The 2010 U.S. Census is being conducted. The 10-question Census forms were mailed to American residents March 15. Reminder postcards have been sent to every American household. April 1 was National Census Day, when everyone who had yet to do so was asked to answer the 10 questions and mail the form in the postage-paid envelop provided. Those who have yet to return the Census form are asked to do so immediately. Any personal data that is provided is protected under federal law. If you do not return the form, you may receive a visit from a Census taker who will ask you the questions from the form.
The Census figures will be the basis on which $487 billion in federal funds annually are distributed for essentials such as hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, transportation and public utility infrastructure and emergency services.
The data collected by the census also help determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Raleigh Local Census Office is located at 2605 Atlantic Ave. the telephone number is 866-3700. The U.S. Census website is www.2010.census.gov.
The following is a glance back at Raleigh and its population:
1800
In 1800, Raleigh had a population of 699 and covered 0.625 square miles. Nearly 1,000 persons celebrated the birthday of America’s first president, George Washington on Feb. 22, in Downtown Raleigh. This was the first observance of the Revolutionary War hero’s birthday since his death two months earlier.
A market house was erected to provide Wake farmers with a ready market and enable townsfolk to purchase necessities with greater ease.
A wooden courthouse was erected on Fayetteville Street.
1820
In 1820, Raleigh had a population of 2,674. The City had its first water system. Pumps were operated by a waterwheel on Rocky Branch and the water flowed by gravity along Hargett and Fayetteville streets through wooden spouts. But the pipes were frequently clogged with mud and burst, and the scheme soon was abandoned.
The Capital City has a volunteer fire company and commissioners had procured a pump fire engine for the company’s use.
1830
In 1830, Raleigh had a population of 1,700. Raleigh publisher Joseph Gales recently published the first book of poetry by African-American George Moses Horton.
Raleigh streets are lighted by oil lamps.
1840
In 1840, Raleigh had a population of 2,244. The State-built Raleigh & Gaston Railroad was completed as was the State Capitol.
A sports page is added to the Raleigh Register newspaper.
1850
In 1850, Raleigh had a population of 4,518. The State Hospital for the Insane had been authorized by the General Assembly, due chiefly to the efforts of Dorothea Lynde Dix.
Raleigh is connected to Virginia and South Carolina via the telegraph.
1860
In 1860, Raleigh had a population of 4,780. The City now has a Fire Department and a paid fire chief, as well as a paid watch instead of a citizen guard.
Raleigh is lighted by gas.
1870
In 1870, Raleigh had a population of 7,790. Raleigh was now home to Normal School and Collegiate Institute, later St. Augustine’s College and the school for deaf and blind African-Americans.
The State Penitentiary opened a log building during this year.
1880
In 1880, Raleigh had a population of 9,265. Raleigh is home to the state’s first telephone exchange. The News and The Observer are consolidated into one newspaper.
1890
In 1890, Raleigh had a population of 12,678. In this year the Governor’s Mansion on Burke Square was completed and occupied by Gov. Daniel G. Fowle. Raleigh also became the home of North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, later North Carolina State University. The bad news that year was the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad roadhouse and 17 locomotives being destroyed by fire.
1900
In 1900, Raleigh had a population of 13,643 and covered 1.757 square miles. In this year, Raleigh became home to Baptist Female University, later renamed Meredith College. Also, construction began on the Methodist Orphanage in 1900 and free rural mail delivery was initiated from the Raleigh Post Office.
1910
In 1910, Raleigh had a population of 19,218 and covered 4.026 square miles. In this year, Raleigh became home to an ice cream factory and an airplane was landed on the State Fairgrounds. Also, City Hall and Auditorium were completed on East Davie Street and the City paved 14 blocks with asphalt.
1920
In 1920, Raleigh had a population of 24,418 and covered 6.961 square miles. This year marked the first time women were allowed to vote in North Carolina and the dawning of Raleigh’s first major building boom.
1930
In 1930, Raleigh had a population of 37,379 and covered 7.254 square miles. In this year Curtiss-Wright Flying Field, Raleigh’s first aviation facility, opened and City Hall and Auditorium on East Davie Street was destroyed by fire. The first of six Raleigh banks to close during the Great Depression shut its doors in 1930.
1940
In 1940, Raleigh had a population of 46,879 and covered 7.254 square miles. The General Assembly chartered the Raleigh-Durham Aeronautical Authority and Raleigh installed its first parking meters along Fayetteville Street. The only Wake County native ever to serve as governor, J. Melville Broughton, was elected.
1950
In 1950, Raleigh had a population of 65,679 and covered 10.883 square miles. North Carolina State University completed its iconic Memorial Bell Tower and Reynolds Coliseum, which was the site of scores of historic Atlantic Coast Conference basketball confrontations for the next nearly 50 years. Raleigh shoppers were enjoying the South’s first shopping center, Cameron Village.
1960
In 1960, Raleigh had a population of 93,931 and covered 33.669 square miles. Raleigh was positioned for growth into the last half of the 20th century with the establishment of the Research Triangle Park. William Campbell was the first African American child to attend a white school in Raleigh. He enrolled at Murphey High School. A new municipal building is opened at the corner of S. McDowell and East Hargett streets.
1970
In 1970, Raleigh had a population of 122,830 and covered 44.929 square miles. North Carolina State University was playing football in sparkling new Carter Finley Stadium and shoppers forgot their weather woes while enjoying Raleigh’s first enclosed mall, North Hills.
1974
In 1974, Raleigh had a population of 133,798 and covered 47.288 square miles. Clarence E. Lightner is Raleigh’s first popularly elected mayor and the first African American to serve in that office. The North Carolina State University (NCSU) Wolfpack was king of the college basketball world, winning the NCAA men’s National Basketball Championship in Greensboro, taking down the Marquette Warriors 76-64. In the semifinals, NCSU cast the UCLA Bruins from their seven-year perch on college basketball’s throne.
1977
In 1977, Raleigh had a population of 142,024 and covered 53.446 square miles. The Neuse River Wastewater Treatment Plant opened. Fayetteville Street Mall and the Raleigh Civic Center were dedicated. Isabella Cannon was elected Raleigh’s first female mayor.
1983
In 1983, Raleigh had a population of 167,703 and covered 61.837 square miles. In a classic, modern-day David-and-Goliath clash, North Carolina State University won its second men’s national basketball championship with a last-second shot over the heavily favored University of Houston Cougars.
1986
In 1986, Raleigh had a population of 187,016 and covered 80.526 square miles. North Carolina State University unveiled its plan for Centennial Campus on property south of the main campus. The area will mix residential and retail along with classroom, research areas and other buildings.
1989
In 1989, Raleigh had a population of 208,662 and covered 89.149 square miles. The General Assembly passed a comprehensive solid waste bill and the City of Raleigh began its curbside recycling program and other solid waste reduction efforts.
1990
In 1990, Raleigh had a population of 212,092 and covered 91.395 square miles. Interstate 40 was opened to Wilmington, giving Raleigh interstate access from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
1991
In 1991, Raleigh had a population of 218,179 and covered 92.538 square miles. First Union Capitol Center opened a block south of the Capitol. A second high rise, Two Hanover Plaza, opened on the south end of Fayetteville Street Mall. Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, Raleigh’s $13.5 million premier entertainment complex, opened.
1992
In 1992, Raleigh had a population of 222,455 and covered 94.360 square miles. Raleigh voters defeated the convention/conference center improvements bond. The City opened a yard waste center and began recycling corrugated cardboard. Raleigh celebrates its bicentennial throughout the year.
1993
In 1993, Raleigh had a population of 230,418 and covered 95.808 square miles. Some 26 local governments that provide wastewater treatment services in the Neuse River Basin form the Lower Neuse River Basin Association for the purpose of improving water quality in the basin. The restoration of 120-year-old Estey Hall, the first structure built in the United States for the purpose of educating African American women, is celebrated. Raleigh conducts a “Thank You Avery” celebration to thank retiring Mayor Avery Upchurch upon his completion of five terms in the office.
1994
In 1994, Raleigh had a population of 237,739 and covered 97.912 square miles. Community policing arrives in Raleigh with beat officers visiting homes and businesses in targeted areas in an effort to learn residents concerns and help develop solutions. The City honors St. Augustine’s College and head track and field coach George Williams for winning their eighth NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championship. The City opens 21.75-acre Spring Forest Park.
1995
In 1995, Raleigh had a population of 250,186 and covered 103.374 square miles. Raleigh voters approved a bond referendum for nearly $28 million in parks system improvements, more than $11 million for improvements to the water system and nearly $7 million for improvements to the sewer system.
1996
In 1996, Raleigh had a population of 258,656 and covered 106.801 square miles. The Olympic Torch was welcomed to Raleigh with a huge celebration on Fayetteville Street Mall. The Torch spent the night in the Capital City before continuing on its trek to Atlanta. On Sept. 5-6, Category 3 Hurricane Fran tore through town with 79 mile-per-hour winds whipping 9.5 inches of rain into a howling maelstrom and leaving in its wake devastating flooding, structural damage totaling nearly $275 million and extensive power outages for days to come.
1997
In 1997, Raleigh had a population of 266,035 and covered 109.830 square miles. After nearly 40 years as part of the City’s Capital Improvement Program and being approved by voters three times, the 1.4-mile Western Boulevard Extension was completed. The City opened its first satellite service center. It is located at 8320 Litchford Road.
1998
In 1998, Raleigh had a population of 273,011 and covered 112.020 square miles. The City of Raleigh made its initial purchase of alternative-fuel vehicles. The city opened fire station #21 at 5621 Southall Road and fire station #22 at 9350 Durant Road.
1999
In 1999, Raleigh had a population of 280,132 and covered 114.901 square miles. The City of Raleigh made major renovations to Durant Nature Park’s Campbell Lodge and Training Lodge, as well as the lower lake dam. The Entertainment and Sports Arena, later renamed the RBC Center, was opened.
2000
In 2000, Raleigh had a population of 276,893 and covered 118.707 square miles. The new century brings the largest snowfall in the Capital City’s recorded history, according to the National Weather Service – 25.7 inches. The Neuse River Corridor Park Plan takes a giant step toward completion with the dedication of Anderson Point Park’s 98.3 acres adjacent to the Neuse River.
Prepared by:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
222 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-996-3100
