Cary began as a small railroad stop in the mid 1800s and was officially incorporated in 1871. The town was named after Samuel Fenton Cary, an Ohio prohibitionist whose land purchase helped establish the early community. What started as a quiet farming settlement transformed rapidly in the late twentieth century as the Research Triangle Park expanded nearby. According to the Town of Cary, the population grew dramatically after the 1970s, turning Cary into one of the fastest growing municipalities in North Carolina. Today, Cary is known for thoughtful planning, strong schools, and a high quality of life that blends suburban comfort with easy access to Raleigh and Durham.