Apex NC

Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina and a suburb of Raleigh. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town’s population to be 43,907 as of July 1, 2014. The town is highly heralded with a “charming downtown, top-notch schools, as well as the kind of community spirit that attracts 15,000 people, or more than a third of the population, to the yearly PeakFest street fair. In August 2015, Apex was rated #1 in Money Magazine’s Best Places to Live, 2015.

Based on the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.4 square miles, of which, 15.2 square miles of it is land and 0.15 square miles of it is water.

Nearby towns consist of Cary to the north and northeast, Holly Springs to the south, and Raleigh to the east and northeast.

The town of Apex was incorporated in 1873, named for its location as the highest point on a portion of the Chatham Railroad which eventually extends between Richmond, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida. Apex grew gradually through the succeeding decades, despite several devastating fires, including a June 12, 1911 conflagration which ruined most of the downtown business district. The town center was reconstructed and stands even today, now one of the most intact railroad towns in the state. In the center of town stands the Apex Union Depot, originally a passenger station for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and later on home to the locally supported Apex Community Library. The depot now houses the Apex Chamber of Commerce.

Apex suffered mild setbacks during the Depression-era, but growth began again in earnest in the 1950s. The town’s closeness to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park spurred further residential development, however the town was able to maintain its small-town character. During the 1990s, the town’s population quadrupled to over 20,000, placing new requirements upon Apex’s infrastructure.

Apex continues to progress in recent times. A substantial shopping center was constructed at the intersection of Highway 55 and US 64, and many new neighborhoods have been developed as the town grows toward the west.

In October 2006, a chemical fire in an Apex waste processing facility forced much of the town to be momentarily evacuated. There were few significant injuries, and residents were soon allowed to go back home.

In August 2015, TIME magazine ranked Apex #1 on its list of the nation’s top places to live.

As of the census of 2010, there were 37,476 people, 13,225 households, and 9,959 families living in the town. The population density was 2,437.9 people per square mile. There were 13,922 housing units at an average density of 905.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 80% White, 8% African American, 7% Asian, 3% from other races, and 3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7% of the population.

Apex is more than a suburb of Raleigh, is it an amazing town in its own right, well worth visiting and exploring. Take some time to travel to Apex and see for yourself.