Triangle History
3 Great Cities
By Amaya Royster
7th grader, Guy B. Phillips Middle School
January 24, 2015
The Triangle
The Triangle is a region in North Carolina. It classifies 3 different Piedmont cities. Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The triangle is home to numerous high tech companies. The Triangle is sometimes confused with the Triad. The Triad consists of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point.
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill was created after the formation of the University of North Carolina (UNC). UNC is the Nations oldest state University. Franklin Street was then made, named after Ben Franklin. Franklin Street began as an unpaved dirt road. Whenever it rained the road turned into a thick slick mud. A few stores were lined on the sides of the road. The University of North Carolina grew when the first student, Hilton James and 424 other students, arrived in North Carolina. During the Civil War, The University stayed open even though many of the students joined the confederate army. Only 30 seniors stayed to graduate in 1861. In the year 1865 the Union Army took over Chapel Hill. The Union Army didn't destroy Chapel Hill but they did take many resources. The University graduation only honored four students that year. The University then closed due to low funds and a lack of students. Four years later the University doors were opened again.
Durham
In Durham, before any Europeans arrived, Native American tribes lived and farmed on the land. These tribes consisted of the Eno and the Occaneechi. Native Americans helped mold Durham into the city it is today by building transportation routes and establishing settlements. In 1701 Durham was founded by John Lawson who called it "the flower of the Carolinas." English, Scots and Irish colonist soon started to settle on the land. Large plantations that consisted of African slaves began to be built.
Raleigh
Raleigh is the biggest city out of all three cities located in the triangle. Raleigh is the state capital of North Carolina and got its name after the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. Raleigh was once home to the Native American Iroquoian, Siouan and Algonquian tribes. In 1794 the first State house was opened. As this capital city started growing, taverns, inns and other businesses started being built. Fayetteville Street then became the commercial core for Raleigh. In the 1870's Raleigh experienced economic growth.