Our Community

Wake County, North Carolina is constantly improving! Being rated as one of the best places to live and work in America came as no surprise to Wake County. That was the goal its planners had set, and one that county officials intend to maintain. The estimated population of Wake was 794,316 in 2007 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and Wake has ongoing preparations to accommodate more.  Families made up 65 percent of the households in Wake County and 34.5 percent of the families had at least one child under 18 years old residing in the household.

Current road conditions for Wake County are monitored daily for the residents of Wake County, so that the constant improvements and refinements in the road system are done with the least inconvenience to all. The road system is one of the best in the nation; I-95 and I-85 are major interstates, and I-40 connects the East and West Coasts of the United States. The I-440 and I-540 Beltlines provide easy access or bypass to Wake's cities, surrounding communities and Research Triangle Park. Public transportation is served with an extensive network of routes by the Triangle Transit Authority bus service, the CAT (Capital Area Transit) bus system and CAT Connectors. RDU International Airport, an East Coast hub, is at the western edge of Wake County, near Research Triangle Park and midway between the cities of Raleigh and Durham. The facility offers regional and international flights on 25 airlines. Amtrak train and Greyhound bus service are also coordinated into this transportation haven. For the best in sightseeing, the Raleigh Trolley provides rides for historic tours.

Employment is significantly above the average for the state of North Carolina, and the business community is constantly and creatively developing new venues and business associations. The world-renowned Research Triangle Park is consistently ranked in the top 3three most popular employment sites in major metro areas, but Wake County also stresses its high-end employment in industry, research, tourism and agriculture.

Wake County's percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher is extremely high. Access to education is easy and within a local commute are North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Meredith College, Wake Technical Community College, Durham Technical Community College, Vance-Granville Community College, Duke University, and Shaw University, among others.

Cultural resources abound in an area settled in the 1700s and the county which is home to the City of Raleigh, the state capitol of North Carolina. The State Capitol, a National Historic Landmark, the North Carolina Executive Mansion, the North Carolina Solar Center, the Raleigh City Museum, BTI Center for the Performing Arts, Historic Oak View County Park, The African American Cultural Complex, the Pope House Museum, the RBC Center, ALLTEL Pavilion, the North Carolina Museum of Art, and the Ray Price Legends of Harley Drag Racing Museum are examples of the diversity of interest here.

Wake County Parks and Recreation Department has a head start with its recreational offerings. The beautiful Neuse River, the Cape Fear River, Lake Wheeler, Lake Johnson, and Pullen Park, are known for the fishing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, and camping provided here.

Located on the eastern edge of the Piedmont Plateau, Wake County has not sacrificed its rural heritage for progress. Despite the convenience of ultra-modern shopping centers and world-class specialty stores, the countryside is still dotted with farmhouses, small community churches, and mom-and-pop stores.

Family courts in Wake County are committed to providing a prompt resolution of domestic cases. The goal for child custody case resolution is 45 days for temporary orders to be issued, 150 days for mediation sessions to be completed and trials completed in 180 days. For child support cases, the goal is 180 days for permanent orders to be entered (from the date the complaint is filed).  The goal for post-separation support cases is to have permanent orders entered within 90 days, and alimony cases finalized within 365 days.

All domestic complaints and subsequent motions are initiated by filing with the Clerk of Superior Court of Wake County. All family law issues such as divorce, child support, custody, visitation, and division of the marital property are considered civil issues and all actions relating to family issues are handled in the District Court division. Cases assigned to Family Court include juvenile delinquency charges; neglect and abuse charges; termination of parental rights and adoptions; domestic violence; child custody and visitation rights; divorce and related financial issues like child support, alimony, or equitable distribution of property; abortion consent waivers, paternity; involuntary commitments and guardianships.

The county courthouse location is at 316 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. The Wake County Courts and the State of North Carolina offer programs designed to help families and children, which they describe as therapeutic justice, meaning less time is spent in the courtrooms. For example, The North Carolina department of Health and Human Services maintains a Child Support Enforcement Web site for parents to get details about a North Carolina child support enforcement case that handles many details that would normally require a visit to the clerk of court.