A Tale of Two Cities

Thanks to media marketing, modern census figures and a shared international airport Raleigh/Durham exists in the minds of many Americans as a single city in the southeastern United States. However, as native Tarheels are well aware, Raleigh and Durham are two distinct communities. They lie about 25 miles apart within the rolling hills of Piedmont North Carolina. Each has a fascinating history that makes it unique and worthy of individual study. Created as one Americas earliest planned cities, Raleigh, was established in 1792 as the permanent seat of government for the state of North Carolina. Carved out of an oak forest on a 1,000 acres of land purchased from Wake County plantation owner Joel Lane. The new town struggled in its early years, hampered by poor transportation modes, a lack of economic enterprises beyond state government in 1831 the loss of the original state house in a disastrous fire. Following the civil war, the city slowly recovered economically, as its main retail venue Fayetteville Street became the commercial capitol in eastern North Carolina. The advent of the street car system in the 1880’s and the establishment of no fewer than 6 institution of higher learning by 1899 made possible a comfortably middle class population in the absence of heavy industry and home grown industry magnets.

A bit more than a half century younger, Durham, grew around a railroad station established in rural Orange County. In 1849 Dr. Bartlett Durham gave less than four acres to the North Carolina railroad, Durham’s station was built and named in his honor. The first post office opened in 1853, but the town was not incorporated until 1869. The new town wanting a stronger voice petitioned the legislature to create Durham County from portions of Orange and Wake Counties.  The first Tobacco factories opened in 1858. Growth was slow until after the Civil War when local industrialists opened their own factories and Durham’s main industry began to draw worldwide attention.  Textile plants were opened to make the cloth bags for tobacco. It was also during this period that Washington Duke and Julia S. Carr donated money and land to Trinity College on the condition that it relocate from Randolph County; and it did so in 1892.

Piedmont Region History Click Here:

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