Apex

In the late 19th century, a small community developed around the Chatham railroad station, known as log pond, and later, Apex. Much of the forests in the surrounding area were cleared for farmland, which was mainly dedicated to Tobacco Farming. Since Apex was near the state capital, it became a trading center. The railroad shipped products such as lumber, tar, and tobacco. The town was officially incorporated in 1873. By 1900, the town had a population of 349. As of the 2020 census, its population was 58,780, making it the 17th-most populous municipality in North Carolina.

The population boom occurred primarily in the late 1990s. The Research Triangle Park, established in the 1960s, created strong demand for technology workers. This also drove population growth.