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Raleigh didn’t just happen … it was planned. The Revolutionary War was over. The North Carolina colony turned state wanted a fresh beginning, and what could be more new than a new state capital?
In 1788, 1,000 acres were purchased from Joel Lane in Wake County. The site was chosen because it was centrally located to all of NC’s developed area.
At first it was a town existing primarily on paper. As someone said in 1794, “Raleigh is a city of streets without houses.” The 1800 census had only 669 residents! At least they didn’t have the I-40 Fortify!
— Ron Smith, S&A Communications