Other Communities In The Area Apex Located in southwestern Wake County, Apex is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Triangle. With only 5,000 residents in 1990, Apex has grown to more than 30,000 residents today. In fact, Apex is anticipated to double its population within the next decade. In order to accommodate its rapid growth, city leaders are making sure that the unique and historical city doesn’t lose its small-town charm. Attracting families and businesses alike, Apex is within close proximity to all the amenities the Triangle has to offer including shopping, businesses, entertainment and sports venues. Settled around 1867, Apex incorporated in 1873 and earned its name from being the highest point on the Chatham Railroad between Richmond, Va. and Jacksonville, Fla. In the early days, Apex was a shipping point for forest products including lumber, tar and turpentine. As the railroad fostered more growth, Apex became a hub for another product: tobacco. Apex celebrates its history as a railroad town and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for being one of the few turn-of-the-century railroad towns still intact. This includes the Apex train depot, which was built sometime between 1867 and 1873. Beyond this, the city has recently restored its downtown, which features a number of 19th-century buildings. With “Peak of Good Living” as its motto, Apex celebrates each year with a street festival held on the first Saturday in May each year. Called “Peak Week,” the festival features arts and crafts, food, children’s activities and live music. Also, the Apex train depot stages concerts during the spring, summer and fall and offers a diverse selection of music. For those who love the outdoors, Apex includes nine town-owned parks. Covering 160 acres, Apex Community Park features a range of playing fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts and playgrounds. Also a two-mile walking/running trail runs along the lake, which is more than 50 acres. Although only kayaks and canoes are permitted on the lake, fishing is allowed with a permit. Clayton Clayton, the second-largest town in Johnston County, is 15 minutes west of Raleigh along U.S. 70. Home to 10,000 people, Clayton was built on the road cut by Gov. Tryon’s troops as they marched from New Bern to Hillsborough in 1770. Today it is a thriving Raleigh suburb and the second-largest town in Johnston County. Agriculture has been a mainstay of the community due to the soil and climate conditions in Clayton. Research farms and laboratories have been established in the area because of Clayton’s proximity to North Carolina State University, the state Department of Agriculture and Research Triangle Park. With expansion and rapid residential growth, Clayton continues to be a prosperous town in which to live and work. One local hot spot in the heart of the historic downtown is the Coffee Mill – known to be a great place for meeting old friends and making new ones while sharing coffee and a muffin or a fruit smoothie and a salad. There’s live music every Friday and Saturday night (with many local performers, but also some from Chicago or New York). In addition to the homes in town, the Riverwood neighborhood features townhomes and single-family homes ranging in price from $90,000 to $400,000. There is a 27-hole golf course and a new athletic and aquatic club. Garner Garner is Wake County’s third-largest municipality, located eight miles south of Raleigh along I-40 or U.S. 70. With some 20,000 residents and growing, Garner keeps its aura of a small, historic town. Part of downtown is a designated historic district with several buildings, such as the train depot, on the National Register of Historic Places. Garner has continued to burgeon with business and service establishments, both within and outside the corporation limits. Sports are king in Garner, and local parks have a selection of fields. Amenities also feature the Garner Historic Auditorium, a restored 512-seat building that plays host to many performances and events. The elegant lobby often is used for special occasions and acts as an art gallery, as well. The Garner Senior Center is the focal point for senior adult programs and has received statewide recognition for providing quality services. Garner boasts many new communities, such as Summers Walk and the golf community of Eagle Ridge (the course was designed by Tom Kite). There’s also the acclaimed 150-acre estate development of Chadbourne – a development of custom homes on the site of an historic family farm. Hillsborough Located at the junction of I-40 and I-85, Hillsborough has more than 100 18th- and 19th-century homes, churches and buildings. It is often referred to as the “Antique Capital of North Carolina” because of its abundance of antique shops. It was in Hillsborough that the N.C. Constitutional Convention met to demand the Bill of Rights. Hillsborough was a center of political activity during the Colonial and Revolutionary period. Several royal and elected governors lived here, as did William Hooper, a signer of the Declaration of Independence whose house still stands. The town hosted the third Provincial Congress in 1775, the state’s constitutional Convention of 1778 and five General Assemblies. General Cornwallis raised the Royal Standard in Hillsborough in 1781. Hillsborough offers guided tours by folks dressed in colonial attire who can arrange a day of activities that include shuttle or carriage rides. Historic Hillsborough also opens its doors once a year in a candlelight Christmas celebration, which features tours of historic sites and private homes. In addition, the Orange County Historical Museum offers a unique perspective and insight on county history. Adults and children marvel at ancient Indian relics and artifacts from the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Amenities are plentiful in Hillsborough: antique and specialty shops, elegant accommodations, restaurants and parks for hiking, swimming and camping. There’s also ice skating at the Triangle Sportsplex. The facility is a full-service athletic club with two large pools that host statewide swimming competitions. Covering 124 acres, the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area marks the highest point in Orange County at 867 feet. A walking trail winds across the ridges of the Eno River, up and around the mountain to a newly built observation deck at the mountain’s highest peak. The park also offers opportunities for fishing in the streams of the Neuse River basin. Cyclists also enjoy scenic bike routes. Thanks to the efforts of the Carolina Tar Wheels and the Hospice Fun Run, Hillsborough offers certified trails throughout the downtown historic district. Hillsborough Hog Day – one of the top summer events in the Southeast – is held in June each year. In addition to a cook-off featuring more than 9,000 pounds of barbecue, there are carnival-style rides and games, a petting zoo and live entertainment. Hillsborough is home to the Daniel Boone Village – the centerpiece of its antique and retail gift shop area. And from the Colonial Inn and Saratoga Grill downtown to the Casa Ibara and Occoneechee Steakhouse in the commercial district, a host of restaurants beckon to every appetite. Housing choices abound in Hillsborough – from small mill homes to large historic homes in town ranging less than $100,000 to more than $400,000. Churton Grove, just outside the city limits, features a pool and tennis courts with single-family homes averaging in the $300s. There’s also Fox Hill Farm, developed on the site of an old beef cattle farm, where home lots range from two to 10 acres, homes are priced $300,000 to $800,000 and horse owners can enjoy wooded trails. Knightdale Located six miles east of Raleigh on U.S. 64, this community of over 7,000 has small-town charm with a family atmosphere. The recently completed U.S. 64 Bypass is anticipated to ease traffic headaches, as Knightdale has experienced a lot of congestion in recent years. Also, the I-540 loop is expected to reach Knightdale by late 2006, which will undoubtedly add to its desirability. Since the 1960s, new businesses in Knightdale have primarily located along U.S. 64, which was widened to four lanes in the 1970s. In the late 1980s the Mingo Creek sewer outfall was built, opening up development on the south side of U.S. 64 including the Parkside, Planter’s Walk and Mingo Creek subdivisions. Between 1990 and 2000 Knightdale’s population nearly doubled to more than 6,000 residents, making it the 12th-fastest-growing town in North Carolina. Knightdale has a very active park and recreation program, serving more than 1,000 children each year. The Knightdale Environmental Park offers a nature trail system and picnic areas. Knightdale is a blend of old and new neighborhoods. The prestigious Maplewood enjoys good resale values with homes starting at $200,000. Planters Walk and Magnolia Place are part of why the town was honored as the No. 1 town in the Triangle several years ago. Planters Walk offers amenities such as pools and tennis courts. Single-family homes in the $150,000 to $200,000 price range are mixed with townhomes and upscale apartments. East of Planters Walk, Widewaters Village offers apartments, single-family homes and townhomes. Mebane This Piedmont town of nearly 8,000 people is 35 minutes west of Research Triangle Park along I-40. Mebane was originally an industrial town that developed after the railroad arrived in 1855. Downtown is a blend of old-time buildings, with a drugstore and a deli-bakery that teases noses when the wind blows right. In 1997, community leaders were convinced that the community needed to define its own destiny by assuming a proactive approach to change rather than reacting to situations as they arose. The challenge was to pursue growth opportunities that offer the best economic options for the area while protecting and encouraging the strong spirit of community enjoyed by residents. A citizen-based, strategic planning project got its start and continues today. A strong parks and recreation department offers athletic programs for youth and adults. In addition, residents look forward to the Sports Hall of Fame Gala, Easter festivities, the annual Dogwood Festival, Fourth of July Family Music Festival, live music concerts and dances throughout the year. Lake Michael Park, located one mile east of Mebane, features a 59-acre lake for fishing and paddleboats. Families also enjoy nature trails, picnicking, camping and sand volleyball. Neighborhoods range from modest to elegantly Victorian. Recent planned communities, such as the 650-acre Mill Creek, offer several distinct neighborhoods with homes ranging from no-maintenance villas to single-family detached homes that are nestled around a golf course. Morrisville Located 10 miles west of Raleigh off I-40, Morrisville was a sleepy community of 1,000 people in 1990. Today, its residential population is nearing 12,000, with another 30,000 people commuting into town daily to work at the industrial and commercial enterprises that have sprung up. Morrisville is approximately 10 square miles. Except for a small 11-acre portion of the town located in Durham County, all of the town’s corporate limits are within Wake County. Morrisville boasts a diverse range of housing options with home prices spanning from the low $100s to the high $400s. Located adjacent to Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Research Triangle Park, Morrisville has enjoyed significant commercial and industrial growth in recent years. There are several commercial/office parks within the town limits. Town Hall Commons, a mixed-use business and residential area in the village core area of Morrisville, includes single-family homes and townhomes. Morrisville is also home to the largest retail outlet center in the Triangle, Prime Outlets, which has over 50 manufacturer-owned outlet stores. A new and exciting local business is Chatham Hill Winery; guests are greeted in the tasting room, where they can sample a variety of the wines produced there. Wendell Wendell (pronounced win-Dell) is 14 miles east of Raleigh on U.S. 64. Quaint and village-like, it was once described by a local TV producer as “Mayberry-ish” – an old-fashioned place where kids play safely. Wendell, incorporated in 1903 and named for writer Oliver Wendell Holmes, has an entire downtown block with a national historic designation. Residents of the close-knit town gather for picnics, festivals and weddings in the town park at J. Ashley Wall Town Square, which is also lit up during the holidays. And people from neighboring counties drive to Wendell for the Brightleaf Festival every autumn. Families also enjoy the H.T. Moody Nature Trail that winds throughout the wooded lands directly behind the playground at the town square and ends behind the Wendell Community Center. The town recently opened the doors to this $1.2 million community center, the first of its kind in eastern Wake County. Wendell’s population has soared over the past 10 years, growing from 2,822 in 1990 to over 4,700 today. New communities, like Holly Pointe and Greystone, with single-family homes ranging $100,000 to $140,000, preserve the town’s atmosphere and quality of life for its residents. There are also pricier subdivisions with homes set on larger lots, such as Blair Hills (homes from the $200s to $350,000 on two-acre lots) and Old Wendell (prices starting around $250,000). Zebulon Zebulon is 16 miles east of Raleigh at the end of the U.S. 64 corridor. Its motto, “The Town of Friendly People,” seems to be catching on. Named after one of the state’s early governors, Zebulon Baird Vance, during the Civil War, the town has grown from 3,000 residents in 1990 to 4,462 today. Major employers in town include GlaxoSmithKline (pharmaceuticals), Nomaco (plastics) and Devil Dog (clothing). An ongoing $1.2 million project to revitalize the historic downtown is improving the streetscape; many shop owners are following suit and fixing up their storefronts. Landmarks include Whitley Furniture (still run by family members), Zebulon Drugs and Debnam Hardware, with its original wooden floors. Annual events include the Whitley Park Music Series featuring live concerts on the second Sunday in August, September and October, and the much-anticipated Christmas parade. Sports is a source of town pride, as well as recreation; the town operates four parks. The popular Carolina Mudcats, a double-A minor league baseball team, is based in Zebulon’s Five County Stadium. Housing in Zebulon averages $80,000 to $250,000 and includes historic and older homes downtown and the community of Pineview. Whitley Manor, with some 30 lots, features mostly custom-built homes in the $300s. The Meadows of Wakefield, Tippett Creek, Fox and Hounds and Red Oak are developments on the outskirts of town. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHAPEL HILL/ORANGE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU