Durham, North Carolina

Durham is a city in Durham County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Durham County, the home of Duke University and North Carolina Central University, and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, and is a cornerstone of the Research Triangle region of North Carolina. The 2004 Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Statistical Area population was: 451,212 as July 1, 2004

The US Office of Management and Budget defines Durham as a part of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary Combined Statistical Area, with a population of 1,509,560 as July 1, 2005.

History

Durham originated in 1853 with the search for a suitable railroad depot for the North Carolina Railroad between Wilson and Hillsborough. An earlier post office known as Herndon's existed in the area from 1827, and another at nearby Prattsburg was established in 1836. The landowners at Prattsburg refused to sell land to the railroad. Somewhat further to the northwest, a country physician named Bartlett Durham lived and practiced along the route. He donated land to the railroad, which named the subsequent depot Durham Station.

The town grew slowly before the Civil War, but grew rapidly following the war. Much of this growth can be attributed to the establishment of a thriving tobacco industry. Soldiers (both Union and Confederate) encamped at Bennett Place, just outside the town, during surrender proceedings. During their long encampment, they liberally sampled the area's "Brightleaf Tobacco", which purportedly had a milder flavor than other tobacco varieties. After returning to their homes, numerous orders were mailed to Green's tobacco company requesting more of the Durham tobacco. W.T. Blackwell would partner with Green, and rename the company the "Bull Durham Tobacco Company". The name "Bull Durham" is said to have been taken from the bull on the British Coleman's Mustard, which Mr. Blackwell noted was manufactured in Durham, England.

The rapid growth and prosperity of the Bull Durham Tobacco Company, and Washington Duke's Duke & Sons Tobacco Company, would result in the rapid growth of the city of Durham. The present city charter dates from 1869. While the tobacco industry dominated the city, it was soon rivalled by the establishment of multiple textile mills throughout the city, particularly in East and West Durham. Much of the early city architecture, both commercial and residential, dates from the period of 1890 - 1930.

Durham quickly developed a vibrant African-American community. Although the center of the African-American community was an area known as 'Hayti' (pronounced HAY-Tie), members of the African-American community established some of the most prominent and successful African-American-owned businesses in the country during the early 20th century. These businesses, the best known of which are North Carolina Mutual Insurance Co., and Mechanics & Farmers' Bank, were centered on Parrish St. in downtown, which would come to be known as "Black Wall Street".

Trinity College, estalished in Durham in 1892, would be transformed into Duke University in 1924 on the promise of a large endowment of money from James B. Duke should the name of the university be changed to "Duke University" to honor his father, Washington Duke. The original campus of Trinity College would become the Women's College, and a new campus was built in the forest west of town.

Durham's fortunes declined during the mid-twentieth century. Textile mills began to close during the 1930s, and competition from other tobacco companies (as well as decreased smoking after the 1960s) reduced revenues to Durham's tobacco industry. Although the region benefitted significantly from the establishment of Research Triangle Park in 1958, Durham did not experience the same early increases in housing development as did neighboring Raleigh and Cary. Suburban flight also contributed to the slow, but progressive decline of downtown Durham as a retail and economic center.

With a strong African-American community, a strong Civil Rights movement developed in Durham. Multiple sit-ins were held, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the city during the struggle for equal rights.

This strong community was not enough to prevent the demolition of the Hayti district for the construction of the Durham Freeway during the late 1960s. The freeway construction also resulted in the loss of large portions of other historic neighborhoods, including Morehead Hills, West End, and West Durham. Combined with large-scale demolition using Urban Renewal funds, Durham suffered significant losses from its historic architectural base.

Durham's growth began to rekindle during the 1980s, with the construction of multiple housing developments in the southern part of the city, nearest Research Triangle Park, and the beginnings of downtown revitalization. A new downtown baseball stadium was constructed for the Durham Bulls in 1994, and a large-scale historic renovation of the American Tobacco Company (neé Bull Durham) complex commenced in 2003.

Jean Bradley Anderson, Durham County (Durham: Duke University Press, 1990).

Law and government

Durham operates under a council-manager government. The current mayor is Bill Bell; city council members are Cora Cole-McFadden (Ward 1), Howard Clement, III (Ward 2), Mike Woodard (Ward 3), Eugene A. Brown, Diane Catotti, and Thomas Stith, III.

Geography

Durham is located at (35.988644, -78.907167).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 245.8 km² (94.9 mi²). 245.1 km² (94.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (0.29%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 187,035 people, 74,981 households, and 43,563 families residing in the city. The population density was 763.1/km² (1,976.4/mi²). There were 80,797 housing units at an average density of 329.7/km² (853.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.51% White, 43.81% African American, 0.31% Native American, 3.64% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.75% from other races, and 1.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.56% of the population.

There were 74,981 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,160, and the median income for a family was $51,162. Males had a median income of $35,202 versus $30,359 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,526. About 11.3% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Colleges and universities

Sports and Entertainment

Durham's most famous professional sports team is the Durham Bulls International League baseball team. A movie involving the franchise, Bull Durham, was produced in 1988. The Bulls play in the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, south of downtown, constructed in 1994. Designed by HOK-Sport, the designers of the Camden Yards in Baltimore, the stadium has 10,000 seats and is fronted by an office building built by the owner of the team, Raleigh's Capital Broadcasting. Now with one of the newest and most impressive stadiums in the minor leagues, the Bulls usually generate an annual attendance of around 500,000. Previously, the Durham Athletic Park, located north of downtown, had served as the team's homebase. It has been preserved for the use of other minor league baseball teams as well as for concerts sponsored by the City of Durham. The Durham Dragons, a women's fastpitch softball team, played in the Durham Athletic Park from 1998-2000.

NCAA Sports

Duke University offers 26 NCAA Division I sporting teams and competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Duke has won 3 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championships.

Duke is third in NCAA Final Four Appearances in Men's Basketball.

16 - North Carolina 15 - UCLA 14 - Duke 13 - Kentucky 11 - Kansas 9 - Ohio St 8 - Indiana 8 - Louisville 6 - Arkansas 6 - Cincinnati 6 - Michigan 6 - Michigan State

North Carolina Central University offers NCAA Division II sporting teams and currently competes in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), but will begin a five year process to move to Division I in 2006 (I-AA in football).

NCCU won the 1989 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship.

The city also owns a national landmark downtown, the Carolina Theatre, which is operated by a nonprofit organization. The Carolina Theatre is the host of the North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival caters to documentary film makers all over the world. In addition, the American Dance Festival, a six-week series of dance performances, is held each summer at the Duke University Campus.

Passenger transportation

Private vehicle: Most travel in Durham is by private vehicle on public streets.
Air: Raleigh-Durham International Airport is just south of Durham on I-40.
Major highways: I-40 and I-85. Also, State route 147, the Durham Freeway.
Passenger rail: Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont train offers daily service to Charlotte and Raleigh, where connections can be made to Miami, Washington DC and New Orleans.
Public transportation: Within Durham, the Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) bus system. The Triangle Transit Authority operates buses that serve the region and connect to municipal bus systems in Raleigh and Chapel Hill.
Trails: The American Tobacco Trail's northern terminus is in downtown Durham.
Bicycle: All public buses are equipped with bicycle racks.

Points of interest

Social and Political Climate

Durham has a rich and vibrant art and cultural community. Events include jazz festivals, blues festivals, symphony concerts, art exhibitions, and a multitude of cultural expositions, including the American Dance Festival and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. A centerpiece of Durham's culture is its Carolina Theater which shows both live performances as well as films, primarily independent releases. Durham features excellent culinary offerings, particularly for a city its size, with a wide selection of diverse and renowned establishments. These establishments are primarily concentrated in the Ninth Street, Brightleaf, and University Drive areas. There is a resurgence of restaurants in and around the downtown area, including several new restaurants in the American Tobacco District.

Durham hosts a yearly Gay and Lesbian Film festival which draws people from across the United States as well as an annual Gay Pride Parade. Durham is the home of the Independent Weekly a progressive weekly newspaper. Politically the area is predominantly Democratic.

Durham often struggles with racial issues, especially in politics. While the City of Durham has a large African-American population, the population of the surrounding suburbs is primarily Caucasian. The shifting alliances of the area's political action committees since the 1980s has led to an often very active local political scene. One of the key issues has been the redevelopment of the downtown and poorer areas of the city. Often, political leaders have played off of long festering racial and socioeconomic issues and have caused flare-ups.

Recent Issues

In 2005, racial tensions flared over the Durham County School Board. When a black principal at a local middle school was accused of unfairly targeting black students for punishments, local parents and leaders in the black community approached the school board to request the principal be punished. When the school board initially voted to not punish the principal, the group of petitioners and others began to become vocal about the issue of the racial divide of the school board which had a one seat white majority. When one member of the school board visited the school with one of the concerned parents, they were removed from the school by the police for interrupting the school day and ordered not to return. Over the next several months, the school board meetings were marred by shouted insults, including racial epithets, from the public forum as well as between members. In an attempt to control the presentation of issues, the Superintendent attempted to institute new rules for discussions at school board meetings, but this only caused more strife. Tied into this was a proposal to change the way the Durham County School Board is elected, from a district-based system to at-large elections, resulted in an adversarial relationship between board members and primarily black parents as the proposal was seen as potentially reducing African-American representation.

During this same course of time three crosses were burnt in the area, leading some to question if the burnings were related to the school board issues. However, citizens from all communities turned out in the hundreds for candlelight vigils after the cross burnings. There were also several incidents of vandalism (spray-painting) related to the Ku Klux Klan — seemingly, both by and against — and Ku Klux Klan pamphlets were found distributed in several neighborhoods as recently as April 2006.

Also in 2005, Reverend Fred Phelps's group came to protest the Durham School of the Arts's presentation of The Laramie Project; counter-protesters supporting the high school students were said to outnumber them 10-1.

In 2006, racial and community tensions were stirred after allegations were made of a racially motivated sexual assault and other racial motivated incidents by the members of the Duke University lacrosse team. See the 2006 Duke University lacrosse team scandal page for details.