Apex Historic District
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The Apex Historic District is the historic commercial and residential center of Apex,
North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
, a satellite town of the state capital
Raleigh Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
. The district revolves around Salem Street, the main
thoroughfare A thoroughfare is a primary passage or way as a transit route through regularly trafficked areas, whether by road on dry land or, by extension, via watercraft or aircraft. On land, a thoroughfare may refer to anything from a multi-lane highway ...
in downtown Apex. In 2007,
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ranked Apex as the 14th best place to live in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The report cited the Historic District as one reason for the award and described the district as "quaint, impressively intact, and with an array of commercial and residential buildings now serving visitors and residents alike." On March 17, 1994, the Apex Historic District was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
. The district boundaries were expanded in 1995, 2002, and 2008, and include Hunter, Center, Chatham, Cunningham, Holleman, and Hughes Streets.


History

The town of Apex was incorporated in 1873, and named for being the highest point on the Chatham Railroad line between
Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...
,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
and Jacksonville,
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
. The town's residential and commercial buildings were constructed near the
Apex Union Depot The Apex Union Depot is a historic railroad station located on Salem Street in downtown Apex, North Carolina and is the centerpiece of the Apex Historic District. Constructed in 1914 by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, the building shared service wi ...
on Salem Street. During the next several decades, Apex became the rail, trade, and shopping destination for western Wake County. In February 1905, a fire broke out in the commercial area of downtown Apex and destroyed several frame buildings. Owners rebuilt their businesses with fire-proof brick. On June 12, 1911, another fire broke out in Apex's commercial district. The Merchants and Farmer's Bank, Postmaster's house, and many other buildings were destroyed. Townspeople once again rebuilt downtown Apex businesses and a new train station was constructed in 1914. Like many small U.S. towns, downtown Apex businesses began closing in the 1970s and 1980s. By 1985, half of the buildings in downtown Apex were empty. In 1995 town leaders began improving Salem Street in an effort to increase local business and attract visitors to the historic district. Utilities were placed underground, sidewalks were repaved, and landscaping was added. In 1996, Apex received an award from Wake County's Capital Area Preservation organization for the efforts put forth in revitalizing the historic district. Because of Apex's population boom (1990 population: 4,500; 2008 estimated population: 34,000), further development of the district has begun and includes additional office space, a hotel, theatre, churches, six parks, and over 800 homes.


Architecture

Apex Historic District contains 60 buildings that were constructed from 1870 to 1940, and has been described as a "Gucci Mayberry." Architectural designs of the district include:
Bungalow A bungalow is a small house or cottage that is either single-story or has a second story built into a sloping roof (usually with dormer windows), and may be surrounded by wide verandas. The first house in England that was classified as a b ...
, Craftsman, Queen Anne,
Classical Revival Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...
, Italianate, Modern Movement, Late Victorian, and Early Commercial. Salem Street is lined with one-and two-story brick buildings, such as the
Town Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
and the Union Depot The retail section of the district includes art galleries, bakeries, restaurants, and boutique stores.


See also

*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Wake County, North Carolina This list includes properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wake County, North Carolina. Click the "Map of all coordinates" link to the right to view an online map of all properties and districts with latitud ...


References


External links


Apex Historical Society
{{National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina Apex, North Carolina Neoclassical architecture in North Carolina Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina Italianate architecture in North Carolina Queen Anne architecture in North Carolina Geography of Wake County, North Carolina Tourist attractions in Apex, North Carolina National Register of Historic Places in Wake County, North Carolina