For more than a decade, Cary has earned numerous awards for its high quality of life and

thriving business community. The town has repeatedly ranked among the top regions in

North Carolina to start a business, buy a house, raise a family and retire. In 2004 Money

Magazine named Cary the “hottest town” on the East Coast with a population over 100,000.

Cary is located in the heart of the Triangle, adjacent to Research Triangle Park, and only

minutes away from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the state’s capital. Cary,

the 7th largest municipality in North Carolina, has been named one of the fastest growing

cities in the United States.

In Cary, safety comes first. We have been ranked as the safest city in the South and the ninth

safest out of 354 large cities in the nation. Our historic downtown area and intimate

neighborhoods give Cary a hometown feeling that its residents have grown to love.

By offering an abundance of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities, Cary has

solidified its reputation as a great place to raise a family. School-age children (ages

5-19) occupy about 23 percent of the Cary population.

Our Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department plans and provides a variety of

enjoyable and cost-effective sporting, environmental, historical and cultural arts programs

and services to area residents. Cary has more than 20 public parks, a greenway system of six

park trails and 11 greenway trails, three special use facilities and eight staffed facilities.

Cary has earned rave reviews for its dynamic business environment. Our economic

development plan has positioned us as a prime location to start and grow a business. Home to

the largest, privately-held software company in the world, SAS Institute, Cary has attracted

other key, world-class businesses including Buehler Products, Cotton Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Infineon, John Deere Co. and R.H. Donnelley.

While great location is something we just happen to have, good planning is something we

developed on our own. City government carefully maintains a comprehensive growth plan that defines the world-class community we are today. The Town Council values the citizens’concerns and desires by encouraging their participation and allowing them to have a voice in their government.

Cary is within short driving distance from nationally recognized research universities

including Duke, North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina. These three

universities provide businesses in RTP with immediate access to cutting edge technologies, information and research, as well as a stellar pool of highly educated employees.

Cary recognized as top town in the East

In 2004 Money magazine named the Town of Cary the “hottest town” on the East Coast and

one of the six most desirable places to live in America. Factors affecting the rankings

included median income, population growth, unemployment rates, the cost of residential

housing relative to local income levels, and percent of college educated working

professionals.

Wake County named as leader in Education

The Wake County Public School System was named third in the nation on Forbes Top

Ten List for the ‘Best Education in The Biggest Cities.’ This recognition is a result of the

counties mission to lead the nation in narrowing the achievement gap and accomplishing

extraordinarily high academic goals for all.

Best possible financial position

The Town of Cary is one of five municipalities in North Carolina to receive the highest

possible credit ratings from the leading New York investment firms — Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s.

Commitment to sound budgeting

The Town of Cary is a perennial recipient of the Government Finance Officers Award for

Distinguished Budget Presentation, demonstrating the highest principles of governmental

budgeting.

Gontinuing excellence in accounting and financial management

The State’s Treasurer’s office has honored Cary with the Governmental Award for

Excellence for its innovative and progressive programs for the past two years.

Safest city in the South

Cary ranked as the sixth safest of 342 large cities in the Morgan Quitno Safest and Most

Dangerous Cities report in 2002. Cary has been among the eight safest cities since the report began four years ago.

Proactive in fire protection

The Cary Fire Department was the second department in North Carolina to earn national

accreditation.

Statewide leader in emergency medical care

Gary Emergency Medical Services was the first agency in the state to have a federally

certified ambulance service.

Groundbreaking in public education

North Carolina’s first public high school was on the campus of what is now Cary Elementary.

A public school system with valor and vision

The Wake County Public School System is poised to lead the nation in narrowing the

achievement gap and attaining remarkably high academic goals for all students.

The Technology Town of North Carolina

Ninety percent of Cary’ s citizens have access to the Internet at home or at work — almost double the national average. SAS Institute, Cary’s largest employer, is the largest privately- held software developer in the world. The Town of Cary Web site, www.townofcary.org, has more than 55,000 files.

Award-winning Town government Web site

Townofcary.org had received two Golden Web awards from the International Association of

Web Masters and Designers.

The Town received its 20th Tree City USA Award in 2003, demonstrating its long-term

commitment to urban forestry. Cary was one of the first towns in the state to get a tree

protection bill through the N.C. General Assembly.

Conserving our natural resources

Cary was the first in the state to conserve drinking water by reclaiming treated wastewater for irrigation.

Where careful planning preserves high quality of life

The Town has received the Outstanding Planning Award from the N.C. Chapter of the

American Planning Association for its Open Space & Historic Resources Plan.

Putting the brakes on stop-and-go traffic

Cary is the largest municipality in the state to fully fund its own traffic signal system, which will serve to reduce air pollution caused by frequent stops and delays.

The system will include closed circuit cameras at key intersections, allowing the Town to

change signal timing and keep traffic moving smoothly.

Where people know how to have a good time

The Cary Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department was the first parks department in the Triangle to receive national accreditation.

Host for North Carolina’s State Games

North Carolina’s largest multi-sport, amateur athletic festival will be held in Cary in 2005 & 2006. The State Games of North Carolina is a 23-sport, Olympic-style sports festival held annually in June, drawing over 12,270 athletes from 97 of 100 counties.

Where technology and nature are in harmony

Cary’ s Amphitheatre, one of the newest outdoor facilities in North Carolina, is a state-of-the art performance center located among 20 acres of at Symphony Lake.

Summer home of the N. C Symphony

The North Carolina Symphony performs its annual Summerfest concert series at the

Amphitheatre in Regency Park.

The best place to spend a lazy summer day

The Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival in Cary has become one of the largest premier festivals in the Southeast over the past quarter century.

Where future Olympians will swing for the fences

USA Baseball’s National Olympic Training Center is scheduled to open in 2005 at Brooks Park in Caiy.

Where stars ofproftssionalgolf tee it high and let it fly

The SAS Championship of the PGA Tour returns to Prestonwood Country Club for the fourth year in a row September 2003.

Where celebrities ‘~play a little golf” and raise money for cancer research

Top names in the sports and entertainment fields gather every August at Prestonwood

Country Club for the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic in memory of Jim Valvano, former

head coach of the North Carolina State basketball team, and a popular TV commentator.

National draw for tournament softball

For the fourth year in a row, Cary is hosting the PONY National Fastpitch Softball

Tournament, drawing teams as far away as Alaska and along the West Coast. The

tournament brings in millions of dollars to the area’s economy.

The place to tour on two wheels

Cary has been touted as the Triangle’s “bike friendliest community” with its safe cycling

classes for children, annual Cycling Celebration, and plan for a bicycle network throughout town.

A great place to serve and volley

Cary Tennis Center is one of the premier facilities in the Southeast for recreational and

tournament play.

Host to Special Olympics from throughout the world

Cary was a host of the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games, holding two road

cycling events, and a golfing event at Prestonwood Country Club. The Embassy Suites in

Cary served as the main media center, accommodating 1,500 media members from around the world.