Posts Tagged ‘University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’

Raleigh, NC: One of America’s Best Kept Secrets

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Wanting to learn about Raleigh, NC? Look no further!

Raleigh is the capital city of the state of North Carolina. Known for its exuberant amount of oak trees, it is often referred to as the “City of Oaks.” It is centrally located a few hours west of the coast and a few hours east of the Appalachian Mountains – both popular destinations for vacations. Raleigh’s beauty and stability make it the perfect place to call home.

The Raleigh-Cary metro area has been one of the fastest growing areas in recent years. Its population has grown to just over 1 million.

But what really makes Raleigh a magnificent city?

The “City of Oaks” is known for being a green and environmentally friendly city. The city boasts a 41-mile greenway and a network of public open spaces and recreational trails where residents and visitors jog, bird-watch, and fish. Various wilderness preserves and gardens, along with beautifully landscaped parks make Raleigh one of the greenest areas in the country.

Raleigh is also a city of vibrant nightlife, historic neighborhoods, concerts in the park, and Old World charm. It has also been referred to as the “Smithsonian of the South” for its large concentration of museums.

For the sports enthusiasts, Raleigh is home to the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League and the Carolina RailHawks of the United Soccer League. There are two minor-league baseball teams in the area, the Carolina Mudcats and the Durham Bulls (made famous by the movie Bull Durham).

However, the area is even more famous for its intense college basketball rivalries. North Carolina State University is located in the heart of Raleigh while Duke University and the University of North Carolina are located in nearby Durham and Chapel Hill, respectively.

A large contributor to the city’s economy is the Research Triangle Park, located between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. This science hub, often compared to Silicon Valley, draws talent from the area’s major universities and is home to some 170 companies, most of which are involved in high-tech and biotech fields.

The city prides itself on its diverse economy, which has kept the entire area relatively stable throughout the economic downturn. As a result, real estate prices have remained equally stable and constant.

Additionally, Raleigh was recently named the third best area to launch a small business. This speaks largely of the current state of the economy. Small business success is often an excellent indicator of a city’s overall economic strength.

So if you’re looking for that perfect location, look no further. Raleigh offers all the amenities of a large city while maintaining the beauty and simplicity of a small town. The stable economy and steady real estate market are two major reasons why Raleigh is the place you’ll want to call home.

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Raleigh, NC: About The Area

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Raleigh NC

When I say I love living in Raleigh, NC, I’m often asked about the infamous Andy Griffith Show. The show was shot in the 1960’s in fictional Mayberry, NC. Even though the city was made up, there are some definite similarities between Mayberry and Raleigh. There’s a small town, homey feel despite the diverse offerings. Even still, you can bet that Raleigh has come a long way since the days of Barney, Aunt Bee and Opie.

Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina and is the second largest in population, behind Charlotte. We’re known as the “City of Oaks” because of all the beautiful oak trees native to the area.

You’ll often hear people reference the Triangle, which is the nickname for the three-city area: Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The nickname came from the 1959 Research Triangle Park, which incorporated the three major research universities in the area: UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University and NC State University.

Most of Raleigh is located in Wake County with a smaller portion in Durham County. Some of the local suburbs and towns near Raleigh are Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Clayton, Wake Forest, Knightdale and Garner.

Raleigh is constantly making national lists that highlight the best places to live, raise a family, build a career, retire … and just enjoy life.

I am very proud to call Raleigh home, and if you live in the Triangle, I’m sure you agree. There’s something enchanting about the area, and I would love to show you all that Raleigh has to offer!

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