Durham, North Carolina

Durham: The third most populous city in North Carolina and the center of the Durham metropolitan area. It is located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Durham is known for its college basketball team, the Duke Blue Devils, its many parks and green spaces, and its many attractions, such as the Nasher Museum of Art and the Carolina Theatre.

About

Durham is a city located in the county of Durham in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population at the 2010 census was 228,330 and a population density of 797 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 285,897 inhabitants.

The city was created 155 years ago in 1868.

Durham was founded in the mid 1800s as a railroad station and trading center. It was incorporated in 1869 and became known as the “Bull City” - a nickname related to its prominent tobacco industry.

By the early 1900s, Durham was the site of textile mills and cigarette factories. It was also home to North Carolina College for Negroes (now NCCU), the nation’s first state-supported liberal arts college for black students.

Research Triangle Park and Economy

In the 1950s and 60s, Durham’s economy transformed with the establishment of Research Triangle Park (RTP). This research and development hub helped make Durham a center for technology, biotech, and healthcare companies.

Major employers today include Duke University, IBM, GlaxoSmithKline, Blue Cross NC and Cisco Systems. RTP has helped make Durham an innovation and jobs hub.

Attractions and Culture

Popular attractions include:

  • Duke University Campus - Known for its Gothic architecture and Duke Chapel.
  • Durham Bulls Athletic Park - Home of the famous minor league baseball team.
  • Museum of Life and Science - Dynamic science museum with hands-on exhibits.
  • Downtown Durham - Revitalized area with restaurants, shops, craft breweries and more.

Durham is also an important center for African-American culture and history. It hosts one of the largest Juneteenth festivals in the nation.

With its storied history, thriving economy and research facilities, and diversity, Durham offers a high quality of life in the heart of North Carolina.

Durham locator map
Location of Durham on North Carolina map.

Quick Facts about Durham

Population : 285,897 (2020)
Country : United States of America
State : North Carolina (United States)
County : Durham County
Twitter username : CityofDurhamNC
Postal code : 27701–27713, 27722, 27715, 27717, 27701, 27713, 27708, 27712, 27702, 27703, 27707, 27711, 27704, 27705, 27709-4528, 27710, 27706, 27709
Phone Area Codes : 919
Area : 286.66 km2
Official name : Durham
Named for : Bartlett S. Durham
Official language : English
Altitude : 404 feet / 123 meters
Capital city : Durham is capital of Durham County
Establishment : January 01, 1869 (155 years ago)
Time Zone : Eastern Time Zone, UTC−05:00, UTC−04:00
Local time : 20:38:49 (22nd December 2024)
Density : 997 Pop. per km² as of 2020
Population growth : 20.14% (2010-2020)
Durham-montage-05-08 image
Durham-montage-05-08
Durham-montage-05-08 image

Geography

Durham is located at 35°59'39"N 78°53'55"W (35.9940300, -78.8986200).

Durham map

  • Arusha
  • Kostroma
  • Toyama

Demographics

The population of Durham increased by 20.14% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
1890 5,485 - demographic balance
1900 6,679 17.88% demographic balance
1910 18,241 63.38% demographic balance
2010 228,330 92.01% census
2011 235,341 2.98% estimation process
2012 241,117 2.4% estimation process
2013 246,992 2.38% estimation process
2014 253,290 2.49% estimation process
2015 258,647 2.07% estimation process
2016 265,499 2.58% estimation process
2017 269,844 1.61% estimation process
2018 274,557 1.72% estimation process
2019 278,993 1.59% estimation process
2020 285,897 2.41% estimation process

Durham zip code is 27701. County name: Durham, County fips: 37063

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Best Things to Do in Durham

1 American Tobacco Campus

Rating: 4.6 (5053)

300 Blackwell St #104, Durham, NC 27701, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ 🔗 Url

American Tobacco Campus

2 Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Rating: 4.8 (4828)

420 Anderson St, Durham, NC 27708, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19196843698 🔗 Url

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

3 Eno River State Park

Rating: 4.8 (1988)

6101 Cole Mill Rd, Durham, NC 27705, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19193831686 🔗 Url

Eno River State Park

4 Durham Central Park

Rating: 4.6 (1052)

501 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19197948194 🔗 Url

Durham Central Park

5 Museum of Life and Science

Rating: 4.7 (988)

433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19192205429 🔗 Url

Museum of Life and Science

Where ot Eat in Durham

1 Golden Corral Buffet & Grill

Rating: 4.1 (2999)

5006 Apex Highway 55, Durham, NC 27713, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195442275 🔗 Url

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill

2 Texas Roadhouse

Rating: 4.1 (2531)

1809 N Pointe Dr, Durham, NC 27705, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19194718738 🔗 Url

Texas Roadhouse

3 Maggiano's Little Italy

Rating: 4.3 (2479)

8030 Renaissance Pkwy suite 890, Durham, NC 27713, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195720070 🔗 Url

Maggiano's Little Italy

4 Outback Steakhouse

Rating: 4.1 (2193)

3500 Mt Moriah Rd, Durham, NC 27707, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19194932202 🔗 Url

Outback Steakhouse

5 Cook Out

Rating: 4.1 (1844)

3119 Shannon Rd, Durham, NC 27707, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19198648634 🔗 Url

Cook Out

Where to Stay in Durham

1 Millennium Hotel Durham

Rating: 3.7 (1365)

2800 Campus Walk Ave, Durham, NC 27705, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19193838575 🔗 Url

Millennium Hotel Durham

2 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park

Rating: 4.4 (1154)

4810 Page Creek Ln, Durham, NC 27703, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19199416000 🔗 Url

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park

3 La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Univ Area Chapel Hill

Rating: 4.1 (870)

4414 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19194019660 🔗 Url

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Univ Area Chapel Hill

4 Red Roof Inn Durham - Duke University Medical Center

Rating: 3.5 (857)

1915 N Pointe Dr, Durham, NC 27705, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19194719882 🔗 Url

Red Roof Inn Durham - Duke University Medical Center

5 Hampton Inn & Suites Durham/North I-85

Rating: 4.4 (746)

1542 N Gregson St, Durham, NC 27701, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +19196888880 🔗 Url

Hampton Inn & Suites Durham/North I-85

Other Places in Durham

1 Durham One Call

Rating: 2.5 (35)

101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195601200 🔗 Url

2 Durham Department of Water Management

Rating: 1.3 (26)

101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195604381 🔗 Url

3 Durham County Inspections Department

Rating: 3.5 (15)

101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195604144 🔗 Url

4 Durham City/County Planning

Rating: 2.2 (11)

101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195604137 🔗 Url

5 Durham City Council

Rating: 2.1 (9)

101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195601200 🔗 Url

Durham City Council

6 City of Durham Government

Rating: 4.3 (6)

101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195601200 🔗 Url

City of Durham Government

7 Durham Human Resources Department

Rating: 3 (2)

101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195604214 🔗 Url

8 Durham Neighborhood Improvement Services Department

Rating: 3 (2)

Building 2, 807 E Main St #300, Durham, NC 27701 ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195601647 🔗 Url

9 City Hall

Rating: 1 (1)

Durham, NC 27703 ➦ Show Map

☎ 🔗 Url

City Hall

10 Durham City Manager

Rating: 1 (1)

101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 ➦ Show Map

☎ +19195604222 🔗 Url

People born in Durham (197)

People born in Durham, including computer scientist Fred Brooks, actress Phoebe Dollar, basketball player Wendy Palmer, .

List

  • Betty Davis (American singer) she was born in 26/07/1945
  • Ámbar Past (Mexican author) she was born in 01/01/1949
  • Kim Graham (former American athlete and Olympic gold medallist) she was born in 26/03/1971
  • Grady Tate (American jazz musician) he was born in 14/01/1932
  • Anita Morris (American actress, singer and dancer (1943-1994)) she was born in 14/03/1943
  • Rodney Rogers (American basketball player) he was born in 20/06/1971
  • John D. Loudermilk (American singer and songwriter) he was born in 31/03/1934
  • Benjamin Dean Meritt (American classical scholar) he was born in 31/03/1899
  • Matt Harrison (Major League Baseball pitcher) he was born in 16/09/1985
  • Howard T. Odum (American ecologist) he was born in 01/09/1924
  • Bull City Red (American Piedmont blues guitarist and singer) he was born in 19/02/1917
  • Brian Roberts (professional baseball player) he was born in 09/10/1977
  • Clyde McPhatter (American singer) he was born in 15/11/1932
  • David Aaron Baker (American actor) he was born in 14/08/1963
  • Nick McCrory (American politician) he was born in 09/08/1991
  • John Hart (American author with multiple books and awards) he was born in 01/01/1965
  • Bob Gantt (American basketball player) he was born in 22/06/1922
  • David Noel (American basketball player) he was born in 27/02/1984

Schools in Durham

College & universities near Durham, NC

Code Name City ZIP
490948 Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College Durham (NC) 27701
199157 North Carolina Central University Durham (NC) 27707
198455 Durham Technical Community College Durham (NC) 27703-5023
198419 Duke University Durham (NC) 27708
199883 Watts School of Nursing Durham (NC) 27705-2505

Stations (14)

Amtrak & bus stations near Durham, NC

Code Name Address Type
DNC Durham 400 W. Chapel Hill Street RAIL
CYN Cary 211 North Academy Street RAIL
NSF North Carolina State Fair station 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd. RAIL
RGH Raleigh Union Station 320 West Cabarrus Street RAIL
BNC Burlington 101 North Main Street RAIL

Post offices near Durham

Post Office Name City ZIP
Durham Post Office Durham (NC) 27701
East Durham Post Office Durham (NC) 27703
North Durham Post Office Durham (NC) 27704
West Durham Post Office Durham (NC) 27705
Shannon Plaza Post Office Durham (NC) 27707

Other places with the same name (8)

Distance to Other Cities

Durham distances to largest North Carolina cities