Wake County

Note: This article focuses on Wake County as a governmental and administrative entity. For a broader overview of the county, including history, demographics, and geography, see Wake County, North Carolina on Wikipedia.

Wake County is a county located in the central Piedmont region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Established in 1771, the county is named for Margaret Wake Tryon, wife of colonial governor William Tryon. The county seat is the City of Raleigh, which also serves as the capital of North Carolina.

Wake County is the most populous county in North Carolina and forms the core of the Research Triangle region, which also includes portions of Durham County and Orange County. The county contains a mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities and plays a central role in the state’s government, economy, and education systems.

History

Wake County was formed in 1771 from portions of Cumberland, Johnston, and Orange counties. The area was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including the Tuscarora, before European settlement expanded during the eighteenth century.

The selection of Raleigh as both the county seat and state capital in the late eighteenth century shaped the county’s development as a center of government and administration. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Wake County experienced steady growth, with more rapid population expansion occurring in the latter half of the twentieth century as part of the growth of the Research Triangle.

Geography

Wake County is located in central North Carolina within the Piedmont region. The county covers approximately 857 square miles and is characterized by gently rolling terrain, numerous creeks, and several large reservoirs, including Falls Lake and Jordan Lake.

The county borders Franklin, Nash, Granville, Durham, Chatham, Harnett, and Johnston counties.

Government

Wake County operates under a board–manager form of government. Legislative authority is vested in the Wake County Board of Commissioners, whose members are elected from districts and at-large seats. The board appoints a county manager responsible for overseeing daily administrative operations.

County government is responsible for a range of services, including public health, social services, public safety, land use regulation in unincorporated areas, and administration of countywide elections.

Municipalities

Wake County contains multiple incorporated municipalities, including:

• City of Raleigh
• Cary, North Carolina
• Apex, North Carolina
• Garner, North Carolina
• Wake Forest, North Carolina
• Morrisville, North Carolina
• Holly Springs, North Carolina
• Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
• Knightdale, North Carolina
• Zebulon, North Carolina
• Rolesville, North Carolina

In addition to incorporated towns and cities, the county includes several unincorporated communities.

Demographics

According to the 2020 United States Census, Wake County had a population of 1,129,410, making it the most populous county in North Carolina.

The county has experienced sustained population growth over several decades, driven by in-migration, economic expansion, and the presence of major educational and research institutions.

Economy

Wake County’s economy is diverse and includes government, education, healthcare, technology, and professional services. The county benefits from proximity to major universities and research institutions within the Research Triangle region, as well as from its role as the seat of state government.

Education

Public education in Wake County is primarily administered by the Wake County Public School System, one of the largest public school districts in the United States.

The county is also home to several institutions of higher education, including North Carolina State University and Wake Technical Community College.

Transportation

Transportation infrastructure in Wake County includes interstate highways, state highways, local transit systems, and passenger rail service. Regional transportation planning is coordinated through metropolitan planning organizations serving the Research Triangle area.

See also

• City of Raleigh
• Government of Raleigh, North Carolina
• Wake County Board of Commissioners
• Research Triangle
• List of counties in North Carolina