The City of Durham

Durham at a glance

Durham County Top Employers

  • Duke University
  • International Business Machines
  • Durham Public Schools
  • Glaxosmithkline
  • Blue Cross & Blue Shield Of Nc Inc
  • Cisco Systems Inc
  • City Of Durham
  • Nortel Networks Inc
  • Va Medical Center
  • Research Triangle Institute

Durham, known as the Bull City, is a city in transition. It grew up as a tobacco manufacturing town, but the factories that once employed thousands have shut down. It now calls itself the City of Medicine, reflecting the world-class Duke University Medical Center, the Veterans Administration hospital and the pharmaceutical industry in nearby Research Triangle Park. Empty factory buildings have been reborn as the American Tobacco Historic District. RTP has fueled explosive growth in South Durham as employees seek a short commute, growth that has pushed the city's population to 209,000 residents. Durham is also the home of the storied Durham Bulls, who play in a 10,000-seat neo-classical ball park.

Who lives here?
  • Current population 210,230
  • Median age 33.5
  • 44.2 percent white
  • 40.7 percent black
  • 4.7 percent Asian
  • 13.8 percent Hispanic or Latino of any race
  • Median household income is $46,031
  • Bachelors degrees or higher are held by 43.2 percent of the population over 25

*Source: Claritas, Inc. 2008

Jobs in the Durham area