The first settlers were Spanish but NC later became one of the original 13 English colonies and was settled by small farmers.

North Carolina Trip

January 2011

CHAPEL HILL

Chapel Hill is a town in North Carolina and the home of the University of North Carolina. The population was 48,715 at the 2000 census; its population was listed at 54,492 in the 2007 estimates. The town was named after an Anglican chapel on a hill, now known as Chapel of the Cross. Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh make up the three corners of the Research Triangle, so named in 1959 with the creation of Research Triangle Park, a research park between Durham and Raleigh. In 1968, only a year after its schools became fully integrated, Chapel Hill became the first predominantly white municipality in the country to elect an African American mayor. Chapel Hill is North Carolina's best educated city, with 77.0% of adult residents (25 and older) holding an associate degree or higher, and 77.0% of adults possessing a baccalaureate degree or higher.

Chapel Hill supports a vibrant business community among UNC Chapel Hill's strong academic presence. The town hosts a variety of corporations headquartered in Chapel Hill. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is one of the town's ten largest employers at its Chapel Hill headquarters. Technology companies USAT Corp and Retitleime Ops have made Chapel Hill their headquarters location.

DURHAM

Durham is a city in the state of North Carolina. It is the fifth largest city in the state and the 85th largest in the United States by population, with 229,174 residents as of 2009. It is the home of Duke University and North Carolina Central University, and is also part of the Research Triangle area.

The rapid growth and prosperity of the Bull Durham Tobacco Company, and W. Duke & Sons Tobacco Company resulted in the rapid growth of the city of Durham. While the tobacco industry dominated the city's economy initially, it was soon rivaled by the establishment of multiple textile mills. Durham's manufacturing fortunes declined during the mid-20th century. Textile mills began to close during the 1930s. Competition from other tobacco companies (and a decrease in smoking after the 1960s) reduced revenues from the tobacco industry. titlehough the region benefitted significantly from the establishment of the Research Triangle Park in 1958, Durham did not experience the same economic development as neighboring Raleigh.

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Duke University's growth and academic focus have contributed to the university's reputation as an academic and research powerhouse. Besides academics, research, and athletics, Duke is also well known for its campus and Collegiate Gothic architecture, especially the Duke Chapel. The forests surrounding parts of the campus belie the University's proximity to downtown Durham. Duke's 8,610 acres contain three campuses in Durham. It ranks nine in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities; tuition and fees are $40,472.

RALEIGH

Raleigh is the capital city and second largest city in the state of North Carolina. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's estimated population in 2010 was 426,708, making it one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and currently, the 45th largest city in the United States. It has been named after Sir Wtitleer Raleigh.

Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill make up the three historically primary cities of the Research Triangle metropolitan region. The regional nickname of "The Triangle" originated after the 1959 creation of the Research Triangle Park, primarily located in Durham County. It is four miles from downtown and midway between the cities of Raleigh and Chapel Hill and the three major research universities of NC State University, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill.

In the early 2000s, Raleigh was featured prominently in a number of "Top 10 Lists," including those by Forbes, MSNBC and Money Magazine, due to its quality of life and business climate. Plans are currently underway to build a combination of high-speed rail, light rail, and commuter rail lines to and from the city's core.

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