Introduction to Knightdale, North Carolina
Knightdale, North Carolina, in Wake County, is 8 miles E of Raleigh, North Carolina. The town is part of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metro area.
Knightdale History
John Lawson became the first European to explore the present-day territory of Knightdale in 1701. Following Lawson's report on the area, the King of England began donating the land to willing settlers, and John Hinton settled in the area in 1730. In the 19th century, the community’s economy was based largely on harvesting crops like tobacco and cotton. The Norfolk and Southern Railroad Company arrived in the area in the early 1900s. Henry Haywood Knight, a local farmer and businessman, donated land to be used for the construction of a railroad station. The community was later named Knightdale in his honor. Knightdale was officially incorporated on March 9, 1927.
Knightdale and nearby Attractions
- Marbles Kids Museum
- State Capitol
- Falls Lake State Recreation Area
- North Carolina Museum of History
- Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
- J.C. Raulston Arboretum
Things To Do In Knightdale
Marbles Kids Museum, the North Carolina Museum of History and the Raleigh City Museum are some of the museums located near Knightdale. The Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve features nature trails and a nature center, while boating, fishing, hiking, camping, biking, picnicking and horseback riding are all available at Falls Lake State Recreation Area and William B. Umstead State Park.
Knightdale Transportation
Raleigh-Durham International is the closest major airport.
Knightdale Higher Education
Nearby colleges and universities include North Carolina State University, Shaw University and Wake Technical Community College.