Cary

Only 30 years ago, Cary was a small, unassuming Southern town with a population of 21,000. The growth of the Research Triangle Park, accompanied by the influx of newcomers exploded the population in 2010 to 135,234. And the population expansion is not ordinary growth. Two thirds of the adult citizenry hold college degrees, and overall, Cary has one of the highest household income levels in North Carolina.

Cary began in 1750 as a settlement called Bradford's Ordinary. About 100 years later, the construction of the North Carolina Railroad between New Bern and Hillsborough went through the town, linking the tiny settlement of Bradford's Ordinary to a major transportation route. Allison Francis "Frank" Page is credited with founding the town. Page was a Wake County farmer and lumberman. He and his wife, Catherine "Kate" Raboteau Page bought 300 acres surrounding the railroad junction in 1854 and named his development Cary, after Samuel Fenton Cary, a former Ohio congressman and prohibitionist he admired. Page became a railroad agent and a town developer. He laid out the first streets in Cary and built a sawmill, a general store and a post office. In 1868, Page built a hotel to serve railroad passengers coming through Cary. Cary was incorporated on April 6, 1871, with Page becoming the first mayor. In 1879, the Raleigh and Augusta Air-Line Railroad (now CSX Transportation) arrived in Cary from the southwest, creating Fetner Junction just north of downtown and spurring further growth.

Beginning in 1971, Cary adopted zoning and other ordinances on an ad-hoc basis to control growth and give the town structure. The town created Planned Unit

Development (PUD) zoning to accommodate population growth related to the growth of Research Triangle Park nearby. A PUD allows a developer to plan an entire community before beginning development, thus allowing future residents to be aware of where churches, schools, commercial and industrial areas will be located well before such use begins. Kildaire Farms, a 967-acre Planned Unit Development in Cary, was North Carolina's first PUD. Local Cary government has placed a high value on creating an aesthetically pleasing town.

So here you are. You have made to the Greater Research Triangle area. Good choice! Many people have decided that living here will provide the very best lifestyle available, including buying a home in Cary, landing the best employment and even finding the best schools and/or or higher education. Thousands of people have made the decision to relocate to the Research Triangle, just like you. A newcomer will find why the Greater Research Triangle has ranked as one of the best regions in North Carolina to live or work, to buy the best real estate, to start a business, to raise a family, or even to retire. 

CARY'S GOOD LIFE

It has become almost routine for Cary to be praised as a wonderful place to live. Residents' testimonials, articles and various organizations bestow glowing reviews and accolades about living here. With these superlatives publicized for so long, the Research Triangle area's fame as a great place to live has been a magnet attracting people, like you, to explore and relocate. This sense of the Cary good life is expressed on the official website of the Cary Chamber of Commerce:

"Cary is a community that supports all of its members, from global businesses to schoolchildren to artists. It is a community that enables each member to play a significant role and contribute to the vision. Together with the town and its staff, the Chamber provides one of the most talented pools of professionals to assist you in every way you may need as an existing business or a business looking to relocate to Cary.

"Cary offers businesses many opportunities. Not just financial and business growth opportunities, although you will certainly find those here, but also the opportunity to be part of a thriving, future-focused community.

"A true community is only as strong as the people who comprise it. That’s why we make a concerted effort to maintain and draw individuals and companies that share our vision for a vibrant, future-focused community. People have come to Cary from all around the world for one reason or another and most have found what we’ve

been saying for years to be true. Cary is the best place to live, do business and raise a family."

Howard S. Johnson, President Cary Chamber of Commerce

CARY'S NEIGHBORS

Cary is one of 32 sister communities in the Greater Research Triangle region:

Angier

Apex

Benson

Butner

Carrboro

Cary

Chapel Hill

Clayton

Creedmoor

Durham

Franklinton

Fuquay-Varina

Garner

Henderson

Hillsborough

Holly Springs

Knightdale

Louisburg

Mebane

Morrisville

Oxford

Pittsboro

Raleigh

Rolesville

Roxboro

Selma

Siler City

Smithfield

Wake Forest

Wendell

Youngsville

Zebulon

WHY MOVE TO CARY?

Cary and her neighboring communities share several common benefits. The first great reason to live in the Greater Research Triangle is a wonderful climate. Spring and summer are filled with a bouquet of blossoms that flood the visual and olfactory senses. Parks and beautiful homes treat citizens and visitors alike with colors as if from the palette of a great landscape painter. The fall blazes with glorious colors so awesome that it almost takes your breath away. The winters are mild, and every now and then, the students get a day off for a light snow. It rarely gets below freezing. How could anyone not like the weather and climate in Cary, North Carolina?

The second reason to live in Cary is that it is a great place to buy a home. Cary real estate is affordable. Newcomers can choose between well-established homes for sale or new homes in outstanding new home communities. You can choose a lot and build a custom home. Simply select a homebuilder from the many in Greater Research Triangle. A qualified REALTOR®, real estate agent, mortgage broker or loan officer can assist in the home purchase process and can guide you through the process of finding and buying real estate in Cary.

Schools are another reason Greater Research Triangle is a wonderful place to live. Oh yeah - families especially love the schools in Cary. In fact, some of the best schools in Greater Research Triangle are found in Cary. Wake County Public School System, frequently cited for several outstanding programs, services Cary. Cary schools are considered safe places for students. But there are not only excellent public schools in Cary, but outstanding private schools, as well.

EDUCATION IN CARY

PUBLIC EDUCATION

To better help you select the best schools in Cary, North Carolina, read what the Wake County Public School System says on its website:

"WCPSS is North Carolina's largest school district. In recent years, Wake County's school population has grown by thousands of new students each year. As a result, WCPSS is constantly opening new schools and it has had a direct impact on where many children attend school. In the past, student assignment was a yearly decision aimed at filling new schools, reducing crowding at existing schools, minimizing bus rides and promoting diversity goals. This year for the first time, the Board of Education approved a three-year assignment plan for 2009-2012. By using better technology to predict growth and information from our school construction program, this new plan will provide families with more advanced notice of school assignments for their students.

"WCPSS offers a wide variety of magnet school programs offering innovative approaches to learning (Creative Arts and Sciences, Gifted and Talented, Active Learning & Technology, International Baccalaureate, Leadership, Montessori, Museums, and Year-Round programs, for example). Entry into these programs is by lottery. You should familiarize yourself with the available programs to determine if there's one particularly suited to your child."

Wake County Public School System

PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH A CARY ADDRESS

Elementary Schools in Cary:

Adams Elementary School

Briarcliff Elementary School

Carpenter Elementary School

Cary Elementary School

Davis Drive Elementary School

Farmington Woods Elementary School

Green Hope Elementary School

Highcroft Elementary School

Kingswood Elementary School

Mills Park Elementary School

Northwoods Elementary School

Penny Road Elementary School

Reedy Creek Elementary School

Turner Creek Elementary School

Weatherstone Elementary School

Middle Schools in Cary:

Davis Middle School

East Cary Middle School

Mills Park Middle School

Reedy Creek Middle School

West Cary Middle School

High Schools in Cary:

Cary High School

Green Hope High School

Panther Creek High School

CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina charter schools are independent public schools that exist to offer Cary students, parents and educators choices in teaching, learning methods and environments. An emphasis is placed on innovation and accountability with improved student achievement the common goal.

There are now nearly 5,000 public charter schools in 39 states and the District of Columbia, educating more than 1.6 million public charter school students. North

Carolina public charter schools are intended to improve North Carolina's traditional public school system.

Any Cary charter school, while independently operated, must meet four requirements, like any other North Carolina public school:
*Tuition-free and open to every student who wishes to enroll; *Non-sectarian, and do not discriminate on any basis;

*Publicly funded by local, state and federal tax dollars like other public schools; *Held accountable to state and federal academic standards.

LIST OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN CARY:

There are no charter schools with a Cary address.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITH A CARY ADDRESS

Private schools, also known as independent schools or non-state schools, are not administered by Cary, North Carolina, or the Federal government; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students tuition, rather than relying on public funding. Cary students can get a scholarship into a private school, which makes the cost cheaper, depending on a talent the student may have, such as a sport scholarship, art scholarship, academic scholarship.

List of Private Schools in Cary:

Cary Academy, grades K-12

Cary Christian School, grades K-12

Chesterbrook Academy, grades PK-5

Heartwood Montessori School, grades PK-6

Heritage of Faith Christian Academy Hopewell Academy, grades 4-12

Little Treasures School, grades K-5

Paideia Academy, grades K-7

Resurrection Lutheran School, grades, K-3

St. Michael the Archangel School, grades PK-8 The Mariposa School

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES IN AND NEAR CARY

Higher education in the Greater Research Triangle region is another great reason to live in Cary, North Carolina. The local colleges and universities contribute more than just classrooms, by also bringing the best in sports and cultural offerings to the Research Triangle communities at large. If your life calls for upper level learning, choose from the following list of universities, colleges and community colleges:

Duke University

Durham Technical Community College

Johnston Community College

Louisburg College

Meredith College

North Carolina Central University

North Carolina State University

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

St. Augustine’s College

Shaw University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Vance-Granville Community College

Wake Technical Community College

William Peace College

So, whether you are researching the Greater Research Triangle region and getting a feel for living here, or if you are learning about your education options, or if you have definitely decided to purchase a home in Cary, even if only from across town- congratulations, and...

Welcome HERE to Cary, North Carolina