Raleigh, North Carolina

1959Research Triangle Park Created: Government and university leaders established Research Triangle Park between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. RTP grew into one of the largest research parks in the world, attracting IBM, Cisco, and hundreds of tech companies.

1792Raleigh Founded as State Capital: North Carolina established Raleigh as its permanent state capital, designing it on a grid plan with the Capitol at its center. The city was named after Sir Walter Raleigh.

1960SNCC Founded at Shaw University: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was founded at Shaw University in Raleigh, becoming one of the most important organizations of the civil rights movement.

1865Civil War Ends Nearby: Sherman's forces occupied Raleigh, and the largest Confederate surrender of the war took place at Bennett Place near Durham, effectively ending the Civil War in the Eastern theater.

1887NC State University Founded: North Carolina State University was established in Raleigh as a land-grant college, eventually becoming one of the leading research universities powering the Research Triangle.

2006Hurricanes Win Stanley Cup: The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, bringing Raleigh its first major professional sports championship and proving hockey could thrive in the South.

2000Population Boom: Raleigh's population grew by over 60% from 2000 to 2020, driven by tech employment, university research, and quality of life, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in America.

1831Nat Turner Aftermath: After Nat Turner's slave rebellion in Virginia, North Carolina passed severe restrictions on enslaved and free Black residents, affecting Raleigh's large Black population.

1840Railroad Reaches Raleigh: The Raleigh and Gaston Railroad connected the capital to the outside world, ending its relative isolation and enabling commercial growth.

1996Red Hat Founded: Open-source software company Red Hat was co-founded in Raleigh, becoming one of the most successful open-source companies and reinforcing the region's tech identity.