If you're moving to Durham, North Carolina, you'll be in Duke University territory -- not to be confused with nearby UNC Chapel Hill's turf. Durham is part of North Carolina's research triangle, and the Research Triangle Park is located within Durham County. The research park is known to be one of the most prominent research centers in the country, not to mention the largest. Durham is the county seat of Durham County and is in the north central part of the state. With a solid economy and a thriving academic environment, the area is busy with fresh influxes of Durham movers.
Economy:
Durham's economy is based around manufacturing, tobacco, and research. Commonly manufactured products include electronics, plastics, paper, aeronautics, and medical supplies. Led by Duke University, research and education make up a significant part of the city's economy.
Tourism:
Durham is served by the Raleigh-Durham International Airport located twelve miles from the city. The Durham Bulls professional baseball team as well as the sports teams of Duke University make up the most popular teams in the city. Other attractions of the city include the Children's Nature Museum and the Sarah Duke Memorial Gardens. A popular annual event held in Durham is the American Dance Festival.
History: Both the Eno and Occaneechi tribes resided in the area before any settlers arrived. In the early 18th century, John Carteret was given a land grant to the area by King Charles I and in the following years many different groups flocked to the region. Leading up to the Civil War, many large slave plantations were built in the area. Around this time, the city was named Durham after Dr. Bartlett Durham. North Carolina was the last state to secede during the Civil War and the Civil War was ended with a large surrender in Durham. After the Civil War, tobacco was discovered in the area which led to many large companies developing from Durham. Around the turn of the century, two large African-American owned companies started: North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and M&F Bank. During the 1950's and 1960's, Durham and the surrounding area was a hotbed for civil rights activities.