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. 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, 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 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 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 (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), Cheryl F. Stallings (2019), and Ed Gray (2021).
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 United States House of Representatives Apex is represented by Deborah Ross (NC-02) and David Price (NC-04).
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 58,780 people, 18,197 households, and 14,027 families residing in the town.
2010 census
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 69% White, 7% African American, 12% Asian, 3% from other races, and 9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8% of the population.
There were 18,197 total households in Apex in 2019. Of these, 14,027 (77%) were family households, out of which 46% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 63% of the family households were married couples living together, and 11% had a female householder with no husband present. There were 4,170 nonfamily households in Apex, comprising 23% of total households. The average household size was 3.12 and the average family size was 2.81.
In 2019 the Census Bureau estimated the town population's ages as 31% under the age of 20, 15% from 20 to 34, 36% from 35 to 54, and 14% from 55 to 74, and 3% of age 75 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96 males.
The median income (in 2019 dollars) for a household in the town was $111,435. (2019 estimate). The per capita income for the town was $51,370.
About 1.5% are below the poverty threshold (2019 estimate).
Economy
Top employers
According to the 2020 Comprehensive Financial Report for Apex, these were the town's top employers:
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:
Apex Friendship High School
Apex High School
Public middle schools include:
Apex Friendship Middle School
Apex Middle School
Lufkin Road Middle School
Salem Middle School
Public elementary schools include:
Apex Elementary School
A.V. Baucom Elementary
Laurel Park Elementary
Olive Chapel Elementary
Salem Elementary School
Scotts Ridge Elementary School
West Lake Elementary School
White Oak Elementary School
Private schools:
Peace Montessori School
St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School
Thales Academy of Apex
Charter Schools:
Peak Charter Academy
Infrastructure
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 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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
Notable people
Wes Durham, sportscaster
Tim Federowicz, MLB player
Seth Frankoff, MLB player
Randi Griffin, ice hockey player who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics as part of the Unified Korea women's national team
Susan Higginbotham, American historical fiction author and attorney
C. J. Hunter, 1999 World Champion shot putter and later coach
Justin Jedlica, known as the Human Ken Doll
Matt Mangini, former MLB player for the Seattle Mariners
Sio Moore, former NFL player for the Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, and Arizona Cardinals
Landon Powell, former MLB player for the Oakland Athletics
Julia Montgomery Street, American poet, playwright and author
William Wynn, NFL defensive end
