A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Apex | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
| Nickname: Peak City | |
| Motto: "The Peak of Good Living" | |
 Location in Wake County and North Carolina | |
  Apex  Apex  Apex | |
| Coordinates: 35°43′11″N 78°50′38″W / 35.71972°N 78.84389°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Wake |
| Incorporated | 1873 |
| Named for | Highest point on the Chatham Railroad[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Jacques Gilbert[2] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.15 sq mi (65.13 km2) |
| • Land | 25.06 sq mi (64.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2) 0.36% |
| Elevation | 390 ft (120 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 58,780 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 72,225 |
| • Density | 2,345.66/sq mi (905.67/km2) |
| Demonym | Apexian or Apexer |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 27502, 27523, 27539 |
| Area codes | 919, 984 |
| FIPS code | 37-01520[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405157[4] |
| Website | www.apexnc.org |
Apex (/ˈeɪ.pɛks/) is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. At its southern border, Apex encompasses the community of Friendship. In 1994, the downtown area was designated a historic district, and the Apex train depot, built in 1867, is designated a Wake County landmark. The depot location marks the highest point on the old Chatham Railroad, hence the town's name. The town motto is "The Peak of Good Living".
In the late 19th century, a small community developed around the railroad station. The forests were cleared for farmland, much of which was dedicated to tobacco farming. Since Apex was near the state capital, it became a trading center. The railroad shipped products such as lumber, tar, and tobacco. The town was officially incorporated in 1873. By 1900, the town had a population of 349. As of the 2020 census, its population was 58,780, making it the 17th-most populous municipality in North Carolina.[6]
The population boom occurred primarily in the late 1990s. The Research Triangle Park, established in the 1960s, created strong demand for technology workers. This also drove population growth.[7]
History
In 1869, the Chatham Railroad, connecting Chatham County with Raleigh, was completed. At the highest point of the line, which railroad workers dubbed the "apex of the grade", existed a pond. Trains leaving out of Chatham would stop at the pond to replenish their water. A community began to grow around the stop, which the railroad workers called Apex.[8] The town of Apex was incorporated in 1873.[9] The pond was eventually drained by culverts and ceased to exist by 1900.[8]
Apex grew slowly through the succeeding decades, despite several devastating fires, including a June 12, 1911, conflagration that destroyed most of the downtown business district.[10] The town center was rebuilt and stands to this day, now one of the most intact railroad towns in the state. At the heart of town stands the Apex Union Depot, originally a passenger station for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and later home to the locally supported Apex Community Library. The depot now houses the Apex Chamber of Commerce.
Apex suffered mild setbacks during the Great Depression era, but growth began again in earnest in the 1950s. The town's proximity to RTP spurred additional residential development, yet the town managed to preserve its small-town character. During the 1990s, the town's population quadrupled to over 20,000, placing new demands upon Apex's infrastructure.
Apex has continued to grow in recent years. A sizable shopping center was built at the intersection of Highway 55 and US 64, and several new neighborhoods have been built as the town grows toward the west.[11]
In October 2006, a chemical explosion and fire in a waste-processing facility prompted the evacuation of over 16,000 residents.[12] There were few serious injuries, and residents were soon able to return home.[13][14] In 2009, a federal court approved a $7.85M settlement to compensate Apex residents affected by the disaster. Each household received $750. Businesses received $2,200.[15]
In 2015, Apex was named the number-one place to live in America, according to Money magazine.[16]
In addition to the Apex Union Depot, the Apex City Hall, Apex Historic District, Calvin Wray Lawrence House, and Utley-Council House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[17]
Geography
The town is a suburb of both Raleigh and Research Triangle Park (RTP). It is situated to the southwest of Raleigh with direct highway access via US 1. Apex is south of RTP with direct highway access via NC 540. Apex crests the watersheds of both the Neuse and Cape Fear Rivers.[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.15 square miles (65.1 km2), of which 25.06 square miles (64.9 km2) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) (0.36%) is water.[3] Neighboring towns include Cary to the north and northeast, Holly Springs to the south, and Raleigh to the east and northeast.
Climate
| Climate data for Apex, North Carolina, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1993–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) |
82 (28) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
103 (39) |
103 (39) |
104 (40) |
100 (38) |
98 (37) |
87 (31) |
80 (27) |
104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 69.5 (20.8) |
73.4 (23.0) |
81.6 (27.6) |
86.5 (30.3) |
90.1 (32.3) |
94.9 (34.9) |
96.5 (35.8) |
95.3 (35.2) |
92.3 (33.5) |
86.8 (30.4) |
77.2 (25.1) |
73.3 (22.9) |
98.2 (36.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 50.9 (10.5) |
54.4 (12.4) |
61.9 (16.6) |
71.6 (22.0) |
78.7 (25.9) |
85.7 (29.8) |
89.0 (31.7) |
87.4 (30.8) |
81.5 (27.5) |
71.8 (22.1) |
62.2 (16.8) |
53.9 (12.2) |
70.7 (21.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 40.9 (4.9) |
43.5 (6.4) |
50.5 (10.3) |
59.6 (15.3) |
67.7 (19.8) |
75.4 (24.1) |
79.2 (26.2) |
77.5 (25.3) |
71.6 (22.0) |
60.7 (15.9) |
50.9 (10.5) |
44.0 (6.7) |
60.1 (15.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30.9 (−0.6) |
32.6 (0.3) |
39.1 (3.9) |
47.6 (8.7) |
56.7 (13.7) |
65.2 (18.4) |
69.4 (20.8) |
67.7 (19.8) |
61.7 (16.5) |
49.5 (9.7) |
39.5 (4.2) |
34.1 (1.2) |
49.5 (9.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 15.6 (−9.1) |
18.5 (−7.5) |
24.8 (−4.0) |
33.9 (1.1) |
44.1 (6.7) |
57.1 (13.9) |
61.9 (16.6) |
61.3 (16.3) |
52.3 (11.3) |
36.9 (2.7) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
23.1 (−4.9) |
14.3 (−9.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 2 (−17) |
3 (−16) |
15 (−9) |
26 (−3) |
38 (3) |
46 (8) |
57 (14) |
54 (12) |
43 (6) |
31 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
9 (−13) |
2 (−17) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.65 (93) |
3.00 (76) |
4.08 (104) |
3.63 (92) |
3.83 (97) |
4.33 (110) |
5.07 (129) |
4.64 (118) |
5.27 (134) |
3.71 (94) |
3.45 (88) |
3.67 (93) |
48.33 (1,228) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.9 (7.4) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.2 (0.51) |
4.8 (12) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.2 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 9.8 | 10.2 | 10.9 | 11.7 | 10.3 | 8.7 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 10.6 | 118.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 3.2 |
| Source 1: NOAA[18] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)[19] | |||||||||||||
Government
Apex's council–manager form of government has a mayor and five council members (one of whom serves as mayor pro tem), who are each elected at-large in staggered four-year terms. The town's attorney and manager serve at the pleasure of the council. All the other staff report to the town manager and manage the town's day-to-day business.
The town is led by Mayor Jacques K. Gilbert, elected in 2019. The council members, in order of tenure, are: Brett D. Gantt (2017), Audra M. Killingsworth (2017), Terry J. Mahaffey (2019), Ed Gray (2021), and Arno Zegerman (2023).[20]
In the North Carolina House of Representatives, Apex is represented by Julie von Haefen (district 36), Erin Paré (district 37), and Gale Adcock (district 41). In the North Carolina Senate, Apex is represented by Sydney Batch (district 17). In the U.S. House of Representatives Apex is represented by Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Wiley Nickel (NC-13).
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 228 | — | |
| 1890 | 269 | 18.0% | |
| 1900 | 349 | 29.7% | |
| 1910 | 681 | 95.1% | |
| 1920 | 926 | 36.0% | |
| 1930 | 863 | −6.8% | |
| 1940 | 977 | 13.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,065 | 9.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,368 | 28.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,192 | 60.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,847 | 29.9% | |
| 1990 | 4,968 | 74.5% | |
| 2000 | 20,212 | 306.8% | |
| 2010 | 37,476 | 85.4% | |
| 2020 | 58,780 | 56.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 72,225 | [6] | 22.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[21] | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 39,498 | 67.2% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,852 | 6.55% |
| Native American | 99 | 0.17% |
| Asian | 7,295 | 12.41% |
| Pacific Islander | 16 | 0.03% |
| Other/mixed | 3,117 | 5.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,903 | 8.34% |
As of the 2020 census, 58,780 people, 18,197 households, and 14,027 families reside in the town.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 37,476 people, 13,225 households, and 9,959 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,437.9 people per square mile. The 13,922 housing units had an average density of 905.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 69% White, 7% African American, 12% Asian, 3% from other races, and 9% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8% of the population.[23]
Of the 18,197 total households, 14,027 (77%) were family households, of which 46% had children under 18 living with them, 63% of the family households were married couples living together, and 11% had a female householder with no husband, 4,170 households were not families, comprising 23% of total households. The average household size was 3.12, and the average family size was 2.81.[24]
Economy
Top employers
According to the 2020 Comprehensive Financial Report for Apex, these were the town's top employers:[25]