Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina, is known as the "City of Oaks" due to its numerous oak trees. The city of Raleigh serves as the county seat of Wake County. With a population of 403,892, it is the 2nd biggest city in the state after Charlotte. It is also one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Raleigh is part of The Triangle, the well-known name for Research Triangle Park. The two other cities forming the triangle are Durham City and the city of Chapel Hill. The Triangle is located between the city of Raleigh and the city of Durham.
The nearby suburbs and satellite towns of Raleigh include: Cary, Clayton, Garner, Morrisville, Wake Forrestville, Knightdale, Holly Springs, Fuguay-Varina, Apex, Zebulon, Wendell and Rolesville.
The city of Raleigh has various free attractions for their patrons and visitors to get pleasure from. The city has been called the Smithsonian of the South as there are several high caliber museums in the area. The city of Raleigh is home to the interactive world museum and the world's biggest natural history museum. It likewise has the biggest art collection from Europe in the Southern States. Raleigh and The Triangle are the locus of a wide range of cultural activities, like BTI Center for the Performing Arts, the North Carolina Symphony, Carolina Ballet, North Carolina Theater and Broadway Series South.
The Atlantic coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains are both located fairly close to Raleigh, giving the area numerous outdoor activities to enjoy. The local ski resorts offer snowboarding and skiing opportunities for visitors. Hikers could traverse towering peaks, while camping next to pristine streams and lakes where trout fishing is popular. Warm, sunny beaches provide boating and swimming opportunities along the coast. The city of Raleigh itself boasts extensive parks and greenway systems.
The largest employer in Raleigh is the state government. Additionally, the Research Triangle Park, that is one of the leading centers for high-technology development and research, is an important business driving the city's economy. The park consists of research universities that employ many thousands of individuals. The Raleigh-Durham region is home to several high-technology and medical businesses in sectors such as electronic, electrical, telecommunications and medical. Other sectors include paper products, clothing and pharmaceuticals. Highly specialized companies produce intricate machinery and electronic components in Raleigh's manufacturing sector.