One of the best parts of Durham is the great people you meet in the city. With a population of more than 260,000, Durham is a medium-sized city with great personality and character. The backbone of Durham is Duke University, one of the best universities in the country. The university and the students make the city something special.
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.
Long before Bull City was named after Dr. Bartlett Durham in the 19th century, the community was making history. Before the arrival of the Europeans, two Native American tribes — the Eno and the Occaneechi, related to the Sioux — lived and farmed here. Durham is believed to be the site of an ancient Native American village called Adshusheer.
The Great Indian Trade Route is traced through Durham, and Native Americans helped shape Durham by establishing environmentally friendly settlement sites, transportation routes, and natural resource use patterns. Both cities are so popular for so many reasons, including incredible restaurants, neighborhoods, museums, bars, activities, schools, and communities. Plus, both are located in central North Carolina, meaning you're just a two-hour drive from beautiful beaches and mountains. While Aya leads groups in the historic Hayti community of Durham, Black Wall Street and the West End, she embodies the characters — the ancestors and ancestors of Durham — whose stories she tells. 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 Art Walk features a variety of artists who meet each year on the streets of Durham to offer a large exhibition of works. In less than a week, students from North Carolina College in Durham and Duke University organized a sit-in in Durham. Durham public schools are run by Durham Public Schools, the eighth largest school district in North Carolina. The merger of Durham City Schools (several inner-city neighborhoods) and Durham County schools in the early 1990s generated controversy.
The Durham Dragons, a women's quick-throw softball team, played at Durham Athletic Park from 1998 to 2000. Still, we've compiled 37 reasons to love Durham from Discover Durham staff, longtime residents, and, yes, from an occasional Reddit thread.
