Apex, North Carolina


Apex is a town in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. At its southern border, Apex encompasses the community of Wake County, North Carolina|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.
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.

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. The town of Apex was incorporated in 1873. The pond was eventually drained by culverts and ceased to exist by 1900.
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. 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.
In October 2006, a chemical explosion and fire in a waste-processing facility prompted the evacuation of over 16,000 residents. 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 2015, Apex was named the number-one place to live in America, according to Money magazine.
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.
The $3 billion Veridea development was first proposed in 2009. New York-based RXR bought the first land in 2023, and site preparation began in 2025. By 2025, it was predicted that the development would have 8,000 residential units, 3.5 million square feet of retail, and 12 million square feet of commercial space.

Geography

The town is a suburb of both Raleigh and Research Triangle Park. 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. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and is water. Neighboring towns include Cary to the north and northeast, Holly Springs to the south, and Raleigh to the east and northeast.

Climate

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 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, Audra M. Killingsworth, Terry J. Mahaffey, Ed Gray, and Arno Zegerman.
In the North Carolina House of Representatives, Apex is represented by Julie von Haefen, Erin Paré, and Gale Adcock. In the North Carolina Senate, Apex is represented by Sydney Batch. In the U.S. House of Representatives Apex is represented by Valerie Foushee.

Demographics

2020 census

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.
Of the 18,197 total households, 14,027 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.

Economy

Top employers

According to the 2020 Comprehensive Financial Report for Apex, these were the town's top employers:
#Employer# of employees
1Wake County Public Schools1,779
2Town of Apex506
3Dell500
4Apex Tool Group425
5Bland Landscaping325
6Costco290
7ATI Industrial Automation275
8Super Target250
9Walmart243
10Lowe's Home Improvement220

Schools

Apex's public schools are operated by the Wake County Public School System.
Over 4,000 students are enrolled in two public high schools in Apex, Friendship High School">Friendship, Wake County, North Carolina">Friendship High School and Apex High School.
Public middle schools include:
Public elementary schools include:
Private schools:
  • Peace Montessori School
  • St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School
  • Thales Academy of Apex
Charter schools:

Transportation

Roads

  • ,, and are the major roads through Apex.
  • The Triangle Expressway southwestern section is a toll road connecting to. 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 long; so far have been constructed.

    Transit

  • Air: is on approximately 12 miles north of downtown Apex. is to the south on, 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 center 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 care

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:
There are both youth and adult sport programs for: