Another City Guide from Sophie dancing around the Mason-Dixon line.
Post-College City Guide: Raleigh-Durham
Some Background Stats:
Population: 423,179
Unemployment Rate: 6.7%
Cost of living index: 76.69/100
Major industries: High technology, pharmaceuticals
Climate: Winter— ~42.6 degrees, Summer— ~78.1 degrees
Professional Sports: Hurricanes, RailHawks FC, Mudcats
Closing Time: 2 AM
Best known for: Being the capital and second largest city in North Carolina, the “City of Oaks”
Best Dish: Italian, nouveau cuisine, Chinese
Why We Chose It:
A little historical background on Raleigh is that it was founded in 1792 as North Carolina’s capital city. This quaint city was named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who attempted to establish the first English colony on the shores of the new world in the 1580s. Furthermore, Raleigh is home to the North Carolina State Fair, the state’s largest annual event, which generally runs during mid-October. The fair consists of typical Southern activities such as an open rabbit show, a pumpkin carving demo, juggling, acrobat shows, cow milking demonstrations, and a variety of barbecued food!
Raleigh also boasts a nature-esque scene ideal for those who enjoy recreational activities such as walking, jogging, and hiking. Moreover Raleigh has a diverse art scene. For those of you with your heart set on New York City, no worries – there are Broadway shows, as well as North Carolina Opera/Symphony/Ballet shows. Museums also have a significant presence in Raleigh. Best of all? They are all free. If you choose to live here post-graduation, a few notable stops would be the North Carolina Museum of Art, the North Carolina Museum of History, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Marbles Kids Museum. Some other historical landmarks you can check out are the North Carolina State Capitol and the North Carolina Executive Mansion, which has housed more than 25 governors and their families since 1891.
As for shopping, Raleigh offers not only famous retail stores, but also local boutiques, flea markets, and shops. Brier Creek Commons, Beaver Creek Commons, Cameron Village, Cary Towne Center, Crabtree Valley Mall, North Hills, Triangle Town Center, and White Oak Crossing are great places to investigate if you are in the mood to “shop ‘til you drop”.
Cuisine is also an important aspect of Raleigh. There is a range of cheap to upscale places, brewpubs to traditional Southern cooking, and wineries to craft breweries: one’s taste buds shall never be bored! The nightlife is also thrilling, particularly in the Capital District, Fayetteville Street District, Glenwood South, and Moore Square District. Frequented by live music at every turn, these areas have the perfect venues to support Raleigh’s title as the “Live Music Capital of North Carolina”.
Why You’ll Love It:
Many people are hesitant to live in cities other than New York City after graduation due to the fact that there are not as people around their age. However, Meredith College, The Chef’s Academy, Shepherds Theological Seminary, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Technical Community College, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University, North Carolina State University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law (Campbell University), and William Peace University are all within short distance of Raleigh. Being surrounded by many colleges and universities ensures that fun people near your age will be around you, guaranteed! If you are looking for an exciting city that is known for its progress in high technology and pharmaceuticals, but are only afraid of being a part of the younger demographic – do not count out Raleigh when planning your post-graduation living situation!
Not ready to leave Bucknell? We didn’t think so!
The Bucknell Raleigh/Durham Club has 529 alumni in the area! Be sure to check out the Raleigh/Durham Club on B-Link. Many alumni work for Merrill Lynch, RB Engineering, Duke University, Lockheed Martin, Tek Systems, and IBM!
This post was written and researched by Bucknell Sophomore Sophie Hattery.
Our city guides were started in an effort to highlight various cities across the U.S. to help you discover and learn about a city you may not have considered but could make a great spot for your first job or internship. See past city guides