RALEIGH, N. C., city, capital of the county-seat of Wake County, in lat. 35° 47 N., long. 78° 48' W., on the Southern, Norfolk Southern and the Seaboard Air Line railroads, about 28 miles southeast of Durham, 148 miles northwest of Wilmington and 60 miles north east of Pinehurst.
Topography.— Raleigh occupies an eleva tion of 363 feet. It is just northeast of the geographical centre of the State, in the upper valley of the Neuse River, which flows south east to Pamlico Sound. The city, platted around a beautiful park of 10 acres, which is, called Capitol Square, is divided into four sections by four broad streets which extend this centre. The magnificent oak trees in Capitol Square give Raleigh the popular name of The City of Oaks?) Manufacturing,— In 1900 the manufacturing interests of Raleigh represented an invested cap ital of $1,611P00, with products , valued at $2,204,000. Cotton and fertilizer products are the leading articles of commerce. The largest manufacturing estahlisliments arc phosphate works, foundries, machine shops, car shops, wood-working factories, ice factories, cotton mills and cottonseed-oil mills. Other manufac tures are underclothing, hosiery, carriages and agricultural implements. In 1914 capital in vested amounted to $2,012,000; products valued at $2,916,000.
Buildings and Cemeteries.—The State Capi tol, a substantial granite structure, stands in Capitol Square; nearby are the Supreme Court building, the State Library, State Geological Museum, Raney Library, Governor's mansion, United States government post office and court house. Other prominent public buildings are the county courthouse, State insane asylum, State penitentiary, State institutions for the blind, one for white and one for colored, State Institute for Deaf and Dumb, Old Ladies' Home and Rex Hospital. There are here National and Confederate cemeteries. The National Cemetery contains 1,207 graves, 572 of which are unknown dead.
The educational institutions are the Peace Institute (Presbyterian), Saint Mary's (Protestant Episcopal) and Meredith College for young women. The State College
of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, opened in 1889, has 26 buildings and accommodations for 800 students. Other schools are King's Busi ness College; the Shaw University (Baptist) and Saint Augustine's School (Protestant Epis copal) are for colored boys and girls. Several State educational institutions have been men tioned. There arc graded and normal schools for white and colored pupils. A large summer school for white teachers is held here each year. Not far distant from the city are the State University and the Wake Forest College (Baptist). The Supreme Court Library con tains 21,375 volumes, the State Library 44,529 volumes and the Olivia Raney public library 14,121 volumes. it the religions denominations have handsome churches for both races. There are two orphanages, one under the auspices of the Methodist Church, the other in charge of the Roman Catholic Church. There are two daily and 10 weekly newspapers.
Banks and Finances.— There are three na tional banks, one State bank and three savings banks. The banks have a combined capital of $545,000 and deposits amounting to $8,300,000. The assessed property valuation in 1915 was $13,708,000. There are excellent fire and police departments, and all municipal improvements are provided for by a regular tax.
The city is governed under the commission charter of 1912, which provides for a mayor and two other commissioners elected every two years. The administrative officials are chosen by the mayor and com mission.
History.— The site of the present city was selected in 1792 by the legislature for the lam tion of the State capital. In the same year the City was founded and named in honor of Walter Raleigh (q.v.). In •1794 the legislature held; its first session in Raleigh. The city was incor Rotated in 1795, and in 1803 was reincorporated. The city was occupied by General Sherman part of 1865. Pop. about 19,218. Consult Battle; 'The Early History of Raleigh.'