Cary, located in western Wake County, has about 121,000 residents and has evolved rapidly into Wake County's second-largest municipality. It is headquarters for SAS Institute, the largest privately held software company in the world. Money Magazine ranked Cary as the "hottest town in the East" over 100,000. Cary was recognized again by the magazine in 2006 as one of the best small cities in America.

What are the local attractions?

The town boasts several regional and national venues, including the Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park (summer home of the N.C. Symphony), SAS Soccer Park (home of the Carolina RailHawks of the United Soccer Leagues First Division) and the USA Baseball training facility at Thomas Brooks Park. The Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival has been a major draw for more than 30 years. Cary Band Day draws high school marching bands from throughout North Carolina.

What's the history?

Settlers arrived in the area in the mid-18th century though the town was not incorporated until 1871. Cary’s founder, Frank Page, named the town for Samuel Fenton Cary, a Union General and temperance leader from Ohio. The town is the home of the first public high school in North Carolina, founded in 1896. As late as 1960, Cary had fewer than 3,400 residents. The emergence of Research Triangle Park during the 1960s, to the northwest of the town, made Cary an attractive bedroom community. The population of the town at least doubled in every decade between 1960 and 2000. As the town has grown, it has also added significant commercial and office space as well.

Who runs the town?

Cary’s governing body is a town Council of six council members and a mayor. The mayor and two council members are elected at large; the other four members are chosen in districts. A town manager runs the daily operations of the government.

Who lives here?

The median age in Cary was 33.7 as of the 2000 census. The racial breakdown is 82.2 percent white, 6.1 percent black, and 8.1 percent Asian. Hispanics or Latinos of any race make up 4.3 percent of the population. Bachelors degrees or higher are held by 60.7 percent of the population over 25.

What about public safety?

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

Murder: 0

Rape: 14

Robbery: 42

Aggravated Assault: 75

Burglary: 554

Larceny: 1,520

Motor Vehicle Theft: 115