Local Context The infrastructure we see today has roots from when French Revolutionary War veteran William Fuquay purchased 1000 acres from the Jones family in 1805. Almost fifty years later, the discovery of a mineral spring by WIlliam’s son or grandson led to a burgeoning antebellum tourism industry, as hotels grew up around the springs to accommodate those who came to “take the waters.” The spring also attracted an early railroad connection to the Fuquay area. Following the Civil War, a young veteran who had been born near the spring brought his wife Varina home to his birthplace and named his post office and store after her, near a railway crossing that would come to be known as “Varina Station.” In the early 20th century, two downtowns grew up around the springs and the railway station, as the area became a hot-spot for the southern Wake County tobacco market.
Fuquay Springs was incorporated in 1909, and in 1963 merged with Varina to form a single municipality. Since then, Fuquay-Varina has continued to grow, becoming one of the fastest-growing towns in North Carolina. New residents are attracted by its distinct small-town feel, which is present in each of the historic downtown districts, despite the town’s proximity to the bustling Research Triangle region. Fuquay-Varina currently has a population of 34,152 (2020 Census, see Table 1 below). Fuquay-Varina’s population, similar to that of other outlying suburbs in the Triangle region, has grown substantially over the past few decades as housing prices have risen in Durham and Wake counties. Future development is expected to continue at a similar pace as in the past few decades.
Existing Conditions 02.
Table 1: Demographic Comparison
Raleigh-Cary Metro Area North Carolina
Fuquay-Varina
Population 1
34,152
1,129,410
10,439,388
Median Age 2
35.8
37.3
38.7
Median Household Income 2
$79,000
$75,851
$54,602
% Households without a Vehicle 2
3.5% 0.6%
4.2%
5.8%
% Walk to Work 2
1.1%
1.8%
% School-Age Children (Ages 5-19) 2 21.5%
20.8%
19.3%
1 US Census Bureau, 2020 Census 2 US Census Bureau, 2015-2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
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FUQUAY-VARINA PEDESTRIAN PLAN
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