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About Greater Raleigh!
When you’ re looking for the fun, excitement and attractions of a great city, combined with the approachability and appeal of a classic Southern town, look no further than Raleigh. Consistently rated one of the best places to live and work in the U. S., Greater Raleigh’ s superb quality of life is no secret.
Excellent cultural and entertainment opportunities. Mild climate. Natural beauty. Convenient and accessible location. Everything you’ d expect in a metropolitan area, plus a touch of the unexpected.
Dining and Entertainment
Greater Raleigh offers a vast array of dining experiences that cover the globe in style and cuisine. From chef-run bistros to brewpubs to traditional Southern fare, this area boasts superior restaurants with authentic atmosphere. And with more than 125 restaurants and nightclubs in downtown Raleigh alone, you can experience a range of lively nightspots and entertainment districts. Catch a live performance by a local band, dance the night away or be entertained by a comedian at one of several comedy clubs.
Sports
Year-round, you can cheer for one of Greater Raleigh’ s sports teams. The Carolina Hurricanes( NHL hockey) hit the ice September-April; the Carolina Mudcats( Single-A baseball) and the Carolina RailHawks( pro soccer) take the field April-September. In addition to professional sports, Raleigh is home to ACC powerhouse N. C. State, which brings exciting collegiate action.
Shopping
The super-regional mall Triangle Town Center is just one of Greater Raleigh’ s 11 major retail areas. You can also browse the many specialty shops, galleries and outlets, or find the freshest fruits and vegetables in the southeast at the State Farmers Market, Raleigh.
Higher Learning
Greater Raleigh is home to eight major institutions of higher learning, five of which date back to the 19th century: William Peace University( 1857); Shaw University( 1865); Saint Augustine’ s College( 1867); N. C. State University( 1887); Meredith College( 1891); Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary( 1956); Wake Tech( 1958); and Campbell University’ s School of Law( 2009).
Heritage
North Carolina’ s capital city area is also rich in African-American heritage, with more than 50 historic and cultural sites, including Hamlin Drug Store and two historically black universities, founded in the 1860s.
Raleigh facts
History Raleigh was founded in 1792 as North Carolina’ s capital city. It was named for Sir Walter Raleigh, who attempted to establish the first English colony on the shores of the New World in the 1580s.
Nickname The city’ s founding fathers called Raleigh the“ City of Oaks” and dedicated themselves to maintaining the area’ s wooded tracts and parks.
Population Raleigh: 403,892, Wake County: 929,780; Raleigh-Cary metro: 1.16 million
Size Raleigh: 114 square miles; Wake County: 831.92 square miles
Visitors 10.72 million annually
Sales Tax 4.75 % state tax 2 % county tax
Climate Summers range from the mid-60s to the mid-80s; spring and fall average in the 70s; winters hit the high 20s to mid 50s.( Temperatures F). Mean annual rainfall( inches): 44.23.
Geography 434 feet above sea level, Raleigh lies in east-central North Carolina, where the hilly Piedmont region meets flat coastal plain.
Recent Accolades Read the latest at visitRaleigh. com / accolades
Ideal Location
Located centrally on the East Coast, Greater Raleigh is halfway between Florida and New York City. The location is convenient for trips to the beautiful beaches of North Carolina’ s Outer Banks or to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains to the west.