Cary, North Carolina
Cary: town in North Carolina, United States
About
Cary is a town located in the county of Wake in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population at the 2010 census was 135,234 and a population density of 907 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 173,587 inhabitants.
The town was created 276 years ago in 1749.
Cary is a large town located in Wake and Chatham counties in North Carolina, primarily in the Research Triangle metropolitan area. With a population of over 173,000, it is the seventh largest municipality in North Carolina.
Early History
The Cary area was first settled in the 1750s as an agricultural community. It was named after Samuel Fenton Cary, a former slave owner who donated land for a railroad depot upon Cary's founding in 1871.
Cary remained a very small, predominantly African American town focused on farming and regional railroad operations in its early years. Until the late 20th century, the population never surpassed a few thousand people.
Growth and Development
The establishment of the Research Triangle Park (RTP) in the 1960s spurred Cary’s rapid growth into the 21st century. Thousands migrated to work in RTP's high-tech jobs.
Cary’s population leapt from just over 5,000 in 1970 to nearly 100,000 residents by 2000. Careful planning and infrastructure development allowed the town to absorb the rapid growth.
In more recent decades, Cary focused on revitalizing its historic downtown with cultural attractions and a minor league baseball stadium while adding new residential and commercial areas.
Cary Today
Today, Cary is known for its exceptional schools, green spaces, recreation, and high standard of living. It perennially lands on “Best Places to Live” rankings in America.
Cary retains ties to its past through historic district preservation. But constant growth has made Cary among the largest municipalities in North Carolina. It has successfully evolved into a leading edge technology hub and a “smart city”.
The Research Triangle region continues expanding, and Cary serves as one of the area's economic and population anchors as it approaches nearly 200,000 residents.
Quick Facts about Cary
| Population | 173,587 (2020) |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | North Carolina (United States) |
| County | Wake County |
| Phone Area Codes | 919 |
| Area | 149.14 km2 |
| Official name | Cary |
| Latitude & Longitude | 35.7915,-78.7811 |
| Named for | Samuel Fenton Cary |
| Altitude | 499 feet / 152, 146 meters |
| Establishment | January 01, 1750 (276 years ago) |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time Zone |
| Local time | 19:10:50 (4th May 2026) |
| Postal code | 27511 |
| Density | 1,164 Pop. per km² as of 2020 |
| Population growth | 22.09% (2010-2020) |
| Weather | 79℉ Sunny 7-days weather |
Geography
Cary is located at 35°47'30"N 78°46'52"W (35.7915400, -78.7811200).
Cary map
icon to open full mode. View satellite images
Weather
Sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
7-Day ForecastOfficial website of Cary
Official Website- Hsinchu
- Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
- Markham
Demographics
The population of Cary increased by 22.09% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 135,234 | - | census |
| 2011 | 142,209 | 4.9% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 146,154 | 2.7% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 151,328 | 3.42% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 155,439 | 2.64% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 159,712 | 2.68% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 162,477 | 1.7% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 165,927 | 2.08% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 168,042 | 1.26% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 170,282 | 1.32% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 173,587 | 1.9% | estimation process |
Best Things to Do in Cary
1Fred G. Bond Metro Park
801 High House Rd, Cary, NC 27513, United States View details
Phone: +19194623970 | Website available
2Downtown Cary Park
319 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511, United States View details
Phone: +19194694000 | Website available
3Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
2616 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC 27518, United States View details
Phone: +19193875980 | Website available
4Buffaloe Lanes Cary Family Bowling Center
151 High House Rd, Cary, NC 27511, United States View details
Phone: +19194688684 | Website available
5North Cary Park
1100 Norwell Blvd, Cary, NC 27513, United States View details
Phone: +19194694061 | Website available
Where to Eat in Cary
1Dave & Buster's
1105 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27511, United States View details
Phone: +19195356800 | Website available
2Cook Out
1607 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27511, United States View details
Phone: +18665470011 | Website available
3Carolina Ale House
2240 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27518, United States View details
Phone: +19198549444 | Website available
4Outback Steakhouse
901 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27511, United States View details
Phone: +19194601770 | Website available
5CMX CinéBistro at Waverly Place
525 New Waverly Pl Suite 203, Cary, NC 27518, United States View details
Phone: +19199873500 | Website available
Where to Stay in Cary
1La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Raleigh Cary
191 Crescent Commons, Cary, NC 27518, United States View details
Phone: +19198512850 | Website available
2Red Roof Inn Raleigh Southwest - Cary
1800 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27518, United States View details
Phone: +19194693400 | Website available
3Homewood Suites by Hilton Raleigh/Cary
100 Macalyson Ct, Cary, NC 27511, United States View details
Phone: +19194674444 | Website available
4DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Raleigh - Cary
500 Caitboo Ave, Cary, NC 27518, United States View details
Phone: +19192394777 | Website available
5Courtyard by Marriott Raleigh Cary
102 Edinburgh Dr South, Cary, NC 27511, United States View details
Phone: +19194819666 | Website available
Services and Civic Places in Cary
1Town of Cary
316 N Academy St, Cary, NC 27513 View details
Phone: +19194694000 | Website available
People born in Cary (19)
People born in Cary, including actress Bevin Prince, politician Robert N. Page, journalist, publisher, and diplomat Walter Hines Page, .
More notable people
- Anoop Desai (singer) he was born in 20/12/1986
- Brian Ackley (Footballer) he was born in 27/09/1986
- Kendall Fletcher (soccer defender for the United States and Canberra United) she was born in 06/11/1984
- Spright Dowell (American academic administrator) he was born in 02/01/1878
- Jim Johnson (American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach, college athletics administrator) he was born in 10/09/1912
- Debbie Antonelli (American sports announcer)
- Isaiah Johnson (American football safety born October 14, 1992) he was born in 14/10/1992
- Luke Maye (American basketball player) he was born in 07/03/1997
- Max Povse (Professional Baseball Pitcher) he was born in 23/08/1993
- Kevin Janson Neal (American spree killer and marijuana grower) he was born in 01/01/1973
- Jordyn Adams (baseball player (1999-)) he was born in 18/10/1999
- Gale Adcock (American politician) she was born in 25/01/1954
- Caleb Duvernay (American association football player) he was born in 24/07/1996
- Greg Jones he was born in 07/03/1998
- Greg Jones (American baseball player (1998-)) he was born in 07/03/1998
- Ryan Spaulding (soccer player) he was born in 10/09/1998
Nearby Schools and Colleges
Schools and campuses linked to Cary, NC. Select a name to open its map and contact details.
| Code | Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 413972 | Mitchells Academy | Raleigh (NC) | 27606 |
| 449117 | Platt College-Miller-Motte-Cary | Cary (NC) | 27518-7171 |
| 461485 | Shepherds Theological Seminary | Cary (NC) | 27518-9316 |
| 480037 | MyComputerCareer.edu-Raleigh | Raleigh (NC) | 27606 |
| 198950 | Meredith College | Raleigh (NC) | 27607-5298 |
Nearby Transit Stations (14)
Rail and bus stations connected to Cary, NC. Select a station to open its map and address details.
| Code | Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYN | Cary | 211 North Academy Street | RAIL |
| NSF | North Carolina State Fair station | 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd. | RAIL |
| RGH | Raleigh Union Station | 320 West Cabarrus Street | RAIL |
| DNC | Durham | 400 W. Chapel Hill Street | RAIL |
| SSM | Selma–Smithfield | 500 East Railroad Street | RAIL |
Closest post offices linked to Cary.
| Post Office Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Post Office | Cary (NC) | 27519 |
| Cary Post Office | Cary (NC) | 27511 |
| Morrisvill Post Office | Morrisville (NC) | 27560 |
| Avent Ferry Raleigh Post Office | Raleigh (NC) | 27606 |
| Method Post Office | Raleigh (NC) | 27607 |
Other places with the same name (2)
- Cary, Illinois village in Illinois, United States with a population of 17,929 people.
- Cary, Mississippi town in Mississippi with a population of 264 people.
Other cities in Wake County
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Wake County , NC.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | 474,414 | The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is a major center for business, government, and education. |
| Apex | 64,388 | The most populous city in Wake County, North Carolina. |
| Wake Forest | 47,314 | Town located in the U. |
| Garner | 32,180 | Town in North Carolina, United States |
| Fuquay-Varina | 32,145 | City in North Carolina |
| Holly Springs | 31,377 | City in and county seat of Marshall County, Mississippi, United States |
| Morrisville | 30,495 | Town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States |
| Knightdale | 18,122 | City in Wake County, North Carolina, United States of America |
| Wendell | 9,387 | Town in North Carolina, United States |
| Rolesville | 8,882 | City in Wake County, North Carolina, United States of America |
| Zebulon | 6,514 | City in Pike County, Georgia, United States |
| Green Level | 2,158 | City in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States of America |
Distance to Other Cities
Cary distances to largest North Carolina cities