Morrisville, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Morrisville is a town in Wake County
, North Carolina
, United States
. A small portion of the town extends into Durham County
. The population was 18,576 according to a April 1, 2010 census. Morrisville is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region. The regional name originated after the 1959 creation of the Research Triangle Park
, located midway between the cities of Raleigh
and Durham
. The Research Triangle region encompasses the U.S. Census Bureau's Combined Statistical Area (CSA)
of Raleigh-Durham-Cary
. The estimated population of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary CSA was 1,565,223 as of July 1, 2006, with the Raleigh-Cary Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
portion estimated at 994,551 residents.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.5 km²).
Morrisville is located in the northeast central region of North Carolina, where the North American Piedmont
and Atlantic Coastal Plain
regions meet. This area is known as the "fall line
" because it marks the elevation inland at which waterfalls begin to appear in creeks and rivers. As a result, most of Morrisville features gently rolling hills that slope eastward toward the state's flat coastal plain. Its central Piedmont location situates the county about three hours west of Atlantic Beach
, North Carolina, by car and four hours east of the Great Smoky Mountains
of the Appalachian range
.
The central downtown core of Morrisville is located essentially along the upper portion of Crabtree Creek, which then feeds into Lake Crabtree
, located in the southeastern part of the town.
. Winter highs generally range in the low 50s°F
(10 to 13 °C
) with lows in the low-to-mid 30s°F (-2 to 2 °C), although an occasional 60 °F (15 °C) or warmer winter day is not uncommon. This is canceled out, however, with several days where highs do not get out of the 30s. There are usually about 1 or 2 substantial snowfalls per winter, occurring mainly in January. Spring and fall days usually reach the low-to-mid 70s°F (low 20s°C), with lows at night in the lower 50s°F (10 to 14 °C). Summer daytime highs often reach the upper 80s to low 90s°F (29 to 35 °C). The rainiest months are July and August.
On April 13, 1865, Federal cavalry
under the command of Gen. Judson Kilpatrick skirmished with the retreating Confederate armies at Morrisville Station. Battle of Morrisville
. The Confederate troops were successful in evacuating their remaining supplies and wounded to the west toward Greensboro, NC, General Sherman's
cavalry forced the Confederates to leave the train behind and retreat toward Durham, and the eventual surrender of the largest Confederate force of the war at Bennett Place
.
The town was officially chartered in 1875 but was disincorporated in 1933. Eventually the town charter was restored in 1947.
Morrisville History (as listed on historical marker):
Morrisville Station: "On April 16, 1865, Union cavalry under the command of General William T. Sherman, captured Raleigh and pursued the retreating Confederate cavalry west along the railroad. Rearguard skirmishes erupted at points along the Hillsborough Road until the combatants reached Morrisville. Using cavalry and artillery, Union forces attacked a Confederate train loaded with supplies and wounded. Before withdrawing, the Confederate cavalry repelled the attack long enough to allow the railcars of wounded to escape while abandoning the supplies. This was the last major cavalry engagement in Sherman's campaign. The next night, a courier from the Confederate commander, General Joseph E. Johnston, rode into the Union camp at Morrisville with a truce proposal. Subsequent negotiations between Johnston and Sherman led to the largest Confederate surrender of the Civil War at the Bennett Farm in Durham on April 26."
History marker notes it was given in memory of Commissioner C.T. Moore.
form of government. The citizens elect a Mayor
and Town Council as the town's governing body. The Town Manager is appointed by the Council to serve as the chief operating officer administering all municipal affairs. The current mayor is Jackie Holcombe and current Council Members include Pete Martin (Mayor Pro Tem
), Linda Lyons, Liz Johnson , Steve Diehl, Margaret Broadwell and Tom Murry.
, there were 5,208 people, 2,476 households, and 1,297 families residing in the town. The population density
was 769.0 people per square mile (297.0/km²). There were 3,210 housing units at an average density of 474.0 per square mile (183.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.46% White, 11.00% African American, 0.44% Native American, 9.06% Asian, 1.17% from other races
, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.26% of the population.
However, since the last census, the population has grown to near 15,000 residents. Many of the new residents are from India, and a large Indian population now inhabits the Town of Morrisville. However the new influx of residents is apparent in the changing racial makeup of schools. Cedar Fork Elementary has over 40% of its population as Indian origin.
In 2000, there were 2,476 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 50.0% from 25 to 44, 14.2% from 45 to 64, and 4.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $56,548, and the median income for a family was $64,625. Males had a median income of $46,750 versus $34,528 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $32,243. About 3.4% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
, Tekelec
and QBE First.
Prior to its disestablishment, Midway Airlines had its headquarters in Morrisville.
The Morrisville Chamber of Commerce serves as the economic development arm for the Town.
Morrisville has several youth sports groups, such as youth basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and cricket
.
Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A small portion of the town extends into Durham County
Durham County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 223,314 people, 89,015 households, and 54,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 769 people per square mile . There were 95,452 housing units at an average density of 329 per square mile...
. The population was 18,576 according to a April 1, 2010 census. Morrisville is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region. The regional name originated after the 1959 creation of the Research Triangle Park
Research Triangle Park
The Research Triangle Park is a research park in the United States. It is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina...
, located midway between the cities of Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
and Durham
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
. The Research Triangle region encompasses the U.S. Census Bureau's Combined Statistical Area (CSA)
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
of Raleigh-Durham-Cary
Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
. The estimated population of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary CSA was 1,565,223 as of July 1, 2006, with the Raleigh-Cary Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
United States metropolitan area
In the United States a metropolitan statistical area is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be, nor are they legal administrative divisions like...
portion estimated at 994,551 residents.
Geography
Morrisville is located at 35°49′39"N 78°49′44"W (35.827493, -78.828930).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.5 km²).
Morrisville is located in the northeast central region of North Carolina, where the North American Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
and Atlantic Coastal Plain
Atlantic Coastal Plain
The Atlantic coastal plain has both low elevation and low relief, but it is also a relatively flat landform extending from the New York Bight southward to a Georgia/Florida section of the Eastern Continental Divide, which demarcates the plain from the ACF River Basin in the Gulf Coastal Plain to...
regions meet. This area is known as the "fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
" because it marks the elevation inland at which waterfalls begin to appear in creeks and rivers. As a result, most of Morrisville features gently rolling hills that slope eastward toward the state's flat coastal plain. Its central Piedmont location situates the county about three hours west of Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2008, there were 1,815 people, 971 households, and 498 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 4,728 housing units at an average density of 2,206.0 per square mile...
, North Carolina, by car and four hours east of the Great Smoky Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains are a mountain range rising along the Tennessee–North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The range is sometimes called the Smoky Mountains or the...
of the Appalachian range
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
.
The central downtown core of Morrisville is located essentially along the upper portion of Crabtree Creek, which then feeds into Lake Crabtree
Lake Crabtree
Lake Crabtree is a reservoir in Cary, North Carolina. In order to alleviate the possibility of flooding, it was constructed in 1989 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service via damming the Crabtree Creek. It is currently within the Lake Crabtree County Park and provides sailing and...
, located in the southeastern part of the town.
Climate
Morrisville enjoys a moderate subtropical climate, with moderate temperatures in the spring, fall, and winter. Summers are typically hot with high humidityHumidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
. Winter highs generally range in the low 50s°F
Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit is the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by, and named after, the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit . Within this scale, the freezing of water into ice is defined at 32 degrees, while the boiling point of water is defined to be 212 degrees...
(10 to 13 °C
Celsius
Celsius is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
) with lows in the low-to-mid 30s°F (-2 to 2 °C), although an occasional 60 °F (15 °C) or warmer winter day is not uncommon. This is canceled out, however, with several days where highs do not get out of the 30s. There are usually about 1 or 2 substantial snowfalls per winter, occurring mainly in January. Spring and fall days usually reach the low-to-mid 70s°F (low 20s°C), with lows at night in the lower 50s°F (10 to 14 °C). Summer daytime highs often reach the upper 80s to low 90s°F (29 to 35 °C). The rainiest months are July and August.
Early History
The area was originally named in 1852 after Jeremiah Morris. Morris donated land to the North Carolina Railroad for a depot, water tower, and other buildings. The town continued to grow as a result of the rail line and its location at the intersection of roads leading to Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Hillsborough.On April 13, 1865, Federal cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
under the command of Gen. Judson Kilpatrick skirmished with the retreating Confederate armies at Morrisville Station. Battle of Morrisville
Battle of Morrisville
The Battle at Morrisville Station was fought April 13–15 1865 in Morrisville, North Carolina during the Carolinas Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the last cavalry battle of the War and occurred between the armies of Major General William T. Sherman and General Joseph E. Johnston...
. The Confederate troops were successful in evacuating their remaining supplies and wounded to the west toward Greensboro, NC, General Sherman's
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
cavalry forced the Confederates to leave the train behind and retreat toward Durham, and the eventual surrender of the largest Confederate force of the war at Bennett Place
Bennett Place
Bennett Place, sometimes known as Bennett Farm, in Durham, North Carolina was the site of the largest surrender of Confederate soldiers ending the American Civil War, on April 26, 1865.-History:...
.
The town was officially chartered in 1875 but was disincorporated in 1933. Eventually the town charter was restored in 1947.
Morrisville History (as listed on historical marker):
Morrisville Station: "On April 16, 1865, Union cavalry under the command of General William T. Sherman, captured Raleigh and pursued the retreating Confederate cavalry west along the railroad. Rearguard skirmishes erupted at points along the Hillsborough Road until the combatants reached Morrisville. Using cavalry and artillery, Union forces attacked a Confederate train loaded with supplies and wounded. Before withdrawing, the Confederate cavalry repelled the attack long enough to allow the railcars of wounded to escape while abandoning the supplies. This was the last major cavalry engagement in Sherman's campaign. The next night, a courier from the Confederate commander, General Joseph E. Johnston, rode into the Union camp at Morrisville with a truce proposal. Subsequent negotiations between Johnston and Sherman led to the largest Confederate surrender of the Civil War at the Bennett Farm in Durham on April 26."
History marker notes it was given in memory of Commissioner C.T. Moore.
Government
Morrisville operates under the Council-ManagerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. The citizens elect a Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and Town Council as the town's governing body. The Town Manager is appointed by the Council to serve as the chief operating officer administering all municipal affairs. The current mayor is Jackie Holcombe and current Council Members include Pete Martin (Mayor Pro Tem
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
), Linda Lyons, Liz Johnson , Steve Diehl, Margaret Broadwell and Tom Murry.
Demographics
As of the 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 5,208 people, 2,476 households, and 1,297 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 769.0 people per square mile (297.0/km²). There were 3,210 housing units at an average density of 474.0 per square mile (183.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.46% White, 11.00% African American, 0.44% Native American, 9.06% Asian, 1.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.26% of the population.
However, since the last census, the population has grown to near 15,000 residents. Many of the new residents are from India, and a large Indian population now inhabits the Town of Morrisville. However the new influx of residents is apparent in the changing racial makeup of schools. Cedar Fork Elementary has over 40% of its population as Indian origin.
In 2000, there were 2,476 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 50.0% from 25 to 44, 14.2% from 45 to 64, and 4.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $56,548, and the median income for a family was $64,625. Males had a median income of $46,750 versus $34,528 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $32,243. About 3.4% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Morrisville's location adjacent to the Research Triangle Park (RTP), RDU, and I-40 makes it an attractive location for offices, light industry and hotels. Companies based in Morrisville include Lenovo (U.S.A. headquarters), Lulu.comLulu.com
Lulu is a company offering publishing, printing, and distribution services with headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since their founding in 2002, Lulu has published over 1.1 million titles by creators in over 200 countries and territories and adds 20,000 new titles to their catalogue a month...
, Tekelec
Tekelec
Tekelec, Inc. is a US company , founded 1971 in California, but now headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina. Tekelec produces hardware and software solutions for telecoms - land line, mobile and data.-Jean-Claude Asscher:...
and QBE First.
Prior to its disestablishment, Midway Airlines had its headquarters in Morrisville.
The Morrisville Chamber of Commerce serves as the economic development arm for the Town.
Parks and recreation
Morrisville is home to six parks and a community center. They include:- Morrisville Community Park - includes Hatcher Creek greenwayGreenway-People:* Barney Greenway , British death metal vocalist* Brian Greenway , Canadian guitarist and vocalist* Chad Greenway , American football player* Francis Greenway , Australian architect...
in addition to rentable shelters, athletic fields, gazeboGazeboA gazebo is a pavilion structure, sometimes octagonal, that may be built, in parks, gardens, and spacious public areas. Gazebos are freestanding or attached to a garden wall, roofed, and open on all sides; they provide shade, shelter, ornamental features in a landscape, and a place to rest...
and picnic shelters - Shiloh Community Park & Luther Green Community Center - includes athletic field, picnic shelters, basketball court and playground
- Crabtree Creek Nature Park - 34 acres (137,593.2 m²) wooded and wetland site with a multi-purpose field
- RuritanRuritanRuritan National is a service club located in small towns and rural areas in the United States. It aims to achieve "Fellowship, Goodwill and Community Service". The local clubs are autonomous from the national organization...
Park - includes a gazebo, open areas, and sand volleyball courts, - Indian Creek Greenway and Trailhead - includes two picnic shelters, a playground, restrooms, and a 1.8-mile trail
- Cedar Fork District Park - 37 acres (149,733.8 m²) that includes eight multi-purpose fields
Morrisville has several youth sports groups, such as youth basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
.
Employers
- TekelecTekelecTekelec, Inc. is a US company , founded 1971 in California, but now headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina. Tekelec produces hardware and software solutions for telecoms - land line, mobile and data.-Jean-Claude Asscher:...
- iContactIContactiContact Corp. is a provider of e-mail marketing and social media services to small and mid-sized businesses located in Raleigh, NC. The company was co-founded by Ryan Allis and Aaron Houghton, as Broadwick Corporation in 2003. In 2007, they re-branded themselves as iContact...
- Cisco SystemsCisco SystemsCisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
- NetApp
- QuintilesQuintilesQuintiles Transnational is a pharmaceutical services company offering clinical, commercial, consulting and capital services. The Quintiles network consists of more than 20,000 employees in 60 countries....
- FidelityFidelity"Fidelity" is the quality of being faithful or loyal. Its original meaning regarded duty to a lord or a king, in a broader sense than the related concept of fealty. Both derive from the Latin word fidēlis, meaning "faithful or loyal"....
- IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
- JDSU
- Lenovo
- Salix
- SheratonSheraton Hotels and ResortsSheraton Hotels and Resorts is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's largest and second oldest brand . Starwood's headquarters are in White Plains, New York.-Sheraton history:...
- Time Warner CableTime Warner CableTime Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
- Triangle United Way
- QBE First
- AT&T
- Hotel Indigo
- Merge Healthcare
Passenger
- Air: Raleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International Airport is a public international airport located 4.5 miles northeast of the town of Morrisville in suburban Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The airport covers and operates three runways, providing direct service to 40 domestic and international...
is located in northwestern Wake county on I-40Interstate 40Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
, just to the north of Morrisville. - Interstate Highway: I-40 is the closest Interstate to Morrisville and is accessible by driving northeast on Aviation Parkway.
- Morrisville is not served directly by passenger trains. AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
serves the nearby municipalities of Cary and Raleigh. - Local Bus: The Triangle Transit operates buses that serve the region and connect to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.
Roads
- I-540Interstate 540 (North Carolina)In the U.S. state of North Carolina, Interstate 540 and North Carolina Highway 540 share a partially completed interstate grade beltway, also known as the Raleigh Outer Loop, around the city of Raleigh. -Route description:...
serves the Morrisville area and is located to the west of the town. The highway offers access to I-40, North Raleigh, RDU airport and eastern Wake County. The completed portion south of I-40 in the Morrisville area is technically called the Western Wake Parkway until the entire I-540 loop is completed. - NC 54 is the only other highway that serves the town.