What is the "Triangle"?
"The Triangle" is actually a shortened form of "The Research Triangle," a nickname the area earned thanks to its three major research universities: North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Duke University in Durham, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Positioned between the three is the renowned Research Triangle Park, a veritable hotbed of research and development. Over the years, the Triangle's loosely defined boundaries have gradually moved outward, resulting in an area that can boast an interesting mix of big city sophistication and small town charm.

Triangle Accolades

•  "#1 Best Cities for Education," Places Rated Almanac, Millenium Edition;

•  "#4 Picture Perfect Metros," Plants, Sites & Parks magazine, March 2003;

•  "#6 Strongest Economy," Site Selection magazine, November 2002;

•  "#1 Business Climate," Site Selection magazine, November 2002;

•  "#8 America's Great Garden Cities," Garden Design, November/December 2002;

• "#3 Best City in the Nation for Entrepreneurs," Entrepreneur magazine, October 2002;

• "#1 Healthiest Place to Live," Outlook, July/August 2002;

• "#4 Best City for Singles," Forbes, June 2002;

• "#1 Best Place to Live and Work," Employment Review, June 2002.

And take a look at just a few of the accolades our colleges and universities received in 2003 in U.S. News & World Report:

• "#5 Public National University for Doctoral Degree (UNC-Chapel Hill)";

• "#5 National University for Doctoral Degree (Duke)";

• "#4 Undergraduate Nuclear Engineering Program at Schools With a Doctorate Degree (North Carolina State University).

NC Government Websites

▪Durham County Government Website www.co.durham.nc.us

▪Wake County Government Website  www.co.wake.nc.us

▪Orange County Government Website  www.co.orange.nc.us

▪Drivers License & Vehicle Registration Information  www.dmv.dot.state.nc.us

▪NC Tax Information  www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes

▪NC Voter Registration Information  www.sboe.state.nc.us

▪NC Daycare Provides an overview of the NC child care facilities. Maintained by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.NCdaycare.net

▪North Carolina Public Schools www.ncpublicschools.org

Travel Tips
The Triangle is a big place, and we have an honest-to-goodness, stop and roll rush hour. Keep that in mind when you are choosing an apartment home. For easy reference, remember:

It's about 25 minutes driving time between Raleigh and Durham (via I-40 and the Durham Expressway).

It's about 35 minutes from Raleigh to Chapel Hill (via I-40 and NC54). It's is about 12 minutes from Durham to Chapel Hill (via US15-501).

Definitely add time to these estimates if you're driving during rush hours (7:30 - 8:30 am and 4 - 5:30 pm).

Cost of Living
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