Raleigh

Raleigh was a typical southern capital thirty years ago - more like a sleepy town than a major city. In the mid 1960's it began to change. Often described as a city within a park, Raleigh is the country's only pre-planned and deliberately developed state capital. Designated an All American City, it is a city attracting national attention. Growth has been extensive. Today, this vital and thriving city is one of the nation's success stories, offering a diverse and sophisticated quality of life.

Situated in Wake County in the geographic center of the state, Raleigh is 12 miles from Research Troangle Park. With a population of 250,000, Raleigh is the largest of eleven municipalities in Wake County. It is the second largest city in North Carolina and the largest community in the Triangle Region.

Since the 1960's, over 100 companies have moved into the capital city or expanded existing operations. Nearly 150 additional companies have located in other Wake County communities. Go to our Employment page to find information about the largest employers in the area.

Raleigh is home to North Carolina State University, an outstanding college known for research in the applied sciences. Six other colleges and universities are located within the city's borders. The names and phone numbers of these fine institutions are listed on the Colleges and Universities page.

There is one county-wide consolidated public school system employing a neighborhood attendance plan. A school of choice Magnet Program offers parents an educational alternative. Information about the Wake County Schools can be found on our Schools page.Shopping is plentiful. Numerous malls and centers, some of the largest in the Southeast, are conveniently located in Wake County. A listing of the more popular shopping areas in and around Raleigh can be found on the Shopping page.

Lauded as "The Best Place to Live in America" by Money magazine in 1994 and as "The Best City for Business" by Fortune magazine in 1993, the 3,500 square mile Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metro area provides its people and enterprises with a world-class combination of economic vitality, educational opportunity, environmental quality and community quality-of-life. The accolades that have been bestowed on Raleigh-Durham did not occur by chance but are due to extensive effort and long term investment on the part of the businesses, universities and governments within the region.