Cary, NC

Cary began as a quaint settlement town in 1750, known as Bradford's Ordinary at the time. Like other regions of North Carolina, Cary became considered a town due to new development among railroad companies. In Cary's case, the North Carolina Railroad was constructed about 100 years after the area was settled, linking the town to Hillsborough and New Bern. Thus, Cary's railroads became vital transportation routes and the area seemed to crave new development. A farmer and lumberman, Allison "Frank" Page, was credited with actually creating the town of Cary, even giving the area it's name in 1854 after Samual Fenton Cary, an Ohioan congressman. Page and his wife had purchased roughly 300 acres around the new railroad junction, allowing for businesses to open and visitors to see the town, and Cary has been growing ever since. 

As Research Triangle Park grew between the 1950s and 70s, Cary experienced a sizeable population growth, since the town is fifteen minutes from the popular research destination. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that between 2006 to 2007, Cary was also the fifth fastest-growing municipality in the country; while, as of early 2018, Cary reportedly had over 160,000 residents. Cary has become a highly sought-after town for families, as there are many community-minded neighborhoods, parks and playgrounds, and family activities throughout the year. Being only fifteen minutes to downtown Raleigh is an important perk to many residents as well, as they can easily access Raleigh's shops, restaurants, and universities.