937 at the 2010 census. According to the NC State Data Center, Fuquay-Varina grew 23% from 2000 to 2003, making it the 26th fastest growing community in the state and the 11th fastest for those with populations over 5,000. The mayor of Fuquay-Varina

4425-411: 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. In August 2014, the county population surpassed 1,000,000 people. In November 2017, commissioners of Wake and Harnett counties discussed the possibility of redrawing the line between

4500-517: The springs establish this reputation, which brought residents from neighboring communities and counties to its waters. The springs were eventually walled in to better serve the tourists coming to the area by road or rail. In 1860, Fuquay sold the springs to a group of local investors who formed the Chalybeate Springs Company to market the attraction and its waters. At that time another Sippihaw resident, J. D. "Squire" Ballentine,

4575-413: The springs to "take the waters", a group of small hotels sprung up in town, along with restaurants, barbecue stands, and a dance pavilion with a player piano . The town became a tourist destination and was the site of special celebrations on Fourths of July and Easter Mondays. During these events, residents of Raleigh would take the train down to watch the accompanying baseball games and participate in

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4650-588: 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. 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

4725-449: 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 . Wake County enjoys

4800-550: The town was $ 20,268. About 9.0% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over. The town is served by seven public schools , administered by the Wake County Public School System . Public schools include Ballentine Elementary School, Fuquay-Varina Elementary School, Lincoln Heights Elementary School, Herbert Akins Road Elementary, Fuquay-Varina Middle School , Fuquay-Varina High School , and South Lakes Elementary School. Southern Wake Academy,

4875-537: The town's history as two separate towns. Fuquay Springs and Varina merged in 1963 to create the modern town. Economically, the town initially grew due to tobacco trade and agriculture, but has seen recent population growth and real estate development due to its proximity to Research Triangle Park . According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.5 km), of which 12.1 square miles (31.3 km)

4950-648: The town. As of the census of 2000, there were 7,898 people, 3,122 households, and 2,126 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,156.0 inhabitants per square mile (446.3/km). There were 3,375 housing units at an average density of 494.0 per square mile (190.7/km). The racial composition of the town was: 70.63% White , 24.40% Black or African American , 7.38% Hispanic or Latino American , 0.48% Asian American , 0.41% Native American , 0.02% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander , 2.94% some other race , and 1.15% two or more races . There were 3,122 households, out of which 36.8% had children under

5025-453: 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

5100-454: The whole county, each commissioner represents a district in which they live. 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. County voters also elect

5175-402: 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

5250-462: Was acquired by Dillard's of Little Rock, Arkansas, for $ 2.9 billion (~$ 5.06 billion in 2023). Later that year, Dillard's announced plans to sell off 26 of the newly acquired locations where there already were Dillard's stores to The May Department Stores Company and Proffitt's Inc. 39°19′24″N 84°29′32″W  /  39.32329°N 84.49216°W  / 39.32329; -84.49216 This United States retail business article

5325-539: Was aimed at middle and upper-middle income consumers. In addition to its department store operations the company maintained a partnership position in five operating shopping center ventures. Each of these centers had a retail outlet of the company. The store chain was formed in 1914 out of the bankruptcy of H.B. Claflin & Company . Its stores were separated into two store chains, Associated Dry Goods - with brands such as Lord & Taylor and Hengerer's - and Mercantile Stores Company. In May 1998 Mercantile Stores

5400-530: 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,

5475-401: Was paved through town, shortening travel times to Raleigh and nearby communities. By this time, Fuquay Springs and Varina had become major trading hubs for southern Wake County as well as neighboring Harnett and Johnston counties. Yet improvements to automobiles and area roads caused a decline in tourism at the springs. Rather than visiting the springs, residents in the region chose to visit

5550-626: Was returning home from the Civil War . Ballentine had been the town's schoolmaster before going off to fight for the Confederate Army . During his tour of duty, he had received letters from one of many southern ladies who wrote to the troops to improve their morale. Originally signing her name "Varina", perhaps an homage to the wife of Jefferson Davis , Virginia Avery would later meet and fall in love with Ballentine. He continued to call her Varina throughout their life together. When he became

5625-510: Was the 9th-fastest growing county in the United States, with Cary and Raleigh being the 8th- and 15th-fastest growing communities, respectively. Its county seat is Raleigh , 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

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