North Carolina Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Apex, North Carolina

Population: 20,804

Located in Wake County

Apex, North Carolina is an ideal urban community with a key location near the heart of internationally renowned Research Triangle Park. Well known for its small town character, historic downtown area, top-rated schools and quiet neighborhoods, Apex also offers an excellent business climate for expansion and relocation for a variety of business sectors.

Apex' name is derived from it being the on the highest point of the rail lines in the area. Apex is fortunate to be situated in an area that is a two hour drive from the beautiful outer banks beaches and a three hour drive from the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. The mild winters and overall climate are appealing to so many that they decide to make their home in the area.

To improve upon the community would be to maintain and protect what it has and continue to add and upgrade available amenities and infrastructure to insure a prosperous future.

Apex has successfully worked to maintain its small town charm while experiencing a successful economic growth rate.

Located in southwestern Wake County, Apex combines a relaxing small-town atmosphere with convenience to big-city amenities. It is positioned for future growth with a population of 29,277, which is projected to more than double in the next eight to ten years. The town planners are working to ensure that the small-town character remains while allowing for many new residents to join the community.

It's no surprise that Apex was named ³No. 1 Small Town in North Carolina² by North Carolina Business Magazine in 1994. Money Magazine ranked the Town of Apex as the 14th best in their annual list of the ³100 Best Places in America to Live,² ranking it #1 in North Carolina in 2007. Apex is located in an area that constantly receives accolades. For example, the Raleigh-Durham area has been named the ³Best Place For Business and Careers² for the third consecutive year by Forbes Magazine in 2009. Apex is a small town ideally located in the southwestern corner of Wake County just a short drive from major shopping, business, entertainment, recreation and other big-city amenities. The Apex Police Department operates within a community policing philosophy, which enables the building of partnerships for collaborative problem solving. While enjoying one of the lowest crime rates in the nation, the clearance rate for all offenses in Apex approaches 65 percent, which is far above the national average. Traffic safety is a priority, and the city was recently recognized by AAA as one of North Carolina¹s safety cities.

Apex has seen the traditional North Carolina economy in the region transform from one based upon tobacco and textile products to a cutting edge economy with strong industry clusters in the life sciences, electronics and software, nanotechnologies, pervasive computing, advanced medical care, analytical instruments, nanoscale technologies, bio-informatics, vehicle component parts, environmental product design and manufacturing, and financial services. While considered a leading technology center in the U.S., a wide range of cutting edge products are also manufactured in the region. The region has seen a transformation of its manufacturing base in the past decade, becoming one of the few regions in the country where manufacturing employment is increasing.

With the region¹s strong foundation in knowledge based industries, the economy continues to grow steadily due in large part to the strengths of the local workforce, the presence of advanced technologies and the location of three nationally and internationally-recognized doctoral research universities, within 30 minutes drive time, including North Carolina State University (Raleigh), Duke University (Durham), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and eight other colleges and universities.

Apex benefits from its close proximity to the Research Triangle Park, the largest and most successful planned research park in the country, with its more than 140 high tech companies. World renowned healthcare is provided to citizens of the region at Duke University Hospital and UNC Hospitals, as well as MakeMed Health & Hospitals, based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Economic development and business growth has thrived throughout Apex. The Town boasts many local shopping centers, including Beaver Creek Commons, Beaver Creek Crossings, and the Promenade at Beaver Creek. Major anchor tenants include Super Target, Lowe¹s, Regal Beaver Creek Stadium 12 Theater, Dick¹s Sporting Goods, Home Depot, and Kohl¹s.

This past year has seen the completion of many commercial, office, and industrial developments throughout town, including the WakeMed Apex Healthplex with 24-hour Emergency Department, HH Gregg, eight restaurants, WineStyles, Bath & Body Works, Locals Guitars & Music, Infinity Ballet, Bounce U, Verizon Wireless, Goodyear, MC Precast expansion, Creative Machining Solutions, ATI Industries, and many others. Large projects currently under construction include Broadstone Station (anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter) and the Villages of Apex, which is the North Carolina Homebuilders Association¹s 2008 Mixed Use Community of the Year.

The schools in Apex are part of the Wake County Public Schools System and consistently ranks in the top five nationally. In fact, the System did rank as ³Third Best Education in Big Cities,² according to Forbes Magazine, 2004.

Housing values are very stable even in unstable economic times. In fact, the Raleigh area housing market was listed sixth in the nation as ³Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009 in the Feb. 17 edition of Builder Magazine. Apex offers a wide variety of housing. From single-family homes in historic districts and suburban neighborhoods, to a mix of single-family, town homes, apartments, and condominiums in traditional neighborhood districts, the town offers many options to its residents and potential area newcomers.

Additionally, Apex recently had its senior living choices expanded to include the Orchards, targeted to ages 55 years and older, and Cambridge Village, which is restricted to 55 years and older.

The Villages of Apex includes a total of 1,300 residential units, including luxury urban condominiums, town homes, single-family homes, patio homes, Georgetowns, brownstones, and neo-traditional homes. The neighborhoods are being built around a village center featuring specialty shops, quaint cafes, upscale restaurants, and Class-A office buildings. Community amenities will include a resort-style amenities center, a 13-acre park, a two-acre dog park, plus miles of greenways and paved walking trails woven through the various neighborhoods.

The Town of Apex offers a variety of passive and active leisure opportunities to Apex citizens and residents of Southwestern Wake County with seven public parks and miles of greenways. Future planned parks include the Apex Nature Park, Seagroves Farm Park, Hunter Street Park, and the park at Scotts Ridge Elementary. Apex has also opened an award-winning cultural arts center in its charming downtown.

The Apex Community Center is the hub of operation for Apex Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department. The 45,000 square foot facility includes community meeting space, classroom facilities, and two full-size gymnasiums. The Department oversees nine city parks ranging in size from the 160-acre Apex Community Park, to the 20 acre Jaycee Park, to several one to two acre parks located throughout town. The cornerstone of the Town¹s public park system is the Apex Community Park. It includes playing fields, tennis courts, two playgrounds and three miles of paved and natural trails surrounding a 60+ acre lake.

The Halle Cultural Arts Center of Apex opened to the public in a gala event in January 2008. The city won two awards for the transformation of the original Town Hall into the Halle Cultural Arts Center: a 2008 Anthemion Award from Capital Area Preservation, and a Design Award from the Triangle Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The adaptive re-use of this public building is an excellent example of a public-private partnership.

Of the $2.2 million construction costs, roughly 50 percent was provided by public funds and 50 percent by private funds. The Halle Cultural Arts Center has encouraged other preservation projects in the 200th block of North Salem Street, including the W. A. Hinton and Son Hardware Building and the Apex Mule and Supply Store. New stores, restaurants, and offices in downtown opened throughout 2008, and the Farmer¹s Market made its return to downtown last spring. Taken together, these projects represent more than $6 million in economic investments in downtown Apex last year alone. Apex is known to have one of the most historically intact central business districts in North Carolina.

Each year on the first Saturday in May, the citizens of Apex gather together for fun and festivities to celebrate the "Peak of Good Living," which is the town motto. The streets of downtown Apex are closed to traffic to accommodate an exciting street festival sponsored by the Apex Festival Commission and the Town of Apex. With something for everyone, it features arts and crafts, a variety of food concessions, children's activities and games, musical groups, and local and big-name entertainment. The street festival is the last event in a week-long series of community activities, which include a 5K road race, an outdoor concert, a golf tournament and other exciting events.

A visit to downtown Apex would not be complete without strolling the downtown historic district, which is considered one of the most intact turn-of-the-century railroad towns in the area, receiving official designation as a Historic District in 1994. The Downtown Historic District has commercial/residential buildings dating back to the late 1800s, which represent a large variety of architectural styles. Many buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Apex train depot, built sometime between 1867 and 1873, is designated as a Wake County landmark. The depot location marked the highest point on the old Chatham Railroad. An old caboose has been added to the site and serves as a historical museum.

Come and experience the benefits of working and living in Apex, North Carolina - "The Peak of Good Living." There¹s plenty of rooms for more. People who move here are very happy they did.

For more information, visit apexnc.org