Apex Living
 History
Apex was incorporated in 1873. The Apex railroad station was built around 1854 to connect the North Carolina Railroad Company at Raleigh to the Chatham County coalfields. The first trains rolled through the station in 1869. The community of Apex used the train to ship lumber-related products, including tar and turpentine, to market. The forestland was eventually harvested out and farms sprang up. Tobacco was the primary crop. Downtown Apex The community today reflects its long history. Downtown Apex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a fine example of turn-of-the-century railroad towns, and is the state’s most intact example. There are 60 commercial buildings and homes dating from 1870 to 1940. Downtown Apex contains antique stores, gift shops and several restaurants. The depot became the town’s library when trains no longer stopped at the station. Apex today is home to a regional library and the depot now houses the Visitors Center, Chamber of Commerce offices and meeting rooms. Don’t miss the Louisville caboose parked beside the depot. Education Apex students attend schools in the excellent Wake County Public School System. There are four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school for Apex students. Nearby colleges and universities include North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, Wake Technical College, North Carolina Central University, Durham Technical College, Shaw University, Meredith College, St. Augustine’s College and Peace College. Parks & Recreation The Apex Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department oversees the town’s nine parks. The largest, Apex Community Park, is 160 acres and includes a lake with a trail around it, ball fields, courts and a playground. The Apex Community Center offers camps, classes for all ages, room rentals, a gym, craft room and game room. Kidtowne Playground is located at Olive Chapel/Kelly Road Park and includes a unique multi-level playground, walking path, a ball field, picnic areas and tennis courts. This park is the pride of Apex because it was funded and built entirely by volunteers. Greenways connect parks and schools throughout the town. Recreational sites in the area are many and varied. The Jordan Lake State Recreation Area includes an approximately 14,000-acre lake with 150 miles of shoreline. Sailboats glide among the motorboats, water skiers and fishermen. Picnic areas and hiking trails are found throughout the recreation area. Harris Lake County Park offers picnic areas, playgrounds and hiking trails along with boating, fishing and water skiing. Lake Crabtree also offers boating, fishing, hiking, playgrounds and picnic areas. Crowder Park is home to the North Carolina Symphony Summerfest concerts. The park boasts an observation deck for wildlife viewing, a large pond, trails and ball fields as well as picnic areas and playgrounds. A 42-acre lake encircled by trails is located at Fred G. Bond Metro Park. The lake is used for paddleboats, canoes and fishing boats. The 310-acre park also has a community center, a playground, picnic areas and an amphitheater. There are numerous golf courses in the area, and the famous Pinehurst courses are an hour away. |
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