Raleigh, North Carolina was founded in 1792 and was specifically planned to be the state capital, making it one of the few major cities in the United States designed from the ground up for that purpose. The city was named after Sir Walter Raleigh, the English explorer who attempted to establish the first English settlement in the New World. Over the centuries, Raleigh has evolved from a quiet government town into a booming center for technology, education, and research. According to the City of Raleigh, the area became a powerhouse for innovation after the creation of the Research Triangle Park in the 1950s, helping attract major universities, startups, and global companies.