Durham is located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina and is built up along the banks of the Eno River. In 1702, explorer John Lawson nicknamed Durham the “flower of the Carolinas” because it was so pretty. This a flatter area of the Carolinas with some pretty but low rolling hills that has a population of 233,252. It is a progressive academic town that is home to Duke University, North Carolina Central University and Research Triangle Park that is very LGBT-friendly.
Although Durham is a city in North Carolina it is very much steeped in the cultural traditions of the south. This city was once a conglomerate of cotton and tobacco plantations and today there are many museums and monuments devoted to the rituals, music and dance of the African American people who worked in the slave trade. In the twentieth century it was known as the center of the mustard and tobacco industries as it was home to Durham mustard the Bull Durham Tobacco factory. Many of the historic buildings that were once part of these industries are now part of university campuses or have been converted to housing or commercial use. In fact one of the astounding things about Durham is how intact much of its architecture, from the 1890s through 1930 is still intact.
There has been a lot of commercial and housing development in Durham for the past twenty years but in particular in the areas along the Interstate 40. The downtown corridor along West Main Street has been gentrified and renovated to include many bars, entertainment venues, art studios and condos. Another great place to live is near the former tobacco warehouse in the Bright Leaf Historic District that consists of many new hotels, apartment complexes and condo developments. To find out the best place for your situation and budget, it is a good idea to consult with a Durham gay real estate agent.
As this is a university town there is plenty to see and do and it is known for its LGBT tolerance. It is home to the ten day long North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Festival and the North Carolina Gay Pride Parade. There is no designated “gayborhood” according to our Durham gay realtor, but this is mostly because the gay community is fully integrated into the rest of the population. There are many churches that welcome LGBT individuals and couples and in fact, Durham is home to the first openly lesbian woman to be ordained as a Presbyterian Minister in a Presbyterian Church in the USA.
There is also an inviting nightlife in Durham with bars and clubs like The Pinhook, Whiskey, Alley 26 and the Full stream Brewery. The area is also known for its Indie Rock scene. Durham also has huge a visual arts presence with dozens of galleries and museums and the largest public art complex in North America. Every third Friday there is an art walk event in Durham that features many special gatherings and art events. Downtown is also home to the Carolina Theatre, which is a historic facility that has recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation. For more information about this fabulous place to live, go to www.durham-nc.com.