garner

Garner, A Great Place to Be:

Located in a region consistently ranked among America’s best places to live, work, raise a family and earn a quality education, Garner is an urban community that truly offers something for everyone. In addition to being known for its small-town character, historic downtown area, top-rated schools and quiet neighborhoods, Garner also offers an excellent climate for new, relocating or expanding businesses.

Garner leaders have worked hard to maintain our small-town charm while experiencing steady economic growth. The Garner Town Council have adopted a growth management plan, which provides strategies for efficient planning and management as Garner prepares for its future. With an excellent quality of life, a highly skilled workforce and access to the state’s best academic institutions, Garner is the best place to do business in the heart of North Carolina. Come and see for yourself why Garner is "A Great Place to Be"

Town Population:
25,934 (as of January 1, 2012)

Land Area:
13.6 square miles of land and 0.8 square miles of water. Garner's geographical coordinates are 35°41′54″N, 78°37′22″W (35.698243, -78.622865).



Local Schools:

Elementary: (Grades K-5)
Aversboro Elementary (Traditional Calendar) - 1605 Aversboro Rd.
Creech Road Elementary (Traditional Calendar) - 450 Creech Rd.
East Garner Elementary (IB Magnet School, Traditional Calendar) - 5545 Jones Sausage Rd.
Rand Road Elementary (Multi-track,Year-Round Calendar) - 300 Arbor Greene Dr.
Smith Magnet Elementary (IB Magnet Schoo, Traditional Calendar) - 1101 Maxwell Dr.
Timber Drive Elementary (Year-Round Calendar) - 1601 Timber Dr.
Vance Elementary (Multi-track, Year-Round Calendar) - 8808 Old State Rd.
Vandora Springs Elementary (Traditional Calendar) - 1300 Vandora Springs Rd.

Middle Schools(Grades 6-8)
East Garner Magnet (IB Magnet School, Traditional Calendar) - 6301 Jones Sausage Rd.
North Garner Middle School(Year-Round Calendar) - 720 Powell Dr.

High School (Grades 9-12)
Garner Magnet High (IB Magnet School, Traditional Calendar) - 2101 Spring Dr.

For more information on the Wake County School System, visit www.wcpss.net.

Local Business:

Garner is a booming community for both businesses and commerce in the Triangle region. Known for its small-town charm and atmosphere, yet located near the heart of the world-renowned Research Triangle Park, Garner offers an excellent economic climate that's well-suited for new, relocating or expanding businesses.

Garner has maintained its small-town character while experiencing steady economic growth. With more than 40 percent of its adult population holding a bachelor's degree or higher, Business 2.0 magazine ranked the Triangle area as the nation's hottest job market.

With a high quality of life, a diverse, skilled workforce and access to the state's best academic institutions, Garner is the best place to do business in the heart of North Carolina.

Major Employers: (based on the number of employees)

COMPANY NAME	NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Wake County Public School System	845
Target	288
Wal-Mart	236
Hamlin Companies	200
N&O Recycling/Distribution Center	172
K-Mart Corporation	155
Lowe's Superstore	155
Town of Garner	150
Pergo, Inc.	120
Progress Energy	109
Direct Distributors, Inc.	100
Home Depot	100
Telerent Leasing Corp.	98
PJ Food Services Inc.	94
WATCO Corp.	85
Morris & Associates	78
Kroger Food and Drug	75
R. W. Moore Equipment Company	72
Dominoes N.C. Commissary	70
BJ Wholesale	70
Time Warner Cable	60
Wyatt Quarles Seed Co.	50
Rex Wellness Center	49

Climate & Weather:

Month	Average Temperature	Average Precipitation	Average Humidity
January	38.9º F	3.5 inches	56.5
April	59º F	2.6 inches	65
July	78.1º F	4.0 inches	72.5
October	60.1º F	2.9 inches	74

Record Highest Temperature - 99º
Average Max. Temperature - 70.1º
Average Min. Temperature - 48.4º
Average Annual Snowfall - 7.0"
Average Annual Precipitation - 41.4"

Recreation & Parks:

If you're seeking the perfect place to call home, there's no better place than right here in Garner. The Town of Garner offers all those big "quality of life" amenities for which everyone searches, all in one convenient package:

• A temperate yearly climate featuring four distinct seasons
• World-class performing arts, museums and cultural festivals
• Competitive sports teams ranging from major league hockey to collegiate basketball to recreational league offerings
• Outstanding access to cutting-edge health care, education and technology

And when you need to get away from it all, vacation options abound, practically in our own backyard. Whether you prefer the mountains, the beach or somewhere in between, you're within hours of your destination. It's all here - life doesn't get any better than in Garner.

Parks: Whether you're an avid nature lover or are simply looking for a great place to relax and enjoy some fresh air, Garner's got the perfect place! The Town of Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department manages a total of 184 acres of developed park land and 146 acres of open space land, with an additional 96 acres scheduled for future park development. The town offers plenty of recreational options, including 1.6 miles of paved trails, 11 playgrounds, nine picnic shelters, 16 athletic fields, eight tennis courts and a boathouse.

Recreation: From athletics and special events to the arts and the out-of-doors, Garner offers a full slate of activities for people of all ages and walks of life. The Independence Day Celebration is the town’s signature event, eagerly awaited all year by the 15,000 people that typically attend. The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department distributes an activities brochure for town residents three times per year. Non-residents may receive the brochure by calling the department at 919-773-4442.

Future Development: With dramatic growth over the past three years, the Town of Garner continues to enhance and expand the area’s recreational facilities. We encourage residents to provide feedback on growth initiatives, including our master planning process for the next five to 10 years, by attending public discussions. For more information, please contact 919-773-4442.

Recent projects include:

• Expansion at the Garner Senior Center, including the addition of a fitness annex
• Development of Creech Road Elementary School Park and Centennial Park
• Garner Performing Arts Center, reopened after major renovations in 2006 including more comfortable seating, a revamped stage area and new backstage sound, lighting and scenery systems.
• Completion of the 96-acre White Deer Park, with a LEED Gold certified Nature Center. The park earned an urban forestry award from the N.C. Forest Service in 2011.
• Completion of the one-mile South Garner Greenway connecting White Deer Park to Timber Drive.

Residential Growth:

Garner is on the verge of becoming the hottest growth corner in the Research Triangle area. Because of its proximity to Downtown Raleigh, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and the Research Triangle Park, Garner is a popular choice for many workers who are looking to buy a home and raise their family in a safe, affordable, and convenient location. People are finding that Garner is more accessible and has more elbow room than many Triangle residential areas.

Residential growth is beginning a surge very similar to what was experienced a few years ago. Families and individuals can find the home they've longed for in Garner, from an entry-level first home to a medium-sized family home, to a modern amenity-laden executive level home. Homes in Garner, and the surrounding area, currently have a median sales price of $177,000. The average size lot is estimated to be around three-quarters of an acre.

Owning a home in Garner is a good investment, as projected steady growth in the area promises to increase home value. In addition, in Garner it is often possible to get more home for the money than in some other areas in the Triangle because of lower land prices.

A recent survey showed that nearly 80 percent of Garner's residents own their own homes, and the well-kept appearance of Garner's neighborhoods show that they take great pride in home ownership. This high percentage also indicates community stability and the commitment of Garner residents to the town and its welfare.

Send Questions and Comments to: tbeasley@garnernc.gov