Tucked away off the well-traveled path of U.S. 64, the eastern Wake County town of Wendell has maintained its small-town atmosphere while neighboring towns have grown at a much more feverish pace. The town has nearly 5,000 residents living in its two square miles.

What are the local attractions?

Wendell’s largest community event is the Harvest Festival, held the first weekend in October of each year. The festival features a variety of vendors, a parade and live entertainment at the J. Ashley Wall Town Square. The first weekend in May brings the annual Arts in the Alley gathering, which includes art from a variety of media and a giant sidewalk sale. The town also hosts a community-wide Christmas party at the Wendell Community Center.

For people who prefer more passive recreational pursuits, the Wendell Public Library, offers hours of reading and plenty of children’s programming and adult continuing education courses. The library is located at 207 S. Hollybrook Road. Contact them at 365-2600. They are open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Seniors can take part in recreational activities at the Eastern Wake Senior Center, located at 323 Lake Drive. Contact them at 365-4248.

Wendell boasts several town parks including the J. Ashley Wall Town Square on Cypress Street and Wendell Park, located on West Third Street.

The Wendell Community Center and walking trails are also found at Wendell Park.

Wendell’s medical offerings have historically been limited to single-doctor practices, but that’s expected to change in the next couple of years as WakeMed opens it's Eastern Wake Healthplex. The ambulatory care facility is expected to draw private practice physicians and ultimately grow to include some inpatient services. The facility is slated to open in 2009.

Wendell residents have always been community-minded. A number of civic clubs and organizations take part in community improvement efforts throughout the year and provide an outlet for members to socialize. You can visit or join one of these clubs.

Here's a way to learn more about the schools that serve Wendell.

What's the history?

Established by tobacco farmers fleeing wilt-stricken Granville County, the nameless community flourished as a tobacco-farming area until 1891 when the first post office was established. Wendell was named after the town postmaster’s favorite poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes. Formally incorporated in 1903, Wendell maintains it's small-town roots as a largely residential community with independently-owned shops and stores lining Main Street and a thriving new-home market. You can learn more about Wendell's history here.

Who runs the town?

Wendell is governed by a mayor and five town commissioners. Each person serves a four-year term. The terms rotate, so two commissioners and the mayor are elected in one election and three commissioners are chosen two years later.

Who lives here?

The median age in Wendell was 33.7 as of the 2000 census. The racial breakdown is 70.4 percent white, 24.1 percent black, and .4 percent Asian. Hispanics or Latinos of any race make up 5.9 percent of the population. Bachelors degrees or higher are held by 19.3 percent of the population over 25.

What about public safety?

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

Murder: 1

Rape: 0

Robbery: 3

Aggravated Assault: 16

Burglary: 30

Larcenies: 94

Motor Vehicle Theft: 6