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Duke University - Local Atmosphere - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Local Atmosphere

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Local Atmosphere rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Local Atmosphere Grades:

Quick Stats

Fun Local Trivia
  1. 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.
  2. Durham has several interesting sister cities: Toyama City, Japan; Kostroma, Russia; Arusha, Tanzania; and Durham, England.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. The Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding cities) has one of the highest concentrations of PhDs in the world.
  6. 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."
Notable Natives
  • 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
Points of Interest
  • American Tobacco District
  • Brightleaf Square
  • Duke Quarry
  • Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC)

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

As much as the students love Duke, there are some shortcomings that simply cannot be overlooked. A local, college-town atmosphere definitely makes that list. While East Campus is not situated near the nicest part of Durham, there are a few nice, quiet, little residential areas around East Campus, as well as some adequate shopping centers and nice restaurants within driving distance. Ninth Street and Brightleaf Square, just off of East Campus (within a short walking distance), are where most students choose to go for off-campus restaurants and some shops. West Campus is much more isolated from Durham, so students won’t really sense the Durham atmosphere, unless they go looking for it.

If you’re looking for a college town, Chapel Hill lives up to that description quite nicely and is no more than 20 minutes away. Duke and UNC provide a free bus back and forth every day, which many students take advantage of. 

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Duke Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at Duke University

svaliani

Political Science and Government '13

4.2
A-

The Best of Durham

The Durham area has a lot to offer Duke students, and our great relationship with the surrounding communities allows students several deals and opportunities to take advantage of all Durham has to offer. My favorite thing about Durham is the multitude of really awesome restaurants and diverse cuisines all across town. Additionally, Durham has a history of activism which has not ceased today. Durham is a proud community that partakes in several year round cultural events.

Apr 10, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Duke University

amh76

Conservation and Environmental Studies '13

4.6
A

A Foodie Place

Durham is a great little town. There is plenty to do as far as things down town. There are incredible restaurants that promote local and sustainable foods. Every Sunday is a farmers market with local farmers selling anything from veggies to goat cheese. Not more than 15 minutes away is the Eno River State Park that offers nice hikes and great trial runs. Overall, a wonderful place to live and explore.

Jan 31, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Duke University

FlyingAngel

Mechanical Engineering '15

3.8
B+

So Much to Do

There are lots of good restaurants near to campus. If you have a car, it's easy to get around and find good shopping places. Sports are big here. There's much more activity directly related to Duke (i.e. put on by Duke students) than anything done by Durham.

Dec 29, 2011

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Page 1 of 9
User rating for Duke University - Local Atmosphere is 3.5 out of 5 based on 25 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • Northgate Mall
  • Southpoint Mall
Major Sports Teams
  • Carolina Hurricanes : NHL
  • Carolina Mudcats : Minor league baseball
  • Carolina Panthers: NFL
  • Carolina RailHawks : United Soccer League
  • Durham Bulls: Minor league baseball
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Charlotte: NC: 2 hours, 30 minutes
  • Greensboro: NC: 1 hour
  • Raleigh: NC: 30 minutes

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

Carmike Wynnsong 15
1807 Martin Luther King Pkwy
Durham
(919) 489-9505

Northgate Stadium 10
1058 West Club Blvd.
Durham
(919) 286-1001

Southpoint Cinemas
8030 Renaissance Pkwy
Durham
(919) 313-6627

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
George Carotenuto
Hometown
East Hanover, NJ
Major
Economics

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.