Research Triangle Park has been one of the most signficant engines of the region's growth for more than 40 years. Today, the nearly 7,000 acres that make up this industrial and research haven hold more than 20 million square feet of developed space. The companies that operate in RTP have payrolls totalling more than 39,000 full-time equivalent employees and 10,000 contract employees.

Who's here?

The largest employers in RTP include: IBM (10,800), GlaxoSmithKline (6,400), Cisco Systems (3,400), Nortel Networks (2,800), RTI International (2,600), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1,500), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (1,000), Sony Ericsson (750), Biogen Idec (720), Network Appliance (660). Source: RTP

What's the history?

RTP grew out of a desire by North Carolina governmental and business leaders after World War II to transform a state economy that was heavily dependent on low-wage industries such as textiles, furniture and agriculture, and to provide good-paying jobs for the graduates of the state's universities -- who were leaving the state for lack of opportunity.

On Jan. 9, 1959, dozens of leading North Carolina businessmen gathered in Raleigh for a luncheon to hear the details of a bold idea. RTP's founders, visionaries envisioned a place where major companies would build research centers on large pieces of land nestled among tall pines. Those companies would provide jobs for area college graduates as well as draw new residents to the region. Nearly 50 years later, the park, which straddles Wake and Durham counties, is home to a diverse range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, telecommunications, information technology and computer networking. In the 1990s, it landed such major tenants as Cisco Systems, Ericsson and Eisai Pharmaceuticals. For a history of RTP, go here.

The growth of RTP was a catalyst for the rapid growth of North Raleigh and the Western Wake County towns such as Cary, Morrisville, Apex and Holly Springs. RTP took off with the arrival of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and IBM in the 1960s. IBM would become the park's largest tenant, and NIEHS would be joined by the EPA faclity.

The park has steadily built out, and now around 530 acres remain available for development.

Go here to find a list of the companies in RTP.

Go here to find a job in RTP.