About Raleigh, North Carolina
The city of Raleigh, NC is one of two state capitals in the United States to have been a planned city.
The original one thousand acre purchase was chosen because it was close to the center of the state and because it was within 10 miles of Isaac Hunter’s Tavern and it was at the intersection of the state’s two highways.
The original tract was divided into an initial city of 400 acres which was further divided into one acre building lots and five public squares. Because the land was originally an oak forest, Raleigh is known today as the City of Oaks. It has also been called “a park with a city within it.”
Today the City of Raleigh has 130 parks and 27 miles of trails. In the spring, the woods abound with white dogwoods and often pink or red azaleas.
History
The city was named for the Englishman Sir Walter Raleigh who attempted to establish the 1st American Colony on Roanoke Island. He sent two expeditions, one in 1585 and intended to establish a colony in 1586, but they returned to England after exploring as far north as the Chesapeake Bay.
In 1587, he sent a 2nd colony that landed at Roanoke Island and the leader John White founds the “Cittie of Raleigh” and then returned to England. The colonists disappeared and what happened to them remains a mystery to this day.
It was August 4, 1788, that the Constitutional Convention voted to locate the new capital within 10 miles of Issac Hunter’s Wake plantation. In November of that year, Raleigh was chosen to be the name of the new capital. By 1800 the capital city’s population was 669.
A lesser known fact of the history is Sherman’s occupation of Raleigh during the last days of the civil war. This is probably because the city was not burned or destroyed like other southern capitals and towns.
General Sherman stayed in the Governor’s mansion while he negotiated the surrender of General Johnson’s confederate army. That surrender was the largest surrender of the war and it occurred at Bennett Place in Durham after Sherman entered and occupied Raleigh.
Climate
The climate of Raleigh is hot in summer and warm in winter. Raleigh does have four seasons, but it is rare to snowfall. When the snow does fall, schools close and sometimes grid lock ensues.
In January daytime temperatures average 50 degrees and in July the average temperature is 88 degrees.
Population
According to the city of Raleigh’s website, “Raleigh’s estimated population as of July 1, 2007 is 367,995. This estimate represents a population increase of 8,663 persons since January 1, 2007, when the Raleigh population was estimated to be 359,332 and an increase of 14,391 persons since July 1, 2006, when the Raleigh population was estimated to be 353,604. Annual growth in the period July 1, 2 2006 to July 1, 2007 represents a 4.07% annual increase.”
This represents the population within the city limits. Raleigh is located within Wake County and the population of Wake County reached had reached 786,522 residents by July 1, 2006 according to the Census Bureau estimates. The Triangle area of North Carolina that includes Chapel Hill and Durham is estimated to be over 1 million.
The Greater Raleigh Area
There are 11 neighboring cities and towns just outside the city of Raleigh that make up the greater Raleigh area. Each of these has its own history, charm, historic downtown, unique shopping, concerts in the park and other activities.
email Art for a free relocation package or The PolingTeam Home Buyer Guide.
email Art for a free relocation package or The PolingTeam Home Buyer Guide.
