Research Triangle Park
 RTP headquarters at 12 Davis Drive | |
| Motto | Inspiring bold ideas |
|---|---|
| Established | 1959 |
| Location | Research Triangle, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35°54′29″N 78°51′46″W / 35.90806°N 78.86278°W |
 Interactive map of Research Triangle Park | |
| Website | RTP.org |
Research Triangle Park (RTP) is the largest research park in the United States;[1][2][3] it occupies 7,000 acres (2,833 ha) in North Carolina and hosts more than 300 companies and 65,000 workers. It is owned and managed by the Research Triangle Foundation,[4] a private non-profit organization.
North Carolina's Research Triangle region is named for the facility, which sits within the geographic triangle formed by three nearby research universities: North Carolina State University, Duke University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[5]
The park is bounded by the cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill and the communities of Morrisville and Cary. Most of its territory lies within Durham County, with about one-quarter in Wake County.[6]
Overview
[edit]Research Triangle Park is one of the most prominent high-tech research and development parks in the United States. It was created in 1959[7] by state and local governments, nearby universities, and local business interests. Karl Robbins bought the land where the park is now built. The park covers 7,000 acres (2,833 ha) and is situated in a pine forest with 22,500,000 square feet (2,090,318 m2) of built space.[1] The park is traversed by Interstate 40, the Durham Freeway, and NC 540.
The park is home to more than 300 companies that employ 55,000 workers and an additional 10,000 contractors.