Apex, North Carolina, United States

🇺🇸 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 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.

The town is a suburb of both Raleigh and RTP. It is situated to the south-west 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 north-east, 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 12 June 1911 conflagration that destroyed most of the downtown business district. The town centre 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 centre 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 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.

Geography The town is a suburb of both Raleigh and Research Triangle Park (RTP). It is situated to the south-west 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 north-east, Holly Springs to the south, and Raleigh to the east and northeast.

Economy: Top employers According to a recent Financial Report for Apex, the town's top employers include: 1 Wake County Public Schools; 2 Town of Apex; 3 Dell; 4 Apex Tool Group; 5 Bland Landscaping; 6 Costco; 7 ATI Industrial Automation; 8 Super Target; 9 Walmart; 10 Lowe's Home Improvement.

Transport: Road • US 1, US 64, and NC 55 are the major roads through Apex. • The Triangle Expressway south-western section (NC 540) is a toll road connecting to I-540. This is a partially completed loop road around the greater Raleigh area. • The Apex Peakway' is a loop road orbiting downtown Apex. The peakway was conceived as a means to relieve traffic in the downtown area and provide a bypass for commuters traveling from one side of the town to the other. It is currently the only "peakway" in North Carolina, taking its name from Apex's town motto: "The Peak of Good Living". When finished, the Apex Peakway will be 6 miles (9.7 km) long; so far 5 miles (8.0 km) have been constructed.

Transit • Air:  – Raleigh–Durham International Airport is on I-40 approximately 12 miles north of downtown Apex.  – Raleigh Executive Jetport is to the south on US 1, 22 miles from downtown. • Rail:Apex is not served directly by passenger trains. Amtrak serves the nearby municipalities of Cary and Raleigh. CSX manages a freight train switch yard in the centre of Apex. • Bus: The Triangle Transit Authority branded as GoTriangle operates buses that serve the region and connect to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Greyhound has terminals in Raleigh and Durham. In 2022, GoTriangle launched its first Apex branded bus service, GoApex. GoCary also operates an express route that connects the two communities.

Bicycle • U.S. Bicycle Route 1 routes through downtown Apex. • North Carolina Bicycle Route 5 connects Apex to Wilmington and closely parallels the NCBC Randonneurs 600 kilometer brevet route. • There are numerous greenway trails including the Beaver Creek Trail and the American Tobacco Trail popular with cyclists.

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

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

Fire Fire protection is provided by the Apex Fire Department operating from five stations with a sixth under construction.

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, including a skate park near downtown.

Major parks include: • Apex Community Park • Apex Jaycee Park • Hunter Street Park & Trackside Skate Plaza • Kelly Road Park • Nature Park & Seymour Athletic Fields • Salem Pond Park • Pleasant Park, which is in development and for which land has already been bought, is scheduled to open in Fall of 2022.

There are both youth and adult sport programs: • Baseball • Basketball • Lacrosse • Soccer • Softball • Tennis • Volleyball

Arts and culture • Apex PeakFest is the community's annual festival held on the first Saturday in May. The downtown area is closed off and over 200 vendors provide food, arts & crafts, rides, and other entertainment. • The Halle Cultural Arts Center provides a theater, classroom, and gallery spaces. It was built as the Town Hall in 1912.