Durham, North Carolina, is famous for its thriving healthcare industry, which is why it's known as the Medicine City. It is also a center for technology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, and is home to Duke University and North Carolina Central University. In addition, Durham has a rich history, including its role in the Civil Rights Movement and its association with the American Tobacco Company. Durham is home to several renowned higher education institutions, most notably Duke University and North Carolina Central University.
Durham is also a national leader in health-related activities, focusing on Duke University Hospital and many private companies. Duke and its Duke University Health System are the city's major employers. North Carolina Central University is a historically black university that is part of the University of North Carolina System. Together, the two universities make Durham one of the vertices of the Research Triangle area; at the center of this area is the Research Triangle Park, south of Durham, which covers an area of 11 square miles and is dedicated to research facilities.
Durham is a city rich in history, culture and innovation. Known for its prestigious universities, thriving arts scene and culinary delights, Durham captivates residents and visitors alike. From the bustling city center to the serene Duke Forest, Durham offers a unique combination of urban excitement and natural beauty. As we explore the essence of this dynamic city, we discover what Durham is known for, highlighting its many distinctive features.
After the Civil War, the African-American economy progressed thanks to a combination of vocational training, jobs, land ownership, business ownership, and community leadership. In 1898, John Merrick founded North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, which today is the largest and oldest African-American-owned life insurance company in the country. Founded in 1907, M&F Bank became one of the strongest African-American-owned and operated banks in the country. Many other businesses joined these two in the neighborhood of Parrish Street, in Durham, for which the area became famous all over the country as “Black Wall Street”.
In the 1950s and 1960s, what is now the world's largest university research park, which gives its name to the vast Triangle region, was carved into the pine forests of Durham as a special tax district of Durham County. The Durham Public Art Program includes a growing number of permanent and temporary exhibitions across the city, including works by artists from Durham and across the country. The merger of Durham City Schools (several inner-city neighborhoods) and Durham County schools in the early 1990s generated controversy. In less than a week, students from North Carolina College in Durham and Duke University organized a sitting in Durham.
The Durham Art Walk features a variety of artists who meet each year for a large exhibition of works on the streets of Durham. Below, you'll find some of Bull City's highlights and visit Discover Durham to explore the latest things to do in Durham. Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) provides opportunities for the Durham community to play more through wellness, the outdoors and lifelong learning. Still, we've compiled 37 reasons to love Durham from Discover Durham staff, older residents, and, yes, the occasional thread from Reddit.
Durham public schools are administered by Durham Public Schools, the eighth largest school district in North Carolina. The Durham Dragons, a women's quick-throw softball team, played at Durham Athletic Park from 1998 to 2000. While Aya leads groups in the historic community of Hayti, Black Wall Street and Durham's West End, she embodies the characters — the ancestors and ancestors of Durham — whose It tells stories.
