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145-625: The Neuse begins at the confluence of the Flat and Eno rivers near Durham , North Carolina. The river enters Pamlico Sound just east of Maw Point Shoal near Hobucken , North Carolina while en route to the Atlantic Ocean . Typical of rivers in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, the Neuse enters a basin of chocolate intermittent bottomland swamp on its journey towards its outlet. One interesting exception

290-642: A historically black university that is part of the University of North Carolina System . Together, the two universities make Durham one of the vertices of the Research Triangle area; central to this is the Research Triangle Park south of Durham, which encompasses an area of 11 square miles and is devoted to research facilities. On the Duke University campus are the neo-Gothic Duke Chapel and

435-540: A Category 2. The eyewall had largely dissipated by that time. Continuing northeastward along a cold front, Floyd moved through eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, weakening to tropical storm status by late on September 16. The storm gradually lost its tropical characteristics as it quickly moved through the Delmarva Peninsula , eastern New Jersey, Long Island , and New England. Late on September 17, Floyd transitioned into an extratropical cyclone near

580-428: A better future than "a new-fangled nonsense like a railroad" and refused to sell or lease land for a depot. In 1849, a North Carolina Railroad depot was established on a four-acre tract of land donated by Dr. Bartlett S. Durham ; the station was named after him in recognition of his gift. A U.S. post office was established there on April 26, 1853, now recognized as the city's official birthday. Durham Station, as it

725-623: A bill for the establishment of Durham County was ratified by the General Assembly, having been introduced by Caleb B.Green, creating Durham County from the eastern portion of Orange County and the western portion of Wake County . In 1911, parts of Cedar Fork Township of Wake County was transferred to Durham County and became Carr Township . The rapid growth and prosperity of the Bull Durham Tobacco Company, and Washington Duke 's W. Duke & Sons Tobacco Company, resulted in

870-439: A boutique hotel was built in this major renovation effort in downtown Durham. Skanska is responsible for managing this project. In 2014, it was announced that downtown Durham would be the site of a brand new 27 story high building, tentatively named "City Center Tower," but now called " One City Center ". Along with other new buildings in downtown Durham, it was under construction in 2018. Construction has already started, and

1015-591: A bus with 11 students in Buckingham Township . Statewide, Floyd left over 500,000 homes and businesses without power. Tropical Storm Floyd made landfall on western Long Island as it moved northward. The heaviest rainfall associated with the storm was concentrated in the southeastern section of the state. Several meteorological elements worked to enhance the moisture from the cyclone. Rainfall totals exceeding 6 in (150 mm) were common, with as much as 12 in (300 mm) reported locally in

1160-655: A century later, during another period of historically low water, the remains of the ship were discovered. It was raised in 1963. Later the ship was installed beside the river at the Governor Caswell Memorial in Kinston . William Larry Stewart II, a.k.a. Billy Stewart (March 24, 1937 – January 17, 1970), an American rhythm and blues singer and pianist, died in a broad-daylight car accident in January 1970, just two months prior to his 33rd birthday. The accident happened when

1305-517: A depth of 10 ft (3.0 m), which damaged 1,500 homes, caused 284 homes to be condemned, and forced 1,000 people to evacuate. A water treatment plant was damaged in Bridgewater Township , forcing nearly 500,000 people in Hunterdon, Mercer , Middlesex , and Somerset counties to boil water for eight days. The Rochelle Park, New Jersey hub of Electronic Data Systems

1450-510: A federal state of emergency in both Florida and Georgia in anticipation of the storm's approach. As the storm turned to the north, more people were evacuated as a progressively larger area was threatened. The massive storm prompted what was then the largest peacetime evacuation in U.S. history, with around 2.6 million evacuating coastal areas in Florida, Georgia , and the Carolinas . With

1595-615: A few miles of track belonging to the Wilmington and Western Railroad washed out. Dozens of motorists required rescue. Winds in the state reached 64 mph (104 km/h) at Cape Henlopen along the coast. The winds knocked down hundreds of trees and power lines, leaving about 25,000 people without power. As Floyd continued up the coast, it dropped heavy rainfall in New Jersey, reaching 14.13 in (359 mm) in Little Falls ; this

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1740-545: A few trees and power lines near the coast, but statewide damage was minimal. In Savannah , the hurricane produced tides 3.3 ft (1.0 m) above normal. Rainfall was light in the state, reaching 0.85 in (22 mm) in Newington . Tropical storm force winds affected the entirety of the South Carolina coastline, with statewide damage estimated at $ 17 million. Sustained winds reached 54 mph (87 km/h) at

1885-583: A forecast that proved accurate. On its second advisory, NHC forecaster Lixion Avila stated that the depression had "all the ingredients...that we know of...to become a major hurricane eventually." Early on September 8, the depression became sufficiently well-organized for the NHC to upgrade it to Tropical Storm Floyd. The storm had a large circulation, but Floyd initially lacked a well-defined inner core, which resulted in only slow strengthening. The first Hurricane Hunters mission occurred on September 9, which observed

2030-435: A general curvature in its convection , or thunderstorms, but little organization at first. By September 5, a center of circulation was evident within the convective system. Over the next day, the thunderstorms increased in intensity as they organized into a curved band. Aided by favorable outflow , the system organized further into Tropical Depression Eight late on September 7, located about 1,000 mi (1,600 km) east of

2175-569: A generator. The Anne Arundel county fair was canceled for the first time in its history. In Baltimore , the Baltimore Orioles postponed a baseball game. Statewide damage was estimated at $ 7.9 million. In Delaware, Hurricane Floyd left $ 8.42 million in damage. The storm dropped torrential rainfall, reaching 12.58 in (320 mm) in Greenwood, Delaware . During the storm, Greenwood recorded 10.58 in (269 mm), breaking

2320-498: A hurricane not to reach Category 5 intensity in the Atlantic Ocean – only Hurricanes Iota , Gloria and Opal had lower pressures than Floyd. Around this time, tropical cyclone forecast models suggested an eventual landfall in the Southeastern United States from Palm Beach, Florida to South Carolina. At its peak, tropical storm-force winds spanned a diameter of 580 mi (930 km), making Floyd one of

2465-545: A major new development, the Durham Innovation District, was announced. The development will span 15 acres and comprise over 1.7 million square feet of office, residential, and retail space. On April 10, 2019, a gas explosion rocked Kaffeinate, a coffee shop in Bright Leaf Historic District . The blast destroyed a city block and killed Kong Lee, the owner, as well as injuring 25 others. Durham

2610-613: A monopoly of the smoking and chewing tobacco business in the United States by 1900. In the early 1910s, the Federal Government forced a breakup of the Duke's business under the antitrust laws. The Dukes retained what became known as American Tobacco , a major corporation in its own right, with manufacturing based in Durham. American Tobacco's ubiquitous advertisements on radio shows beginning in

2755-559: A period of several weeks; nearly every river basin in the eastern part of the state exceeded 500-year flood levels. In total, Floyd was responsible for 85 fatalities and $ 6.5 billion (1999  USD ) in damage. Due to the destruction, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Floyd and replaced it with Franklin . Floyd originated from a tropical wave that exited the west coast of Africa on September 2. The wave moved generally westward, presenting

2900-489: A portion of the actual monetary damage. The storm also caused about $ 2 million in property damage in Essex County . In Connecticut, the storm caused one casualty: a man drowned after boating in the swollen Quinnipiac River . The storm caused extensive flooding and serious damage. Wind gusts exceeding 50 mph (80 km/h), combined with the saturated ground, brought down many trees and triggered severe power outages in

3045-412: A report of 7.12 in (181 mm) at North Smithfield, Rhode Island . The Pawtuxet River reached flood stage on September 16, and crested the next day. Although it surpassed its banks, no flood damage was reported. The storm's effects in the state were mostly minor. In Massachusetts, the storm produced wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph (97 to 113 km/h), reaching 76 mph (122 km/h) at

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3190-468: A steam electric plant. A fish ladder was included. The dam was removed in May 1998, opening up access for anadromous fish to 127 kilometres (79 mi) of the mainstem Neuse River. The Neuse has been plagued in recent years with environmental and public health problems related to municipal and agricultural waste water discharge, storm runoff , and other sources of pollution. Pollution was particularly bad in

3335-477: A washed out bridge on his motorcycle. High tides, 2 to 3 ft (0.61 to 0.91 m) above normal, affected coastal areas of St. Mary's , Calvert , Harford , and Anne Arundel counties, with 5 houses destroyed and 23 severely damaged. Flooding inundated the only bridge to St. George Island , stranding six people. The highest statewide wind gust – 71 mph (114 km/h) – occurred in Tall Timbers , while

3480-455: A week earlier, causing minor flooding. Floyd helped to alleviate drought conditions in Maine. Some roads in susceptible areas were submerged, and a few basements were flooded. Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 km/h) blew down trees and snapped branches, especially in the area surrounding Baxter State Park . Around 15,000 residents were affected by power outages as a result. Following

3625-526: Is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County . Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County and Wake County . With a population of 283,506 in the 2020 census , Durham is the fourth-most populous city in North Carolina and the 70th-most populous city in the United States. The city is located in the east-central part of the Piedmont region along

3770-735: Is a list of Durham's largest employers. Hurricane Floyd Other wikis Hurricane Floyd was a very powerful tropical cyclone which struck the Bahamas and the East Coast of the United States. It was the sixth named storm , fourth hurricane , and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season . Floyd triggered the fourth largest evacuation in US history (behind Hurricane Irma , Hurricane Gustav , and Hurricane Rita ) when 2.6 million coastal residents of five states were ordered from their homes as it approached. The hurricane formed off

3915-465: Is home to several recognized institutions of higher education, most notably Duke University and North Carolina Central University . Durham is also a national leader in health-related activities, which are focused on the Duke University Hospital and many private companies. Duke and its Duke University Health System are the largest employers in the city. North Carolina Central University is

4060-403: Is located in the east–central part of the Piedmont region at 35°59′19″N 78°54′26″W  /  35.98861°N 78.90722°W  / 35.98861; -78.90722 (35.99, -78.9). Like much of the region, its topography is generally flat with some rolling hills. As of 2022 the city had a total area of 116.19 square miles (300.9 km ), of which 115.36 square miles (298.8 km )

4205-437: Is the " Cliffs of the Neuse " area near Goldsboro , where the river cuts a narrow 30 m (90 ft) gorge through limestone and sandstone bluffs. The Neuse is prone to extremes in its flow carriage, often escaping its banks during wet periods, then reducing to a trickle that can be forded on foot during prolonged drought conditions. The Neuse flows through parts of seven counties. Major cities and towns in proximity to

4350-685: The Catskills . At Cairo , 12.21 in (310 mm) of rain fell. The precipitation, combined with that of Hurricane Dennis earlier in the month, helped to alleviate persistent drought conditions. Floyd also produced gusty winds, reaching 54 mph (87 km/h) at Stewart International Airport , worsened by a pressure gradient between the storm and an area of high pressure over the Ohio Valley . Floyd's rainfall resulted in deadly and extensive flooding that killed two people in New York. Heavy flooding

4495-670: The Charleston National Weather Service Office, which also recorded wind gusts of 85 mph (137 km/h). The winds destroyed a few roofs and knocked down thousands of trees, leaving more than 200,000 people without electricity. The hurricane produced above normal tides along the coast, reaching 10.1 ft (3.1 m) above normal in Charleston Harbor . The waves caused minor to moderate beach erosion. At Myrtle Beach International Airport , Hurricane Floyd dropped 16.06 in (408 mm) of rainfall,

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4640-516: The Chowan River Basin, some of which exceeded 500-year flood levels. The Blackwater River reached 100-year flood levels and flooded Franklin with 12 ft (3.7 m) of water. Extensive road damage occurred there, isolating the area from the rest of the state. Some 182 businesses and 150 houses were underwater in Franklin from the worst flooding in 60 years. In addition, two dams along

4785-679: The Duke East Campus ). Durham's manufacturing fortunes declined during the mid-20th century. Textile mills began to close during the 1930s. Competition from other tobacco companies (as well as a decrease in smoking after the 1960s) reduced revenues from Durham's tobacco industry. In a far-sighted move in the late 1950s, Duke University, along with the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University in Raleigh, persuaded

4930-848: The East Coast of the United States , causing massive evacuations and costly preparations from Florida through the Mid-Atlantic states. The storm weakened significantly, however, before striking the Cape Fear region, North Carolina as a very strong Category 2 hurricane, and caused further damage as it traveled up the Mid-Atlantic region and into New England . The hurricane produced torrential rainfall in Eastern North Carolina , adding more rain to an area already hit by Hurricane Dennis just weeks earlier. The rains caused widespread flooding over

5075-628: The Eno River . Durham is the core of the four-county Durham–Chapel Hill metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 608,879 in 2023. The Office of Management and Budget also includes Durham as a part of the Raleigh–Durham–Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area , commonly known as the Research Triangle, which had an estimated population of 2,368,947 in 2023. A railway depot was established in 1849 on land donated by Bartlett S. Durham ,

5220-532: The Lesser Antilles . With a strong ridge of high pressure to its north, the nascent tropical depression moved to the west-northwest, where environmental conditions favored continued strengthening, including progressively warmer water temperatures . On issuing its first advisory, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) anticipated that the depression would intensify into a hurricane within three days,

5365-591: The Nasher Museum of Art . Other notable sites in the city include the Museum of Life and Science , Durham Performing Arts Center , Carolina Theatre , and Duke Homestead and Tobacco Factory . Bennett Place commemorates the location where Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to William T. Sherman in the American Civil War. The city is served, along with Raleigh, by Raleigh–Durham International Airport . The Eno and

5510-618: The North Carolina General Assembly , on April 10, 1869. It was named for the man who provided the land on which the station was built, Dr. Bartlett Durham. At the time of its incorporation by the General Assembly, Durham was located in Orange County. The increase in business activity, land transfers etc., made the day long trip back and forth to the county seat in Hillsborough untenable, so twelve years later, on April 17, 1881,

5655-569: The Occoneechi , related to the Sioux and the Shakori , lived in the area and may have established a village named Adshusheer (or Ajusher) in the area which became Durham. The Occaneechi Path , a corridor of trading roads and trails, went through the area. Native Americans expanded the region by establishing settlements and commercial transportation routes. In 1701, English explorer John Lawson , documented

5800-724: The Rappahannock River burst from the extreme flooding. Throughout all of Virginia, Floyd damaged 9,250 houses. In addition to the heavy rainfall, tides in Norfolk were 3.9 ft (1.2 m) above normal, resulting moderate to locally severe coastal flooding . Along the Chesapeake Bay, Floyd produced a 5 to 7 ft (1.5 to 2.1 m) storm surge, causing up to 6 ft (1.8 m) of flooding in Accomack County homes. Floyd's winds and rains knocked down hundreds of trees across

5945-599: The Saco River at Conway crested at 15.56 ft (4.74 m), surpassing the 9-ft (2.7 m) flood stage. Along the Saco and Pemigewasset rivers, minor flooding took place, though only in low-lying terrain. Strong winds also impacted the state, with gusts often exceeding 40 mph (64 km/h). The winds brought down several small trees in Jaffrey , and triggered power outages that affected 10,000 residents. A federal disaster area

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6090-457: The Still River and its tributaries triggered severe flooding. The worst of the flooding—considered the worst in 40 years—took place at Danbury. Hundreds of homes, two car dealerships, several roads, and other structures were damaged there. At Greentree Motors, all 200 vehicles were declared a total loss. Parts of the city were submerged with 4 ft (1.2 m) of water. However, throughout

6235-465: The first sit-in of the civil rights movement in North Carolina , on June 23, 1957, Moore and six others assembled at the church to plan the protest. The young African Americans moved over to the segregated Royal Ice Cream Parlor and took up whites-only booths. When they refused to budge, the manager called the police who charged them with trespassing. Unlike the Greensboro Four , three years later,

6380-803: The l'Amiante to Bellechasse regions. The highest rainfall in Canada also occurred in eastern Quebec, reaching 4.8 in (122 mm). Power outages affected Montreal and Quebec City, causing classes to be canceled at the Université de Montréal . Inclement weather was a potential factor in a five car accident on Autoroute 15 in Quebec City. Minor traffic accidents also occurred in the Maritimes. Heavy rainfall backed up storm drains in Fredericton, New Brunswick . The Confederation Bridge connecting Prince Edward Island to

6525-479: The maximum sustained winds increased from 110 to 155 mph (177 to 249 km/h), making Floyd a strong Category 4 hurricane. This was based a 90% reduction of an observation by the Hurricane Hunters, which recorded flight-level winds of 171 mph (276 km/h). Around the same time, the pressure dropped to 921  mb (921  hPa ; 27.2  inHg ), which was the fourth-lowest pressure for

6670-454: The 1930s and television shows up to 1970 was the nation's image of Durham until Duke University supplanted it in the late 20th century. Prevented from further investment in the tobacco industry, the Dukes turned to the then new industry of electric power generation, which they had been investing in since the early 1890s. Duke Power (now Duke Energy) brought in electricity from hydroelectric dams in

6815-663: The 1970s and 1980s, with the construction of multiple housing developments in the southern part of the city, nearest Research Triangle Park , and the beginnings of downtown revitalization. In 1975, the St. Joseph's Historical Foundation at the Hayti Heritage Center was incorporated to "preserve the heritage of the old Hayti community, and to promote the understanding of and appreciation for the African American experience and African Americans' contributions to world culture." In 1987,

6960-705: The 19th costliest as of 2017. Most of the deaths and damage were from inland, freshwater flooding in eastern North Carolina. Around when Floyd first became a hurricane, its outer bands moved over the Lesser Antilles. Hurricane Floyd lashed the Bahamas with winds of 155 mph (249 km/h) and waves up to 50 ft (15 m) in height. A 20 ft (6.10 m) storm surge inundated many islands with over five ft (1.5 m) of water throughout. The wind and waves toppled power and communication lines, severely disrupting electricity and telephone services for days. Damage

7105-518: The 2019 U.S. census data estimate, had grown to 278,993, making it the 50th-fastest-growing city in the US, and the 2nd-fastest-growing city in North Carolina, behind Cary but ahead of Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro. As of the 2020 census , there were 283,506 people, 114,726 households, and 64,982 families residing in the city. As of the 2022 American Community Survey estimates, there were 291,844 people and 124,536 households. The population density

7250-465: The 28 ft (8.5 m) flood stage, and exceeding the previous record of 37.5 ft (11.4 m) set during Tropical Storm Doria in 1971. Downtown Bound Brook was flooded 13 ft (4.0 m), causing 200 buildings to be condemned. In Manville , the Raritan crested at a record 27.5 ft (8.4 m), nearly double the flood stage of 14 ft (4.3 m). Parts of Manville were flooded to

7395-590: The American Tobacco Campus, home to successful small software firms including Red Hat , was selected by Google to host its launch of the Google Glass Road show in October 2013. The district is also slated for expansion featuring 158,000 square feet of offices, retail, residential or hotel space The Durham County Justice Center , a major addition to downtown Durham, was completed in early 2013. Many of

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7540-415: The American Tobacco Factory in Durham closed, leading to an economic downturn and a decline in the city's reputation. A new downtown baseball stadium was constructed for the Durham Bulls in 1994. The Durham Performing Arts Center now ranks in the top ten in theater ticket sales in the US according to Pollstar magazine. Many famous people have performed there including B.B. King and Willie Nelson . After

7685-537: The Atlantic near Wilmington . A small portion of the city is in Wake County . Durham is located 10 miles northeast of Chapel Hill , 21 miles northwest of Raleigh , 50 miles east of Greensboro , 121 miles northeast of Charlotte and 134 miles southwest of Richmond, Virginia . The climate of Durham is humid subtropical ( Cfa according to the Köppen classification system), with hot and humid summers, cool winters, and warm to mild spring and autumn. Durham receives abundant precipitation, with thunderstorms common in

7830-467: The Chubb River. The strong winds, combined with saturated ground from the rainfall, brought down trees in widespread areas of the Hudson Valley and Capital District . Many of the trees would not have otherwise fallen in drier conditions. Some of the downed trees fell on structures. In a narrow swath in the Wolf Pond Valley of Warren County , where wind gusts are estimated to have reached 80 mph (130 km/h), hundreds of trees were blown down. At

7975-409: The City of Durham. Much of the early city architecture , both commercial and residential, dates from the period of 1890–1930. Durham recorded its worst fire in history on March 23, 1914. The multimillion-dollar blaze destroyed a large portion of the downtown business district. The fire department's water source failed during the blaze, prompting voters to establish a city-owned water system in place of

8120-430: The Ford Thunderbird that Stewart was driving approached a bridge across the Neuse River near Smithfield, North Carolina. His car left the highway, ran along the median strip at a slight angle to the highway, struck the bridge abutment, and then plunged into the river, killing Stewart and his three passengers instantly. The low-head Quaker Neck Dam was built in 1952 at Neuse River kilometer 225 to impound cooling water for

8265-650: The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier reached 4.2 ft (1.3 m). By September 17, Floyd was located over southwestern Maine, dropping heavy rains. The entire state received precipitation, with the highest totals confined to southern areas. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for two-thirds of the state. The storm was described as "tame", and damage was generally minor. In much of Androscoggin County , rainfall amounted to between 7 and 8 in (180 and 200 mm); Poland reported 8.72 in (221 mm). Several rivers approached or exceeded flood stage due to rainfall from Floyd and Hurricane Dennis less than

8410-479: The Hayti district for the construction of the Durham Freeway during the late 1960s. The freeway construction resulted in losses to other historic neighborhoods, including Morehead Hill, West End, and West Durham. Combined with large-scale demolition using Urban Renewal funds, Durham suffered significant losses to its historic architectural base. In 1970, the Census Bureau reported city's population as 38.8% black and 60.8% white. Durham's growth began to rekindle during

8555-417: The Indian population in "…the country Neusiok, situated upon a goodly river called Neuse…", as it was called by the local population. In 1865 during the American Civil War , the Confederates burned one of the last ironclad warships which they had built, the Ram Neuse , to prevent its capture by Union troops. The level of the river had fallen so that it prevented the ship from passing downriver. Nearly

8700-450: The Neuse are Durham; Neuse Township ; Raleigh , the capital of North Carolina; Smithfield ; Goldsboro ; Kinston and New Bern. For thousands of years before the Europeans arrived, different civilizations of indigenous peoples lived along the river. Many artifacts found along its banks have been traced to ancient prehistoric Native American settlements. Archaeological studies have shown waves of habitation. The river has one of

8845-449: The New Bedford Hurricane Barrier. The strongest winds were concentrated over two sections of the state—the western mountains terrain and Cape Cod . The winds brought down trees and power lines in these areas, particularly around Pittsfield . In terms of rainfall, the storm dropped 6 to 10 in (150 to 250 mm) in many locations. The heavy precipitation caused rivers to swell, and in some cases flow over their banks. Storm surge at

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8990-448: The North Carolina Legislature to purchase a large tract of sparsely settled land in southern Durham County and create the nation's first "science park" for industry. Cheap land and a steady supply of trained workers from the local universities made the Research Triangle Park an enormous success which, along with the expansion resulting from the clinical and scientific advances of Duke Medical Center and Duke University, more than made up for

9135-407: The Revolutionary War. Durham's location is a result of the needs of the 19th century railroad industry. The wood-burning steam locomotives of the time had to stop frequently for wood and water and the new North Carolina Railroad needed a depot between the settled towns of Raleigh and Hillsborough. The residents of what is now downtown Durham thought their businesses catering to livestock drivers had

9280-421: The Royal Seven were arrested and ultimately found guilty of trespassing. The six-month-long sit-in at a Woolworth 's counter in Greensboro, North Carolina , captured the nation's attention. Within a week, students from North Carolina College at Durham and Duke University staged a sit-in in Durham. About a week later, Martin Luther King Jr. met Moore in Durham, where King coined his famous rallying cry "Fill up

9425-408: The aftermath of hurricanes Fran and Floyd in the late 1990s. The dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida is present in the river, and has a bloom in growth when nutrient levels are increased due to too much runoff . This organism may be connected to fish kills as well as adverse health effects in grapes. Durham, North Carolina Durham ( / ˈ d ɜːr ə m / DURR -əm )

9570-437: The antebellum period. By 1860, Stagville Plantation lay at the center of one of the largest plantation holdings in the South. African slaves were brought to labor on these farms and plantations, and slave quarters became the hearth of distinctively Southern cultural traditions involving crafts, social relations, life rituals, music, and dance. There were free African-Americans in the area as well, including several who fought in

9715-445: The area and would later call it "the flower of the Carolinas". Lawson claimed that Ajusher was situated 14 miles (23 km) from Occaneechi Town. In the mid-1700s, Scots, Irish, and English colonists settled on land granted to George Carteret by King Charles I , a grant that had by then been inherited by his great-grandson John . Early settlers built settlements as well as farms and mills, like West Point Mill . Frontiersmen in

9860-411: The area, prior to the American Revolutionary War , participated in the Regulator Movement . Loyalist militia used Cornwallis Road to cut through the area in 1771 to quell the rebellion. William Johnston, a local a farmer and shopkeeper, made munitions for the Continental Army , served in the Provincial Congress in 1775, and financially supported Daniel Boone on his westward explorations. Prior to

10005-409: The area. Extensive flooding, especially along NC Hwy 91 and the White Oak Loop neighborhood, led to overflowing rivers; nearly every river basin in eastern North Carolina reached 500 year or greater flood levels. Most localized flooding happened overnight; Floyd dropped nearly 17 in (430 mm) of rain during the hours of its passage and many residents were not aware of the flooding until

10150-494: The area. As Floyd tracked up the Connecticut River Valley towards Massachusetts, it dropped heavy precipitation. The heaviest rainfall occurred in a southwest–northeast orientated swath from northern New Jersey to southwestern Connecticut, including southeastern New York . At the Danbury Airport , 11.13 in (283 mm) of rain was reported. Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 in (25 to 51 mm) per hour occurred at Bethel and Danbury . Numerous rivers overflowed; for example,

10295-665: The area. Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 in (76 to 152 mm) were common, although there were localized higher reports. The rainfall was offset by persistent drought conditions, however. Numerous tributaries overflowed their banks, and significant flooding was reported. In Weathersfield , part of U.S. Route 5 was washed away. Some schools were closed and events canceled in the region. The downed trees caused structural damage, blocked roadways, and affected hiking trails. The high winds also damaged buildings and some apple orchards, Waves of 8 to 10 ft (2.4 to 3.0 m) occurred on Lake Champlain , damaging numerous watercraft along

10440-523: The arrival of the railroad, the area now known as Durham was the eastern part of present-day Orange County and was almost entirely agricultural, with a few businesses catering to travelers (particularly livestock drivers) along the Hillsborough Road. This road, eventually followed by US Route 70, was the major east–west route in North Carolina from colonial times until the construction of interstate highways. Steady population growth and an intersection with

10585-457: The building will be at the corner of Main St. and Corcoran St. It will be directly across from Durham's current tallest building, but once completed, will be the new tallest building in downtown Durham and the 4th largest building in the Triangle. Originally scheduled for a 2016 opening, the building was then expected to open in May 2018. This is an ambitious, $ 80 million project. In October 2014,

10730-440: The coast of Africa and lasted from September 7 to 19, becoming extratropical after September 17, and peaked in strength as a very strong Category 4 hurricane. It was among the largest Atlantic hurricanes of its strength ever recorded, in terms of gale-force diameter. Floyd was once forecast to strike Florida, but turned away. Instead, Floyd struck the Bahamas at peak strength, causing heavy damage. It then moved parallel to

10875-590: The coast of southern Maine . The storm continued to the northeast, passing through New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland on September 18. On the following day, a larger extratropical storm over the North Atlantic Ocean absorbed what was once Hurricane Floyd. Early in Floyd's duration, the hurricane posed a threat to the Lesser Antilles, prompting tropical storm watches for Antigua and Barbuda , Anguilla , Saint Martin , and Saint Barthelemy . After

11020-429: The costliest natural disaster in New Jersey's history, until it was surpassed by Hurricane Irene in 2011. Seven people died in New Jersey during Floyd's passage – six due to drowning, and one in a traffic accident. A police lieutenant took his life after working for nearly 48 hours coordinating floodwater rescues. In Bound Brook , the Raritan crested at a record 42.5 ft (13.0 m) on September 16, well above

11165-422: The damage would be caused by water, always a potential problem in an area only nine feet above sea level. If water entered the facility, it would damage the electronics as well as requiring a complete inspection of all hardware. When Floyd actually passed by the area, Kennedy Space Center only reported light winds with minor water intrusion. Damage was minor overall, and was repaired easily. A hurricane warning

11310-510: The damage, however, few deaths were reported, as only one person drowned in Freeport , and there were few injuries reported. For several days, Hurricane Floyd paralleled the east coast of Florida, spurring widespread evacuations. Ultimately, the storm left $ 50 million in damage, mostly in Volusia county. There, high winds and falling trees damaged 337 homes. The highest recorded wind gust in

11455-453: The day Floyd hit the area. This was a rare decision by the city, as New York City public schools close on average once every few years. Before Floyd, the last time New York City closed its schools was for the Blizzard of 1996 . After Floyd, the next time its public schools would close was due to a blizzard on March 5, 2001. Walt Disney World also closed for the first time in its history due to

11600-975: The decline of Durham's tobacco and textile industries. As a result of its substantial African-American community, including many activists, a prominent civil rights movement developed in Durham. Multiple sit-ins were held, and Martin Luther King Jr. , visited the city during the struggle for equal rights. The Durham Committee on Negro Affairs, organized in 1935 by C.C. Spaulding, Louis Austin, Conrad Pearson, and James E. Shepard , has been cited nationally for its role in fighting for black voting rights. The committee also has used its voting strength to pursue social and economic rights for African-Americans and other ethnic groups. In 1957, Douglas E. Moore , minister of Durham's Asbury Temple Methodist Church, along with other religious and community leaders, pioneered sit-ins throughout North Carolina to protest discrimination at lunch counters that served only whites. Widely credited as

11745-515: The departure of the tobacco industry, large-scale renovations of the historic factories into offices, condominiums, and restaurants began to reshape downtown. While these efforts continue, the large majority of Durham's residential and retail growth since 1990 has been along the I-40 corridor in southern Durham County. Major employers in Durham are Duke University and Duke Medical Center (39,000 employees, 14,000 students), about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of

11890-403: The developing storm. On September 10, Floyd intensified into a hurricane about 230 mi (370 km) east-northeast of the Lesser Antilles . Around that time, the track shifted more to the northwest, steered by a tropical upper tropospheric trough north of Puerto Rico. An eye developed in the center of the hurricane, signaling strengthening. On September 11, Hurricane Floyd moved through

12035-498: The event, five counties—Androscoggin, Cumberland , Kennebec Oxford , and Somerset —were declared disaster areas, making federal aid available to those areas. Rainfall in New Hampshire generally ranged from 4 to 7 in (100 to 180 mm), although a few higher totals were recorded. At Mount Washington , 9.54 in (242 mm) of precipitation fell. The rainfall swelled rivers, pushing them above flood stage;

12180-517: The front doors of their homes and apartments. Due to the heavy flooding in downtown Greenville, the East Carolina Pirates were forced to relocate their football game against #9 Miami to N.C. State 's Carter–Finley Stadium in Raleigh, where they beat the Hurricanes 27–23. The Neuse River , Roanoke River , Waccamaw River , and New River exceeded 500-year flood levels, although damage

12325-542: The highest recorded in the state. North Carolina received the brunt of the storm's destruction. In all, Hurricane Floyd caused 51 fatalities in North Carolina, much of them from freshwater flooding, as well as billions in damage. The storm surge from the large hurricane amounted to 9–10 ft (2.7–3.0 m) along the southeastern portion of the state. The hurricane also spawned numerous tornadoes, most of which caused only minor damage. Damage to power lines left over 500,000 customers without electricity at some point during

12470-525: The highest wind gust in eastern Maryland was 52 mph (83 km/h) in Ocean City. The winds knocked down hundreds of trees, including the nearly 400 year–old Liberty Tree at St. John's College in Annapolis. The winds also knocked down power lines, leaving about 500,000 customers without electricity. Two people were injured, and one person killed, from Carbon monoxide poisoning related to using

12615-458: The historic tobacco buildings elsewhere in the city have been converted into loft-style apartment complexes. The downtown corridor along West Main St. has seen significant redevelopment including bars, entertainment venues, art studios, and co-working spaces, in addition to shopping and dining in nearby Brightleaf Square , another former tobacco warehouse in the Bright Leaf Historic District . Other current and future projects include expansion of

12760-465: The jails," during a speech at White Rock Baptist Church. Advocating non-violent confrontation with segregation laws for the first time, King said, "Let us not fear going to jail. If the officials threaten to arrest us for standing up for our rights, we must answer by saying that we are willing and prepared to fill up the jails of the South." This community was not enough to prevent the demolition of portions of

12905-474: The largest Atlantic hurricanes of its intensity ever recorded. For about 12 hours, Hurricane Floyd remained just below Category 5 status while crossing The Bahamas. Late on September 13, the eye of the hurricane passed just north of San Salvador and Cat Islands . On the next day, the hurricane made landfalls on Eleuthera and Abaco islands . During this time, Floyd underwent an eyewall replacement cycle , in which an outer eyewall developed, causing

13050-419: The late 19th and early 20th century encouraged the then-growing textile industry to locate just outside Durham. The early electrification of Durham was also a large incentive. Drawing a labor force from the economic demise of single-family farms in the region at the time, these textile mills doubled the population of Durham. These areas were known as East Durham and West Durham until they were eventually annexed by

13195-631: The mainland shut down during the storm due to 72 miles per hour (116 km/h) winds. About 6,000 people lost power in Nova Scotia. To help the affected citizens, the Bahamas Red Cross Society opened 41 shelters, though within one week many returned home. The Bahamas required $ 435,000 (1999 USD; $ 795,617 2024 USD) in aid following the storm, much of it in food parcels. The Inter-American Development Bank loaned $ 21 million (1999 USD; $ 38.4 million 2024 USD) to

13340-418: The mainland. In southwestern Nova Scotia, 66 schools were closed, and provincial ferry service with Bar Harbor, Maine was canceled. With a death toll of 85, Hurricane Floyd was the deadliest United States hurricane since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The storm was the third-costliest hurricane in the nation's history at the time, with monetary damage estimated at $ 6.5 billion (1999 USD); it ranked

13485-473: The mild flavor of the area's Brightleaf tobacco , which was considered more pleasant to smoke or chew than was available back home after the war. Some began sending letters to Durham to get more. The community of Durham Station grew slowly before the Civil War, but expanded rapidly following the war. Much of this growth attributed to the establishment of a thriving tobacco industry. Veterans returned home after

13630-835: The namesake of the city. Following the American Civil War , the community of Durham Station expanded rapidly, in part due to the tobacco industry . The town was incorporated by act of the North Carolina General Assembly , in April 1869. The establishment of Durham County was ratified by the General Assembly 12 years later, in 1881. It became known as the founding place and headquarters of the American Tobacco Company . Textile and electric power industries also played an important role. While these industries have declined, Durham underwent revitalization and population growth to become an educational, medical, and research center. Durham

13775-405: The nation's first publicly supported liberal arts college for African-Americans. In 1924, James Buchanan Duke established a philanthropic foundation in honor of his father Washington Duke to support Trinity College in Durham. The college changed its name to Duke University and built a large campus and hospital a mile west of Trinity College (the original site of Trinity College is now known as

13920-592: The open-space surrounding the American Tobacco Trail , new hotels and apartment complexes, a $ 6.35-million facelift of Durham City Hall, and ongoing redevelopment of the Duke University Central Campus. In 2013, 21c Museum Hotels announced plans to fully renovate the Hill Building . The renovations added a contemporary art museum and upscale restaurant to the historic building. Additionally,

14065-538: The original downtown area, and companies in the Research Triangle Park (49,000 employees), about 10 miles (16 km) southeast. These centers are connected by the Durham Freeway ( NC 147 ). In recent years the city of Durham has stepped up revitalization of its downtown and undergone an economic and cultural renaissance of sorts. Partnering with developers from around the world, the city continues to promote

14210-402: The original eye to dissipate near Eleuthera. This caused a temporary drop in sustained winds to Category 3 status, only for Floyd to restrengthen briefly to a Category 4 on September 15. While approaching the southeastern United States, a strong mid- to upper-level trough eroded the western portion of the high-pressure ridge, which had been steering Floyd for several days. The break in

14355-415: The other towns of central and western North Carolina, making even more money than they ever made from tobacco. Duke Power also had a significant business in local franchises for public transit (buses and trolleys) before local government took over this responsibility in the mid- to late 20th century. Duke Power ran Durham's public bus system (now GoDurham ) until 1991. The success of the tobacco industry in

14500-403: The population. Of the 124,536 households, 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 23.2% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 8.4% were couples cohabitating, 20.2% had a male householder with no partner present, and 35.1% had a female householder with no partner present. The median household size

14645-438: The previous ten years. The official forecasts did not predict Floyd's northward track nor its significant weakening before landfall. At some point, the NHC issued a hurricane warning for nearly all of the East Coast of the United States , from Florida City, Florida , to Plymouth, Massachusetts ; however, only a fraction of this area actually received hurricane-force winds. The last time such widespread hurricane warnings occurred

14790-637: The private systems that had served the city since 1887. Durham quickly developed a black community, the center of which was an area known as Hayti , (pronounced HAY-tie), just south of the center of town, where some of the most prominent and successful black-owned businesses in the country during the early 20th century were established. These businesses — the best known of which are North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and Mechanics & Farmers Bank — were centered on Parrish St., which would come to be known as "Black Wall Street". In 1910, Dr. James E. Shepard founded North Carolina Central University ,

14935-540: The rapid growth of the city of Durham. Throughout the Gilded Age and into the early twentieth century, Durham industrialists, including George Washington Watts , John Sprunt Hill , and Julian S. Carr , built large mansions such as Somerset Villa , Harwood Hall , the John Sprunt Hill House , and Greystone Manor . Washington Duke was a good businessman, but his sons were brilliant and established what amounted to

15080-459: The record for the state's highest 24 hour rainfall total. The rains caused record crests along rivers and streams in New Castle County . The White Clay Creek crested at 17.6 ft (5.4 m), and was above flood stage for 18 hours. Statewide, Floyd damaged 171 homes, and caused 33 homes to be condemned. Flooding closed hundreds of roads and bridges, with two bridges and

15225-713: The redevelopment of many of its former tobacco districts, projects supplemented by the earlier construction of the Durham Performing Arts Center and new Durham Bulls Athletic Park . The American Tobacco Historic District , adjacent to both the athletic park and performing arts center, is one such project, having successfully lured a number of restaurants, entertainment venues, and office space geared toward hi-tech entrepreneurs, investors, and startups. Many other companies have purchased and renovated historic buildings, such as Measurement Incorporated and Capitol Broadcasting Company . The American Underground section of

15370-471: The region. The number of days of inland flooding within the Piedmont is also expected to increase, which puts Durham at higher risk of future flooding. High-intensity short-duration storms are predicted to grow in frequency to upwards of 9 days a year by 2100. Inland flooding is anticipated to have a greater impact on the elderly and other at-risk groups. Durham's population, as of July 1, 2019 and according to

15515-567: The ridge caused Floyd to turn to the northwest. After the hurricane completed its eyewall replacement cycle, Floyd had a large 57 mi (93 km) eye. The large storm gradually weakened after exiting The Bahamas, due to drier air and increasing wind shear. On September 15, Floyd paralleled the east coast of Florida about 110 mi (170 km) offshore, as it accelerated to the north and north-northeast. At around 06:30 UTC on September 16, Hurricane Floyd made landfall in Cape Fear , North Carolina with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h),

15660-401: The road connecting Roxboro and Fayetteville made the area near this site suitable for a US Post Office. Roxboro, Fayetteville and Hillsborough Roads remain major thoroughfares in Durham, although they no longer exactly follow their early 19th century rights-of-way. Large plantations, Hardscrabble , Fairntosh , Lipscomb , Walnut Hall , Patterson , and Leigh among them, were established in

15805-512: The shore. The hurricane caused one death. Most of Vermont was declared a disaster area after the storm. The remnants of Floyd produced rainfall and gusty winds from Ontario to Atlantic Canada , with 118 km/h (73 mph) occurring along the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, the strongest winds in the country. The high winds damaged corn and other crops along the river's south shore from

15950-651: The state was 69 mph (111 km/h) in Daytona Beach . Beach erosion affected much of the state's Atlantic coast. The most significant effects were in Brevard and Volusia counties, where waves damaged houses and piers. Rainfall in the state reached 3.2 in (81 mm) in Sanford . Farther north in Georgia , Floyd produced wind gusts of 53 mph (85 km/h) at Savannah International Airport . The winds knocked down

16095-411: The state, destroying 7,000, leaving 17,000 uninhabitable, and damaging 56,000. Ten thousand people resided in temporary shelters following the storm. The extensive flooding resulted in significant crop damage. As quoted by North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services H. David Bruton, "Nothing since the Civil War has been as destructive to families here. The recovery process will be much longer than

16240-548: The state, roads were closed and basements were inundated. The flooding inflicted at least $ 1.3 million in monetary damage within Fairfield County . Portions of the state were declared a federal disaster area. Floyd brought intense winds and heavy rain to Rhode Island. The strongest winds were confined to Washington and Providence counties. The winds brought down numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines. Rainfall typically ranged from 2 to 5 in (51 to 127 mm), with

16385-1163: The state, some centuries' old. As Floyd moved northward from Virginia, a stalled cold front acted as a conveyor belt of tropical moisture across the Mid-Atlantic. Wind gusts in Washington, D.C. reached 56 mph (90 km/h) at the Children's National Medical Center . The storm knocked down trees and dropped heavy rainfall, causing a shop on New York Avenue NW to close after the roof collapsed. The hurricane's rainbands moved across Maryland, dropping 12.59 in (320 mm) of rainfall in Chestertown, Maryland . Statewide, about 450 people required evacuated from low-lying areas. A mudslide in Anne Arundel County stranded five trains carrying about 1,000 passengers. Flooding closed 225 roads statewide, with dozens of motorists requiring rescue, and more than 90 bridges were damaged. A man in Centreville died while attempting to jump

16530-456: The still-saturated area, causing further flooding. The Tar River suffered the worst flooding, exceeding 500-year flood levels along its lower stretches; it crested 24 ft (7.3 m) above flood stage. Flooding began in Rocky Mount , as much as 30% of which was underwater for several days. In Tarboro , much of the downtown was under several feet of water. Nearby, the town of Princeville

16675-460: The storm bypassed the region, the government of The Bahamas issued a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas, as well as hurricane warnings for the central and northwestern Bahamas. Although Floyd's track prediction was above average while out at sea, the forecasts as it approached the coastline were merely average compared to forecasts from

16820-412: The storm predicted to hit near Cape Canaveral with winds of over 140 mph (230 km/h), all but 80 of Kennedy Space Center 's 12,500-person workforce were evacuated. The hangars that house three space shuttles can withstand winds of only 105 mph (169 km/h), and a direct hit could have resulted in potentially billions of dollars in damage of space equipment. In the theoretical scenario,

16965-439: The storm's passage. Just weeks prior to Floyd hitting, Hurricane Dennis brought up to 15 in (380 mm) of rain to southeastern North Carolina. When Hurricane Floyd moved across the state in early September, it produced torrential rainfall, amounting to a maximum of 19.06 in (484 mm) in Wilmington . Though it moved quickly, the extreme rainfall was due to Floyd's interaction with an approaching cold front across

17110-554: The storm's worst, power outages affected over 100,000 people region-wide, and some individuals remained without power for a week. At the Albany International Airport , the storm forced the cancellation of flights, and throughout the region schools were closed. Several boats sustained damage along the shore of Lake Champlain . Throughout Orange , Putnam , Rockland , and Westchester counties, initial cost estimates were $ 14.6 million, although that figure represents only

17255-688: The storm. The resort would later close during hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004, Matthew in 2016, Irma in 2017, Dorian in 2019, Ian in 2022, and Milton in 2024. A state of emergency was declared in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey prompting schools statewide to be shut down on September 16. In Delaware, about 300 people evacuated. In Atlantic Canada, the Canadian Hurricane Centre issued 14 warnings related to Floyd, generating significant media interest. About 100 Sable Offshore Energy Project employees were evacuated to

17400-436: The summer and high temperatures from 80 to 100 degrees F. The region sees an average of 7 inches (180 mm) of snow per year, with any snowfall usually melting within a few days. The Durham area consistently ranks in the top 10 most challenging places to live with seasonal allergies. Climate change is expected to increase the number of days of extreme precipitation in Durham as well as moderately increase temperature within

17545-691: The three oldest surviving English-applied placenames in the U.S. Explorers named the Neuse River after the American Indian tribe known as Neusiok , with whom the early Raleigh expeditions made contact. They also identified the region as the "Neusick". Two English captains, Arthur Barlowe and Phillip Amadas , were commissioned by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584 to explore the New World. They landed on North Carolina's coast July 2, 1584 to begin their research. In their 1585 report to Raleigh, they wrote favorably of

17690-590: The upper-level trough, which, in conjunction with an anticyclone over the eastern Caribbean, disrupted the outflow and caused the winds to weaken briefly. The hurricane re-intensified on September 12 as its track shifted more to the west, steered by a ridge to the north. That day, the NHC upgraded Floyd to a major hurricane, or a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale . Over a 24-hour period from September 12–13, Hurricane Floyd rapidly intensified , aided by warm waters east of The Bahamas . During that time,

17835-544: The war with an interest in acquiring more of the tobacco they had sampled in North Carolina. Numerous orders were mailed to John Ruffin Green's tobacco company requesting more of the Durham tobacco. W.T. Blackwell partnered with Green and renamed the company as the " Bull Durham Tobacco Factory ". The name "Bull Durham" is said to have been taken from the bull on the British Colman's Mustard, which Mr. Blackwell mistakenly believed

17980-570: The water came into their homes. The U. S. Navy, National Guard and the Coast Guard performed nearly 1700 fresh water rescues of people trapped on the roofs of their homes due to the rapid rise of the water. By contrast, many of the worst affected areas did not reach peak flood levels for several weeks after the storm, as the water accumulated in rivers and moved downstream (see flood graphic at right). The passage of Hurricane Irene four weeks later contributed an additional 6 in (150 mm) of rain over

18125-411: The water-going-down process." Around 31,000 jobs were lost from over 60,000 businesses through the storm, causing nearly $ 4 billion (1999 USD, $ 7.02 billion 2022 USD) in lost business revenue. In much of the affected area, officials urged people to either boil water or buy bottled water during Floyd's aftermath. In contrast to the problems eastern North Carolina experienced, much of

18270-521: The west. After the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia by Gen. Robert E. Lee at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865, Gen. Johnston sought surrender terms, which were negotiated on April 17, 18 and 26 at Bennett Place , the small farm of James and Nancy Bennett, located halfway between the army's lines about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Durham Station. As both armies passed through Durham, Hillsborough, and surrounding Piedmont communities, they enjoyed

18415-415: The western mountains of North Carolina through the newly invented technology of high voltage power lines. At this time (1910–1920), the few towns and cities in North Carolina that had electricity depended on local "powerhouses". These were large, noisy, and smoky coal-fired plants located next to the railroad tracks. Duke Power quickly took over the electricity franchises in these towns and then electrified all

18560-827: The western portion of the state remained under a severe drought. Hurricane Floyd left $ 101 million in damage in Virginia, and contributed to four fatalities – two from fallen trees in Fairfax and Halifax County , one in a traffic accident in Hanover County , and a man in Accomack County who drowned in his submerged vehicle. As in North Carolina and elsewhere along its path, Floyd dropped torrential rainfall across eastern Virginia, reaching 16.57 in (421 mm) in Newport News . While Floyd moved through southeastern Virginia, it

18705-783: Was $ 46,082. Out of the 282,061 people with a determined poverty status, 11.2% were below the poverty line . Further, 17.7% of minors and 7.3% of seniors were below the poverty line. In the survey, residents self-identified with various ethnic ancestries. People of English descent made up 9.3% of the population of the town, followed by German at 7.7%, Irish at 6.8%, Italian at 3.0%, American at 3.0%, Sub-Saharan African at 2.6%, Polish at 2.0%, Scottish at 1.9%, French at 1.4%, Scotch-Irish at 1.3%, Caribbean (excluding Hispanics) at 0.9%, Dutch at 0.8%, Norwegian at 0.8%, Swedish at 0.8%, Russian at 0.7%, and Welsh at 0.6%. Duke University and Duke University Health System are Durham's largest employers. Below

18850-427: Was 2,499.6 inhabitants per square mile (965.1/km ). There were 134,423 housing units at an average density of 1,151.3 per square mile (444.5/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 41.1% White, 34.7% Black or African American, 9.9% some other race, 6.7% Asian, and 0.6% Native American or Alaskan Native, with 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 14.1% of

18995-452: Was 2.26 and the median family size was 3.00. The age distribution was 19.7% under 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. The median income for a household was $ 78,105, with family households having a median income of $ 90,521 and non-family households $ 60,203. The per capita income

19140-527: Was 58 mph (93 km/h) occurred at the Commodore Barry Bridge . The two hardest-hit counties were Delaware and Bucks , where more than 10,000 homes were flooded, including 200 that were damaged to the point of being uninhabitable. More than 4,000 people statewide lost their homes due to the storm. Many creeks swelled to record levels, in some cases over double their estimated flood stage, which left motorists in need of rescue, including

19285-463: Was declared in the state. In Vermont, for the first time in years, the Tunbridge World's Fair was canceled due to the storm. One woman sustained injuries after a tree crashed on her vehicle. Floyd produced high winds and heavy rain throughout the state, leading to widespread downed trees and powerlines. Thousands of residents in the state lost power after 60 mph (97 km/h) winds impacted

19430-464: Was during Hurricane Donna in 1960. Initial fears were of a direct hit as a large Category 4 hurricane in Florida, potentially costlier and deadlier than Hurricane Andrew had been in 1992. In preparation for a potentially catastrophic landfall, more than one million Florida residents were told to evacuate, of which 272,000 were in Miami-Dade County . U.S. President Bill Clinton declared

19575-437: Was greatest at Abaco Island , Cat Island , San Salvador Island , and Eleuthera Island , where Floyd uprooted trees and destroyed a significant number of houses. Numerous restaurants, hotels, shops, and homes were devastated, severely limiting in the recovery period tourism on which many rely for economic well-being. Damaged water systems left tens of thousands across the archipelago without water, electricity, or food. Despite

19720-621: Was inundated by the nearby Saddle River , disrupting service to as many as 8,000 ATMs across the United States. Flooding in an adjoining Bell Atlantic switching facility cut off phone service to one million customers in the area. In Pennsylvania, Floyd killed 13 people, largely due to drownings, fallen trees, or heart attacks, and another 40 people were severely injured. The hurricane left about $ 60 million in damage, mostly related to its heavy rainfall, which peaked at 12.13 in (308 mm) in Marcus Hook . The highest wind gust

19865-565: Was issued for the North Carolina coastline 27 hours prior to landfall. However, due to the size of the storm, initial forecasts predicted nearly all of the state would be affected in one form or another. School systems and businesses as far west as Asheville shut down for the day landfall was predicted. As it turned out, only the Coastal Plain sustained significant damage; much of the state west of Raleigh escaped unscathed. In New York City , public schools were closed on September 16, 1999,

20010-523: Was known for its first 20 years, was a depot for the occasional passenger or express package until early April 1865, when the Federal Army commanded by Major General William T. Sherman occupied the nearby state capital of Raleigh during the American Civil War. The last formidable Confederate Army in the South, commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston , was headquartered in Greensboro 50 miles (80 km) to

20155-554: Was land and 0.82 square miles (2.1 km ) (0.71%) was water. The soil is predominantly clay, making it poor for agriculture. The Eno River , a tributary of the Neuse River , passes through the northern part of Durham, along with several other small creeks. The center of Durham is on a ridge that forms the divide between the Neuse River watershed, flowing east to Pamlico Sound , and the Cape Fear River watershed, flowing south to

20300-643: Was largely destroyed when the waters of the Tar poured over the town's levee, covering the town with over 20 ft (6.1 m) of floodwater for ten days. Further downstream, Greenville suffered very heavy flooding; damages in Pitt County alone were estimated at $ 1.6 billion (1999 USD, $ 2.81 billion 2022 USD). Washington , where the peak flood level was observed, was likewise devastated. Some residents in Greenville had to swim six feet underwater to reach

20445-677: Was lower in these areas (compared to the Tar River) because of lower population densities. Because most of the Cape Fear River basin was west of the peak rainfall areas, the city of Wilmington was spared the worst flooding despite having the highest localized rainfall; however, the Northeast Cape Fear River (a tributary) did exceed 500-year flood levels. Of the state's eastern rivers, only the Lumber River escaped catastrophic flooding. Rainfall and strong winds affected many homes across

20590-465: Was manufactured in Durham , England. Mustard known as Durham Mustard was originally produced in Durham , England, by Mrs Clements and later by Ainsley during the eighteenth century. However, production of the original Durham Mustard has now been passed into the hands of Colman's of Norwich , England. As Durham Station's population rapidly increased, the station became a town and was incorporated by act of

20735-622: Was reported along numerous creeks. In the Albany area, the Normanskill rose to extremely high levels, and the resultant flood waters damaged nearby buildings. The Coeymans Creek in Selkirk overflowed and forced 20 families to leave their homes. Further south, the Saw Mill and Bronx rivers both overflowed, and caused urban flooding . A dam on a mill pond broke near Lake Placid , leading to flooding along

20880-728: Was still at hurricane status, producing winds strong enough to knock down hundreds of trees and power lines. The highest sustained winds in the state were 46 mph (74 km/h) at Langley Air Force Base . Wind gusts were much stronger, reaching 100 mph (160 km/h) on the James River Bridge . Floyd's winds and rains knocked down hundreds of trees across the state, some centuries old. The heavy rains washed out several roads, and closed regional routes including Interstate 95 between Emporia and Petersburg , U.S. Route 58 between Emporia and Franklin , and U.S. Route 460 near Wakefield . The rainfall led to overflowing rivers in

21025-514: Was the highest statewide rain from a tropical cyclone since 1950. Following the state's fourth-worst drought in a century, the rains collected in rivers and streams, causing record flooding at 18 river gauges, and mostly affecting the Raritan , Passaic , and Delaware basins. Statewide damage totaled $ 250 million (1999  USD ), much of it in Somerset and Bergen counties. This made Floyd

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