Knightdale is a railroad town, birthed at the turn of the last century from trains passing through farmland. It was a town of about 75 to 100 for decades. Until the early 1990s it remained a very small town, largely undeveloped. But the new I-540 connecting it to north Raleigh, the Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the U.S.64 Bypass has changed all that. Developers are discovering the town and residents are moving in. According to the 2000 census, Knightdale had 5,958 residents. Today, nearly 9,000 residents call Knightdale home. Once developments that are underway are complete in several years, it is estimated that its population will just about double from current estimates.

What are the local attractions?

The Knightdale Environmental Park is located behind Knightdale Town Hall and East Regional Library. The park provides a walking trail, picnic areas and two observation overlooks.
One of this town's most revered landmarks is Knightdale Seafood & Barbecue, which, in addition to traditional eastern North Carolina fare, serves up buffalo, elk, rattlesnake and kangaroo.
East Regional Library opened in 2000, and is located at 946 Steeple Square Court. It offers a wide variety of programming for everyone from babies to adults. There are storytimes for preschoolers and children, school age crafts, and teen monthly activities.

The town has a wide range of events throughout the year. An Easter Egg Hunt is held the Saturday before Easter Weekend. Harvest Hay Day is held in October in Harper Park. A craft show is held in November at the Knightdale Recreation Park. The Knightdale Christmas Parade is held the first Saturday in December in downtown Knightdale.

If you want to get involved in your community, there’s no better way than by joining a local club or organization. Knightdale has a host of choices and practically something for everybody. The Knightdale Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a host of recreation and sports activities throughout the year.

You can find a list of local businesses by going here.

What's the history?

More than a century ago, local landowner Henry Haywood Knight donated property to Norfolk and Southern Railroad Company. After his death in 1904, the railroad was extended to the community that would bear his name. Knightdale was incorporated in 1927 by the General Assembly. The town's growth received a setback in February 1940 when a fire destroyed several buildings in the downtown area.

After incorporation, many businesses moved into town, including a farmer's cooperative, a barber shop, and several small grills. Robertson's remained the anchor of the business community. Despite the growth, Knightdale continued to suffer from not having a municipal water system. This shortfall came to a head in 1940. In the early morning hours of February 7, 1940, a fire swept through downtown Knightdale.

The extension of sewer connections to Raleigh and the widening of U.S. 64 led to the rapid growth of the town. You can learn more about Knightdale's history here.

 

Who runs the town?

Knightdale is governed by a mayor and town council. The daily operations of the town are overseen by the town manager

Knightdale merged it's water and sewer services with the town of Raleigh. The town contracts wtih Waste Industries to provide curbside garbage and recycling services. Electric services are provided by Progress Energy and Wake Electric Membership Corporation north of U.S. 64 Business outside of Knightdale town limits. Gas service is provided by Public Service of North Carolina.

Who lives here?

The median age in Knightdale was 31 as of the 2000 census. The racial breakdown is 67.9 percent white, 26.8 percent black, and 1.5 percent Asian. Hispanics or Latinos of any race make up 3.7 percent of the population. Bachelors degrees or higher are held by 33.7 percent of the population over 25.

What about public safety?

 

Police services are provided by the Knightdale Police Department. Here are the crime statistics for 2006 (source: SBI):

Murder: 0

Rape: 1

Robbery: 8

Aggravated Assault: 18

Burglary: 62

Larcenies: 218

Motor Vehicle Theft: 11