Apex, North Carolina

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.[4] Neighboring towns include Cary to the north and northeast, Holly Springs to the south, and Raleigh to the east and northeast.

Apex Union Depot, built in 1914.

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.[5] According to a 1905 USGS publication on place names, the name refers to the highest point between Raleigh and the Deep River.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

In October 2006, a chemical explosion and fire in a waste processing facility prompted one of the largest evacuations in U.S. history.[9] There were few serious injuries, and residents were soon able to return home.[10][11] 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.[12]

In August 2015, Time ranked Apex #1 on its list of the nation's top places to live.[13] In July 2018, Realtor.com ranked Apex the #1 Fastest Growing Suburb in America.[14]

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.[15]

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 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 (D), elected in 2019. Nicole L. Dozier (D, 2013) was selected by her peers to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore. The council members, in order of tenure are: Dozier, Brett D. Gantt (D, 2017), Audra M. Killingsworth (D, 2017), Terry J. Mahaffey (D, 2019) and Cheryl F. Stallings (D, 2019).[16]

In the North Carolina House of Representatives, Apex is represented by Julie von Haefen (District 36), Sydney Batch (District 37), and Gale Adcock (District 41). In the North Carolina Senate, Apex is represented by Sam Searcy (District 17). In the United States House of Representatives Apex is represented by George Holding (NC-02) and David Price (NC-04).

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.[17]

There were 13,225 total households in Apex in 2010. Of these, 9,959 (75%) 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 (20% of total households), 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 (in 2013 dollars) 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. (2013 estimate[18]). The per capita income for the town was $34,979. About 2% of families and 3% of the population were below the poverty threshold (2013 estimate[19]).

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:[21]

• 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

Private schools:

• Peace Montessori School
• St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School
• Thales Academy of Apex

The Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources department manages many parks, greenways, and sport programs, and even a skate park near downtown.[24]

Major parks include:

• Apex Community Park
• Apex Jaycee Park
• Hunter Street Park & Trackside Skate Plaza
• Kelly Road Park
• Nature Park
• Salem Pond Park
• Pleasant Park, which is in development and for which land has already been bought.[25]

There are both youth and adult sport programs:[26]

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Volleyball

• 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.[27]
• Halle Cultural Arts Center provides theater, classroom, and gallery spaces.[28] Built as the Town Hall in 1912.[29]

• Wes Durham, sportscaster
• Tim Federowicz, MLB player[30]
• Seth Frankoff, MLB player[31]
• Justin Jedlica, famous for being known as the Human Ken Doll[32]
• Matt Mangini, former MLB player for the Seattle Mariners[33]
• 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[34]

• Hilliard v. Apex Cabinet Co.: Supreme Court of North Carolina found in favor of the Plaintiff, an injured worker, remanding a workers' compensation claim to the North Carolina Industrial Commission, indicating that "the determination of whether a disability exists is a conclusion of law and that said conclusion must be based upon findings of fact supported by competent evidence." Hilliard v. Apex Cabinet Co., 290 S.E.2d 682 (1982).[35]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Apex.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Apex, North Carolina.

• Official town of Apex website
• Apex Chamber of Commerce