The city of Cary, North Carolina is located within Wake County and in parts of Chatham County. The city is considered to be a suburb of Raleigh City. Cary is the second largest municipality of Wake County and is the third biggest, behind Raleigh and Durham, within the Triangle. The town's population has increased through the past decade, increasing by 43 percent. It has grown from 94,536 people during 2000 to approximately 135,200 by the year 2010. Cary City is among the fastest growing municipalities in the US. It is the biggest town and seventh biggest municipality within the state of North Carolina.
The region is referred to as "The Triangle" due to the Research Triangle Park (or also called RTP) created there during 1959. Three major research universities - Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University - are located within The Triangle. Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh cities make up the three most vital research cities of RTP. The Triangle is bordered on three sides by the city of Durham and is halfway between Chapel Hill and Raleigh Cities. Cary City is situated beside The Triangle within the Piedmont region. The north and west edges of the town are bordered by RTP.
The Jordan Lake area is located to the west of Cary City. This hilly town has a humid subtropical weather, with hot summer temperatures which could reach more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The winters are mild with an average of seven inches of snow. The town has a total area of 43.5 square miles, based on the United States Census Bureau.
The city of Cary was settled in the year 1750 and was initially referred to as Bradford's Ordinary. When the North Carolina Railroad arrived during the mid 1800s, the area became a main transportation route. The first settlers were Allison Francis Page and his wife, Catherine Raboteau Page. A lumberman and farmer from Wake County, Page acquired land during the year 1854 and named it Cary in honor of the past Ohio congressman and prohibitionist, Samuel Fenton Cary. When the town was formally incorporated in 1871, Page became its very first mayor.
The Cary area has many parks utilized for outdoor recreation, including Annie L. Jones Park, MacDonald Woods Park, Fred G. Bond Metro Park, Sears Farm Road Park and White Oak park. A popular place is the Hemlock Bluffs State Natural Area. Hoffman Lake, MacGregor Downs Lake and Holiday Acres Lake are great places utilized for fishing and water sports. Each and every year the Town of Cary hosts different events and festivals like for instance Art Quilt Show, Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival and Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamfest.