Raleigh Population 2010: 403,892, #43 in U.S., #2 in North Carolina 1950: 65,679, #179 in U.S. 2010
Metropolitan Area: 1,130,490, #48 in U.S. 1950 Metropolitan Area: 136,450, #125 in U.S. Setting Raleigh
was established in 1792, specifically to be the state capital of North
Carolina. Shaw University is located downtown. Buildings Tallest building: PNC Plaza, 538 feet (2008) List of tallest buildings The domed State Capitol (1840) is 98 feet tall. Stores Raleigh has no downtown department stores. Trains Amtrak's Silver Star goes north to New York City and south to Miami. The Carolinian and Piedmont trains also provide service from Raleigh to Charlotte. Amtrak uses the old Southern Railway station (1950), just southwest of downtown. MuseumsThe North Carolina Museum of History, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Raleigh City Museum are located downtown. |  Downtown Raleigh (Photo by Mark Turner) Theaters
Raleigh
has no downtown movie theaters. The Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts (2001) hosts the North Carolina Symphony and the North Carolina Opera. Broadway Series South presents touring musicals at the Memorial Auditorium (1932, renovated 1990). North Carolina Theatre also presents plays in downtown Raleigh. Sports The Carolina Mudcats, Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, play at Five County Stadium (1991), located about 20 miles east of Raleigh in the suburb of Zebulon. The NHL Carolina Hurricanes play at the PNC Arena (1999), northwest of downtown. Convention and Visitors Bureau |