One of the cities that make up the Research Triangle, so-called because of its educational and research institutions, Raleigh also is the capital of North Carolina, known as the Tar Heel State. The educational institution that gives Raleigh its membership in this triumvirate is North Carolina State University, Durham and Chapel Hill are the other two sides of this Triangle.


Established in 1959 as Research Triangle Park, the Triangle focuses on scientific research. Helping to anchor that endeavor, North Carolina State University, founded in 1887, is the state's principal technological institute. With its 20,000 students, NC State is the fastest-growing educational institution in the state. Of course, those who relish sports know about the university's Wolfpack teams.


Historically, Raleigh has been significant in this part of North Carolina for centuries. It has been the capital of North Carolina since the 18th century, following a series of capitals located in other cities, always shifting as the state's population edged its way west. But finally that issue was permanently resolved in 1792, when Raleigh was named, and a simple two-story brick seat of government was built on Union Square. The fine Greek Revival State Capitol building was built in 1840 to replace an earlier structure that burned in 1831; today it is a National Historic Landmark. Named for Sir Walter Raleigh, whose efforts to settle along the North Carolina coast led to the now-legendary "Lost Colony," Raleigh also serves as the government seat of Wake County, making state and local government the area's largest employer..


Situated near the geographical heart of the state, Raleigh has a population estimated at more than 316,000 in 2003. Metropolitan Raleigh includes some 12 area municipalities, totaling more than 700,000 residents in Wake County. While more than a quarter of the city's households have children, residents' ages are rather evenly spread over all age groups. The average age, in fact, is just 31.


While Raleigh has many attractions to keep residents and visitors alike intrigued, one enterprise stands out: Exploris. The interactive, hands-on exhibits in this multi-dimensional space are designed to develop connections among people of all cultures. For families, another must is PLAYSPACE Children's Museum, especially designed for very young children.


Raleigh is home to many museums, so many in fact that as a collection, they're known as the "Smithsonian of the South." To cite a few, the North Carolina Museum of History explores the state's past. But within the museum is the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Craft demonstrations and concerts are frequent program components. The North Carolina Museum of Art exhibits a cross section of ancient, classical and modern art, as well as hosts splendid traveling exhibitions.


With some 70,000 square feet of specialized theme-focused environments, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the largest natural history museum in the Southeast. Its exhibits explore North Carolina's geography, geology, and flora and fauna, in addition to displaying dinosaurs and other historic natural materials.


Some of that geography provides Raleigh residents with outstanding recreational opportunities, ranging from skiing in the mountains only four hours west of the city to year-round golf right close at hand. The city lies in the eastern Piedmont, about half way between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, and is famous for its parks and green spaces. Getting places from Raleigh is easy, as east-west Interstate 40 passes through the city, while north-south I-85 and I-95 glides within 25 miles of the city. Raleigh-Durham International Airport fields some 250 outbound flights daily, with direct flights to London, England. .


. When it comes to the performing arts, Raleigh offers a plethora of venues. Most impressive is the Progress Energy Center (formerly BTI Center) for the Performing Arts which, among its four theaters, includes Meymandi Concert Hall, where the North Carolina Symphony is based. Metropolitan Raleigh communities also feature community centers that serve as performance venues, enhancing the cultural life of the city's outer reaches.


The residents of Raleigh enjoy a good standard of living, with a household income at more than $46,600, a full $5,000 more than the national average. Combining economic strength and cultural depth leads Raleigh to be continuously ranked among the best places to live and work in the United States.