Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in North Carolina’s Research Triangle metropolitan region. As of the 2020 census, Durham had a population of 278,993 making it the 4th largest city in North Carolina. The city has seen rapid population growth in recent years.
Population Information
According to the Wikipedia page for Durham, the racial makeup of the city based on the 2020 census was:
- 42.7% White
- 40.3% Black or African American
- 4.7% Asian
- 0.5% Native American
- 0.1% Pacific Islander
- 3.4% from other races
- 2.7% from two or more races
- Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.9% of the population.
The census indicated 278,993 people, 119,044 households, and 59,537 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,406 inhabitants per square mile.
History
Durham was founded in 1853 and given its name in honor of Dr. Bartlett Durham. Durham started as a railroad station and trading post before tobacco manufacturing fueled its growth starting in the 1860s. By the early 1900s, Durham was home to over a dozen tobacco companies and was nicknamed “Bull City” for the bull logo of the Blackwell Tobacco Company.
The dominant role of tobacco began to decline in the mid-20th century. In the late 1950s, the Reynolds Tobacco Company and American Tobacco Company closed their Durham operations.However, the city rebounded as the Research Triangle Park area grew starting in the 1960s. Major employers in medicine, technology, and research located to the area.
Economy and Major Employers
Today, Duke University and Duke Medical Center are the largest employers in Durham with over 39,000 employees combined. Other top employers include Durham County Government, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, International Business Machines (IBM), and North Carolina Central University according to the North Carolina Economic Development Partnership.
The largest industries in Durham are in education, healthcare, professional services, manufacturing, technology, and financial services. The largest companies headquartered in Durham are Measurement Incorporated and Kane Realty Corporation according to the Durham Chamber of Commerce.
Attractions and Landmarks
Popular attractions and landmarks in Durham include:
- Durham Bulls Athletic Park – Home of the Durham Bulls minor league baseball team
- Duke Chapel – Historic chapel on Duke University’s campus
- North Carolina Museum of Art – Largest art museum in the Southeast
- Southpoint Mall – Large regional mall southeast of downtown
- Durham Museum of Life and Science – Science museum with outdoor exhibits
The city also has a variety of historical sites, galleries, performing arts venues, craft breweries, and urban parks for visitors to enjoy.
Sports
Durham is home to several professional and college sports teams. The Durham Bulls are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. The team plays at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in downtown Durham. Duke University also has a prominent athletics program in Durham that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I. Popular Duke Blue Devils teams include men’s basketball, football, and women’s basketball.
You can follow the latest news and events happening in Durham by liking the city’s official Facebook page.