Duke University
- Local Atmosphere

Fun Facts About Durham:

• Durham is not named for its sister city, Durham, England, but rather for Dr. Bartlett Durham, who donated the four acres of land to build a railroad station around which the city developed.
• Durham has several interesting sister cities: Toyama City, Japan; Kostroma, Russia; Arusha, Tanzania; and Durham, England.
• Durham was named one of the "foodiest" small cities in the country, with an abundance of world-class restaurants that utilize locally-grown and organic ingredients.
• Durham used to be known as the “Bull City,” but is now known as the “City of Medicine” and is part of the Research Triangle.
• The Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding cities) has one of the highest concentrations of PhDs in the world.
• North Carolina was the site of man’s first mechanical flight by the Wright Brothers. This event is commemorated on North Carolina’s license plates, which reads “First in Flight.”

Famous People from Durham:

• Julian Abele – Architect of Duke Chapel
• Ernie Barnes – World-renowned artist
• Shirley Caesar – Gospel vocalist
• John H. Franklin – Historian and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner
• Neena Freelon – Jazz vocalist
• Blind Boy Fuller – Piedmont Blues vocalist
• Dr. Charles Johnson – President of the National Medical Association
• Sam Jones – First African American drafted by NBA in the first round
• Branford Marsalis – Grammy-winning saxophonist and film score composer
• Coach John McClendon – Basketball strategist still emulated today
• Floyd McKissick, Sr. – Civil rights leader and father of a Congressman
• Clyde McPhatter – R&B vocalist for the Drifters
• Rev. Douglas Moore – Pioneer of sit-ins in the Civil Rights Movement
• Grady Tate – Renowned jazz drummer

Local Slang:

If you’re Southern, you’ll know it. If you’re not, don’t try it.