Wake Forest, North Carolina

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Wake Forest, North Carolina
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Wake Forest, North Carolina


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = North Carolina
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Wake, Franklin
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Vivian A. Jones
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1880

area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 20.5
area_land_km2 = 20.2
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_total_sq_mi = 7.9
area_land_sq_mi = 7.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 22324
population_density_km2 = 623.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1614.4

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 118
elevation_ft = 387
latd = 35 |latm = 58 |lats = 24 |latNS = N
longd = 78 |longm = 31 |longs = 8 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 27587-27588
area_code = 919
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 37-70540GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1023094GR|3
website = http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/
footnotes =

Wake Forest is a town in Wake and Franklin counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, located just north of the state capital, Raleigh. It is the home of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The population was 12,588 at the 2000 census. In 2007, the estimated population was 22,324. [ [http://www.wakeforestchamber.org/market_profile.asp Wake Forest Chamber Of Commerce :: Wake Forest, North Carolina ] ] In 2007, the town was listed by Forbes Magazine as the 20th fastest growing suburb in America, with a 73.2 percent increase in population between 2000 and 2006. [ [http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1677596/ 3 Area Towns Among Fastest-Growing Suburbs :: WRAL.com ] ] Wake Forest was the original home of Wake Forest University for 112 years before it moved to Winston-Salem in 1956.

History

Development of the town of Wake Forest began in 1820 when Dr. Calvin Jones, originally from New England, bought 615 acres (2.5 km²). The sparsely populated area became known as Wake Forest, or the Forest of Wake. Jones sold his farm for $2,000 to the North Carolina Baptist Convention, which opened the Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute, later Wake Forest College, on the site. The Raleigh & Gaston Railroad, completed in 1840, gave a boost to the school and surrounding village with its nearby depot in Forestville. College leaders convinced the railroad to move the depot even closer to the college in 1874, leading to more economic development. This growth allowed the community to become incorporated by the state in 1880 as the "Town of Wake Forest College." In 1909, the word "College" was removed from the official name. 1956 saw the removal of the college itself, to the much larger city of Winston-Salem. [ [http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/Visitors/History.aspx History - Wake Forest, NC ] ] Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary began offering classes in 1950 on the original campus of Wake Forest University, and occupied the rest of the campus when the university completed its move.

Government

Wake Forest operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The citizens elect a Mayor and Board of Commissioners as the town's governing body. The Town Manager is appointed by the Board to serve as the chief operating officer administering all municipal affairs. [ [http://www.ci.wake-forest.nc.us/Government/Mayor.aspx Mayor - Wake Forest, NC ] ] [ [http://www.ci.wake-forest.nc.us/Government/BoardofCommissioners.aspx Board of Commissioners - Wake Forest, NC ] ] The current mayor is Vivian A. Jones and current Council Members include Chris Kaeberlein (Mayor Pro Tem), Anne Hines, Frank Drake, Pete Thibodeau and Margaret Stinnett. [ [http://www.ci.wake-forest.nc.us/government/boardmembers.aspx?section=Board%20of%20Commissioners Board Members - Wake Forest, NC ] ]

Geography

Wake Forest is located at coor dms|35|58|24|N|78|31|8|W|city (35.973289, -78.518789)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.5 km² (7.9 mi²). 20.2 km² (7.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.27%) is water.

Wake Forest is located in the northeast central region of North Carolina, where the North American Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain regions meet. This area is known as the "fall line" because it marks the elevation inland at which waterfalls begin to appear in creeks and rivers. Its central Piedmont location situates Wake Forest about three hours west of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, by car and four hours east of the Great Smoky Mountains of the Appalachian range.

Climate

Wake Forest enjoys a moderate subtropical climate, with moderate temperatures in the spring, fall, and winter. Summers are typically hot with high humidity. Winter highs generally range in the low 50s°F (10 to 13 °C) with lows in the low-to-mid 30s°F (-2 to 2°C), although an occasional 60°F (15°C) or warmer winter day is not uncommon. Spring and fall days usually reach the low-to-mid 70s°F (low 20s°C), with lows at night in the lower 50s°F (10 to 14°C). Summer daytime highs often reach the upper 80s to low 90s°F (29 to 35°C). The rainiest months are July and August.

Demographics

As of the 2000 censusGR|2, there were 12,588 people, 4,617 households, and 3,407 families residing in the Wake Forest. The population density was 623.1/km² (1,614.4/mi²). There were 5,091 housing units at an average density of 252.0/km² (652.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.63% White, 15.78% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.03% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.

There were 4,617 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 39.3% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,307, and the median income for a family was $60,408. Males had a median income of $45,630 versus $30,205 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,746. About 6.3% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary education

The town is served by six public schools which are administered by the Wake County Public School System. Public schools include Heritage Elementary School, Jones Dairy Elementary School, Wake Forest Elementary School, Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School, Heritage Middle School, and Wake Forest-Rolesville High School. Franklin Academy is a public charter school (K-12). Private schools include Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic School. [ [http://www.yellowpages.com/Wake-Forest-NC/Schools/city-Wake-Forest?search_terms=schools&sort=content&search_mode=all schools in Wake Forest - YELLOWPAGES.COM ] ] Wake Forest is also home to two Montessori schools, Wake Forest Montessori [ [http://www.yellowpages.com/product/Wake-Forest-NC/montessori?search_mode=all&search_terms=montessori - YELLOWPAGES.COM] ] and Children's House Montessori. [ [http://www.yellowpages.com/name/Wake-Forest-NC/montessori-childrens-house?search_mode=all&search_terms=montessori+childrens+house - YELLOWPAGES.COM] ]

Higher learning

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention. It began offering classes in 1950 on the original campus of Wake Forest University.

Culture

Historical locations

The DuBois Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [ [https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/residents/areaattractions.aspx Area Attractions - Wake Forest, NC ] ] The W.E.B. DuBois School opened in 1926 for the African-American community in Wake Forest before racial segregation ceased in 1971. After the school outgrew the facility and moved to a new location, the building was vacant for a decade until the DuBois Alumni Association purchased the building and made it into a community center. [ [http://wfrms.wcpss.net/dubois.html DuBois ] ]

Wake Forest College Birthplace, also known as the Calvin Jones Historical House, was built in 1820 and was the residence of the first President of Wake Forest College and the center of activities that took place at the school. The Wake Forest College Birthplace displays the history of the town of Wake Forest as well as Wake Forest University. The house contains collections of photos, books, college publications, furniture, documents, professors’ writings, and medical, law and sports memorabilia. [ [http://www.wakeforestbirthplace.org/ Wake Forest College Birthplace Society ] ]

Library

The Wake County Public Library System operates a branch in Wake Forest. [ [http://www.wakegov.com/locations/library/wakeforestbranchlibrary.htm WakeGOV.com - Wake Forest Branch Library ] ]

Parks and recreation

Wake Forest home to the Falls Lake State Recreation Area. Falls Lake Park contains the convert|12000|acre|km2|sing=on Falls Lake and convert|26000|acre|km2 of woodlands. [ [http://ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/fala/main.php N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation: - Welcome to Falls Lake State Recreation Area ] ]

Wake Forest is served by nine parks and community centers. They include the following: [ [https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/residents/parksrecreation_facilities.aspx Parks & Facilities - Wake Forest, NC ] ]
*Plummer Park
*Tyler Run Park
*Holding Park and Wake Forest Community House
*J.B. Flaherty Park
*Taylor Street Park and Alton Massenburg Center
*Ailey Young Park
*H.L. Miller Park
*Kiwanis Park
*Smith Creek Soccer Center

Transportation

Passenger

*Air: Wake Forest is served by Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which is located convert|20|mi|km southwest of the town in northwestern Wake County.
*Interstate Highway: Wake Forest can be accessed by I-85 and I-40. The town is located to the east of I-85 and north of I-40.
*Wake Forest is not served directly by passenger trains. Amtrak serves nearby Raleigh.
*Local Bus: The Triangle Transit Authority operates buses that serve the region and connect to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

Roads

*Wake Forest is located off of US 1 (also known as Capital Boulevard in northern Wake County), a major north-south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States.
*Other highways that run through the area include NC 96 andNC 98.

Media

WCPE-FM, located in Wake Forest, is a classical music station that provides its programming over the air, via the Internet, and via C-band and Ku-band satellite. The town's independently-owned community newspaper, "The Wake Weekly", has an average circulation of more than 8,400 copies per week. [ [http://www.wakeweekly.com/index.php?categoryid=29 Welcome to the Wake Weekly Online Edition ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/ Official website]
* [http://www.wakeforestgazette.com/ Local Web-Only Newspaper "The Wake Forest Gazette"]
* [http://www.wakeweekly.com/ Local Newspaper "The Wake Weekly"]
* [http://www.wakeforestbirthplace.org/index.html Wake Forest College Birthplace Society]