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| Town of Cary | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cary |
| Settlement type | Town |
| Motto | "Planned for Tomorrow" |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | North Carolina |
| Subdivision type2 | County |
| Subdivision name2 | Wake County, Chatham County |
| Established title | Founded |
| Established date | 1750s |
| Established title2 | Incorporated |
| Established date2 | 1871 |
| Area total sq mi | 52.5 |
| Population total | 174721 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Timezone | Eastern Time Zone |
Town of Cary Cary is a municipality in Wake County, North Carolina, within the Research Triangle region near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. It is part of the Raleigh–Durham–Cary metropolitan area and developed from a 19th-century railroad stop into a suburban center associated with Research Triangle Park, IBM, SAS Institute, and Cary Academy. The town is recognized for suburban planning, technology employment, and regional cultural institutions.
The area was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples associated with the Siouan languages and later saw European settlement by families such as the Page family (North Carolina), with early roads connecting to Fayetteville, North Carolina and Hillsborough, North Carolina. Growth accelerated after the arrival of the North Carolina Railroad in the 1850s, paralleling developments in Charlotte, North Carolina and Greensboro, North Carolina. The town was incorporated in 1871 during the Reconstruction era alongside municipal changes in Raleigh and Durham; its name reflects ties to the Scotch-Irish community and regional leaders like Julian Carr and businessmen similar to those in Wilmington, North Carolina. Cary's 20th-century expansion paralleled the establishment of Research Triangle Park and firms such as IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, and Biogen, and followed broader trends seen in suburbs of Atlanta, Charlotte, and Richmond, Virginia. Historic properties include examples akin to those on the National Register of Historic Places in Wake County, North Carolina.
Cary lies on the Piedmont (United States) plateau between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Its geography features tributaries of the Neuse River and has proximity to Jordan Lake and Lake Crabtree. The town experiences a humid subtropical climate classified like nearby Raleigh–Durham International Airport with hot summers similar to Charlotte Douglas International Airport patterns and mild winters comparable to Wilmington, North Carolina. Storm impacts have included weather events tracked by agencies such as the National Weather Service and influenced by systems like Hurricane Fran and Hurricane Florence.
Cary's population growth mirrors trends in Wake County and the Research Triangle, attracting residents from Brazil, India, China, Mexico, and Korea as part of international migration to tech hubs like Silicon Valley equivalents, and contributing to diversity similar to Durham County. Census data recorded by the United States Census Bureau show rises in median household income reflecting comparisons with Chapel Hill and Raleigh. Residential patterns include neighborhoods developed by firms like Century Homes and planned communities resembling those in Reston, Virginia and Columbia, Maryland.
The local economy benefits from proximity to Research Triangle Park employers including SAS Institute, IBM, Cisco Systems, NetApp, Biogen, ABB Group, and government contractors associated with National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Institutes of Health projects in the region. Financial services presence is comparable to branches of Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and regional banks such as First Citizens BancShares. Retail corridors include centers like those managed by companies akin to Simon Property Group and grocery anchors similar to Harris Teeter and Whole Foods Market. Economic development initiatives have been coordinated with entities like the Wake County Economic Development office and regional chambers such as the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.
Cary uses a council-manager municipal structure common in North Carolina towns and has a town council and a professional town manager similar to arrangements in Raleigh and Chapel Hill. Local politics have engaged with state-level actors such as the North Carolina General Assembly and federal representatives in the United States House of Representatives from the North Carolina's congressional districts. Policy debates have intersected with statewide issues involving the North Carolina Department of Transportation, land-use planning influenced by models from Portland, Oregon and Maricopa County, Arizona, and litigation occasionally litigated in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Public education is administered by Wake County Public School System, which includes schools comparable to Green Hope High School and Cary High School as part of regional feeder patterns. Higher education institutions within commuting distance include Duke University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and William Peace University. Private and charter education options feature institutions like Cary Academy, legacy private schools similar to Cardinal Gibbons High School, and community colleges such as Wake Technical Community College. Continuing education and workforce training partnerships involve organizations like NCWorks and research collaborations with Research Triangle Institute.
Cary is served by major highways including Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 1, and is connected regionally by NC Highway 540 (the Raleigh Outer Loop) similar to arterial systems in Durham–Chapel Hill. Public transit links include GoTriangle bus routes, commuter services analogous to Triangle Transit, and regional rail proposals related to NC By Train corridors. Air travel is accessed via Raleigh–Durham International Airport and general aviation at facilities like Raleigh Exec Jetport; cycling and pedestrian planning references initiatives like those in Charlotte and Portland, Oregon.
Parks and recreation amenities include facilities akin to those managed by Wake County Parks, with greenways connected to Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and trails comparable to the American Tobacco Trail. Cultural venues and events tie to institutions such as the Koka Booth Amphitheatre, performing arts groups in the Durham Performing Arts Center tradition, and festivals similar to Artsplosure and Festival for the Eno. Sports and fitness culture features club teams and amenities comparable to those of UNC Athletics, youth sports leagues affiliated with organizations like USA Baseball and Little League Baseball, and golf courses designed in the tradition of regional country clubs.
Category:Cities in Wake County, North Carolina