Plus, RDU quarry updates.
 
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Become a Raleigh history buff

How the City of Oaks got its name, and more Raleigh history
An aerial view drawing of Raleigh, NC in 1872
See any street names you recognize? | Photo via the Library of Congress
How much do you know about the City of Oaks? Whether you’re a Raleigh native or a more recent Raleighite, there’s always more to learn about the history of Raleigh. Here’s a quick rundown of the city’s past.

Before Raleigh

Before Raleigh was Raleigh, the area was a collection of colonial settlements until Isaac Hunter and Joel Lane purchased wide swaths of farmland. Hunter and Lane operated taverns and other businesses for central NC travelers and called the area Wake Crossroads.

Bath, Edenton, and New Bern all served as early capitals of NC but were too far east to travel for some North Carolinians on government business. Raleigh was chosen for its central location and was officially established on December 31, 1792.

Why “Raleigh”?

The name Raleigh was chosen for Sir Walter Raleigh, a 16th century English explorer and nobleman. Fun fact: Sir Walter never visited the land that would become Raleigh, and never even stepped foot in North America.

Raleigh culture

Raleigh became a busy city because of its government connections, with Fayetteville Street operating as the commercial center. After the Civil War, racial segregation pushed Black business owners to East Hargett Street. The street became a social hub for Black people in Raleigh and was called “Black Main Street.”

Raleigh earned the nickname “City of Oaks” for its high density of oak trees. Oak trees drop acorns, which is why a 10-foot-tall copper acorn stands on Fayetteville Street and is dropped at midnight on New Year’s Eve as part of First Night Raleigh.

Think you know everything about Raleigh? Take a quiz and test your City of Oaks knowledge. Readers who make a perfect score may earn a shoutout in a future newsletter.
Asked

Who named Raleigh the “City of Oaks”?
A. Local gardeners
B. The founders of Raleigh
C. An early Raleigh newspaper
D. RALtoday
Answer here
Air Experts
 
Events
Tuesday, Aug. 15
  • Bands at Brookside Bodega | Tuesday, Aug. 15 | 5-8 p.m. | Brookside Bodega, 1000 Brookside Dr., Ste. 119, Raleigh | Free | Enjoy tasty bites and cold drafts while supporting local artists.
  • Queens of the Stone Age - The End is Nero | Tuesday, Aug. 15 | 6:30 p.m. | Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh | $40-$70 | Rock out with this 1990s band.
  • Knife Skills 101 | Tuesday, Aug. 15 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Wyntons World Cooking School, 969 N. Harrison Ave., Cary | $70 | Learn how to chop, julienne, and slice to perfection — bring your own chef’s knife and paring knife.
Wednesday, Aug. 16
  • Gravel Ride at Umstead Park with The Bicycle Chain | Wednesday, Aug. 16 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Gizmo Brew Works, 5907 Triangle Dr., Raleigh | Free | Join team members from The Bicycle Chain Raleigh for a ride through Raleigh’s Umstead State Park; expect a 7-9 mph pace for ~13 miles.
Thursday, Aug. 17
  • Intro to Acrylic Paint Pouring | Thursday, Aug. 17 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Joy Worthy Co., 131 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh | $65 | Learn the beautiful art of acrylic pouring with multiple techniques and color theory to make the best poured design.
  • Thriving Thursday by Athleta | Thursday, Aug. 17 | Fenton Square, 21 Fenton Main St., Cary | Free | Bring a mat and water to this full body strength and conditioning workout presented for all fitness levels.
Friday, Aug. 18
  • Weekend Kickoff Party | Friday, Aug. 18 | 5-7 p.m. | Umbrella in the Garden, 12825 Norwood Rd., Raleigh | Free | Start your weekend off right with non-alcoholic concoctions.
More to do this week
Click here to have your event featured.
Rebel Rabbit
 
News Notes
Weather
  • Heat index values may rise between 105 and 109 today. Strong thunderstorms with wind and hail are possible. Stay safe from the elements at Wake County cooling centers, including local libraries, regional centers, and health and human services centers. (ABC 11)
Try This
Coming Soon
Eat
  • Snack on some sweets at the Sweet Social pop-up by Bold Batch Creamery at the Roof of The Durham on Wednesday, Aug. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Don’t forget to try Bold Batch’s macaron sandwich of the month made with dark chocolate, raspberry, and macron shells by Little Blue Macaron.
Listen
  • Raleigh-based band The One Eighties is celebrating the release of its debut album, “Minefields,” at Kings on Friday, Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. The band, made up of Autumn Brand and Daniel Cook, combines traditional roots instrumentation and ‘80s synths.
History
  • St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church is celebrating 175 years of worship in downtown Raleigh. This church was Raleigh’s first independent Black church and is still operating under its original structure. (The News & Observer)
Jobs
  • The Raleigh Dept. of Transportation is holding a free job fair on Saturday, Sept. 9. Hiring managers will be conducting on-site interviews for maintenance, equipment operator, and season leaf collector positions, so don’t forget to bring your resume.
Real Estate
  • The wait is finally over. 400H is now leasing its luxury high-rise apartment homes in downtown Raleigh (starting at $1,855/month). Want to be one of the first to see inside? Schedule a hard hat tour to preview the tower’s studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.*
Cause
  • The heat is on to save lives. Did you know? One blood donation can help up to three people. Blood centers usually struggle to collect enough blood products during the summer months. Bonus: Blood donors receive at least $50 in rewards in August (drives + dates may vary). Donate.*
 
Development

An RDU quarry update

Judge rules in favor of RDU quarry
A trail at Umstead State Park.
Park rangers at William B. Umstead State Park are employed by the State of NC. | Photo by @jenneunc
A proposed quarry managed by the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority has been under consideration since 2019. Following a recent ruling, plans for the development may move forward — making it the first private rock quarry on public land in NC.

The 105-acre plot of land, known as Odd Fellows Tract, is adjacent to Umstead State Park and another quarry operated by Wake Stone Corporation. If built, this quarry would be a new mine rather than an expansion to Wake Stone’s existing operations.

In February 2022, the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources denied a mining permit to the quarry because of its proximity to Umstead. Previously, groups like Triangle Off-Road Cyclists and the Umstead Coalition sued to stop the quarry.

On Monday, Aug. 14, a judge overturned the February 2022 permit denial on the basis that Umstead’s park lands would not be affected by the quarry.
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The Wrap
 
Allie Remhof.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Allie
From the editor
Last week, we asked about your favorite bathrooms in Raleigh. Sarah A. and Hannah W. both raved about new tapas restaurant Madre’s glass doors that frost when closed, and Judy S. shared her love for Centro’s beautifully cluttered bathroom with a Hispanic theme. Keep the bathroom favs coming.
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