Raleigh, city in central North Carolina, capital of the state, and seat of Wake County. The city is located near the Neuse River. Raleigh is a commercial and distribution hub for an extensive agricultural area. Major manufactures include electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and processed food. Federal, state, and local government activities, financial and educational institutions, and construction are also important to Raleigh's economy. The city, along with Durham and Chapel Hill, forms one of the corners of a region dubbed the Research Triangle, an area containing extensive facilities used for scientific and educational research and development. More than 70 companies and government agencies have research laboratories in nearby Research Triangle Park, a large campus-like development devoted to high technology enterprise. The city is served by Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Raleigh is the site of Shaw University (1865), Saint Augustine's College (1867), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1887), Meredith College (1891), and a number of junior colleges. Points of interest include the State Capitol (1833-1840); the State Legislative Building (1963), designed by American architect Edward Durell Stone; the North Carolina Museum of Art; the North Carolina Museum of History; the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences; 18th-century houses, including the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson, now in Mordecai Historic Park; J. S. Dorton Arena, on the state fairgrounds; and the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center, which includes the Memorial Auditorium. The Carolina Hurricanes, a National Hockey League team, play in the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena. The North Carolina State Fair is held every October in the city.
