Apex, North Carolina


Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. Apex encompasses the community of Friendship at its southern border. 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 precolonial era, the town's area was inhabited by the Tuscarora tribe of Native Americans. 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. The 2019 Census estimate places the population at 59,300.
The population boom occurred primarily in the late 1990s. The Research Triangle Park, established in the 1960s, created strong demand for technology workers. Apex began appearing on Best Place to Live lists starting in 2007 and steadily climbed the charts until reaching the #1 spot in 2015. This also drove population growth. Apex is currently the eighteenth largest municipality in North Carolina.

Geography

The town is a suburb of both Raleigh and 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. Neighboring towns include Cary to the north and northeast, Holly Springs to the south, and Raleigh to the east and northeast.

History

The town of Apex was incorporated in 1873. According to the North Carolina History Project, the town was named for its location as the highest point on a portion of the Chatham Railroad which ultimately extends between Richmond, Virginia, and Jacksonville, Florida. According to a 1905 USGS publication on place names, the name refers to the highest point between Raleigh and the Deep River.
Apex grew slowly through the succeeding decades, despite several devastating fires, including a June 12, 1911, conflagration which destroyed most of the downtown business district. 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 Depression-era, but growth began again in earnest in the 1950s. The town's proximity to North Carolina's Research Triangle Park 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.
In October 2006, a chemical explosion and fire in a waste processing facility prompted one of the largest evacuations in U.S. history. There were few serious injuries, and residents were soon able to return home. 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.
In August 2015, Time ranked Apex #1 on its list of the nation's top places to live. In July 2018, Realtor.com ranked Apex the #1 Fastest Growing Suburb in America.
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.

Government

Apex's Council-Manager form of government has a mayor and five council members 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 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. Nicole L. Dozier was selected by her peers to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore. The council members, in order of tenure are: Dozier, Brett D. Gantt, Audra M. Killingsworth, Terry J. Mahaffey and Cheryl F. Stallings.
In the North Carolina House of Representatives, Apex is represented by Julie von Haefen, Sydney Batch, and Gale Adcock. In the North Carolina Senate, Apex is represented by Sam Searcy. In the United States House of Representatives Apex is represented by George Holding and David Price.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, 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. 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.
There were 13,225 total households in Apex in 2010. Of these, 9,959 were family households, out of which 65% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 84% of the family households were married couples living together, and 13% had a female householder with no husband present. There were 3,266 nonfamily households in Apex, comprising 25% of total households. 2,650 households were made up of individuals, and 4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.31.
The town population was spread out, with 33% under the age of 18, 5% from 18 to 24, 34% from 25 to 44, 22% from 45 to 64, and 6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $89,475, and the median income for a family was $106,283. Males had a median income of $65,179 versus $48,022 for females.. The per capita income for the town was $34,979. About 2% of families and 3% of the population were below the poverty threshold.

Economy

Top employers

According to the 2017 Comprehensive Financial Report for Apex, these were the town's top employers:
#Employer# of employees
1Wake County Public Schools1,763
2Dell EMC500
3Apex Tool Group526
4Town of Apex417
5ATI Industrial Automation350
6Super Target250
7Costco239
8Bland Landscaping138
9Tipper Tie138
10Polyzen103

Schools

Apex's public schools are operated by the Wake County Public School System.
There are over 4,000 students enrolled in two public high schools in Apex:
Public middle schools include:
Public elementary schools include:
Private schools:

Transportation

Roads

Apex Utilities provides water/sewer, electricity, garbage, recycling, and yard waste pickup. Natural Gas is provided by PSNC.

Health care

Emergency, primary, and specialist care is provided at the WakeMed Apex Healthplex.

Fire

Fire protection is provided by the Apex Fire Department.

Police

Police service is provided by the Apex Police Department.

Parks and recreation

The Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources department manages many parks, greenways, and sport programs, and even a skate park near downtown.
Major parks include:
There are both youth and adult sport programs: