Apex

Apex is a town spanning parts of Wake County and Chatham County in North Carolina, named for the highest point along the former Chatham Railroad. The historic train depot marks this spot at roughly 500 feet (150 meters) above sea level and now forms the center of the community.

The settlement grew in the 1870s around a water pond where trains stopped to refill, and it was officially incorporated in 1873. By the turn of the century, the community had nearly 350 residents.

The Halle Cultural Arts Center offers theater spaces, studios, and galleries displaying work by artists from North Carolina. Visitors can see rotating exhibitions and performances throughout the year.

The town sits southwest of Raleigh and is accessible by several highways, with the historic center laid out around the old train depot. Most public facilities are within walking distance of each other.

A chemical accident in 2006 led to the evacuation of roughly 16,000 people, becoming one of the largest emergency evacuations in North Carolina history. The affected facility was later demolished and the site remediated.

Location: Wake County

Location: Chatham County

Inception: 1873

Elevation above the sea: 152 m

Shares border with: Cary

Website: http://apexnc.org

GPS coordinates: 35.73194,-78.85278

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:33