30 Fascinating Photos Capture Street Scenes of Raleigh, North Carolina in the 1970s

Raleigh is the capital of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, tenth-most populous city in the Southeast, 41st-most populous city in the U.S., and the largest city of the Research Triangle metro area.

Raleigh is known as the “City of Oaks” for its many oak trees, which line the streets in the heart of the city. The city covers a land area of 147.6 square miles (382 km2). It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

By the early 21st century, Raleigh had become one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States. These fascinating photos from State Archives of North Carolina that captured street scenes of Raleigh about 1974.

100 Fayetteville Street looking west through the block to Salisbury Street , Raleigh, looking south. Ambassador Theater on left, circa 1974

100 block of Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, looking south. Ambassador Theater on left, circa 1974

134 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, circa 1974

208 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, circa 1974

333 Fayetteville Street, BB&T Building, Raleigh, circa 1974

400 block of Wilmington Street looking north, Raleigh, circa 1974

500 block of Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, looking north, circa 1974

Bank of North Carolina and Johnson's Jewelers at the corner of Fayetteville and Martin Streets, Raleigh, circa 1974

Construction on 2400 block of Rock Quarry Road in Raleigh, circa 1974

Davie Street looking east at its intersection with Wilmington Street, Raleigh, circa 1974

East side of the 400 block of Davie Street, Raleigh, circa 1974

Eastern side of Raleigh Memorial Auditorium from Wilmington Street, circa 1974

First Union National Bank, corner of Martin and Fayetteville Streets, Raleigh, circa 1974

Holiday Inn, 320 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, circa 1974

Jones Street, Raleigh near intersection with Salisbury Street. Education building is seen center of frame, circa 1974

Jones Street, Raleigh, looking south toward Agriculture Building. Education Building is also seen on far right, circa 1974

Kwik Pik convenience store on Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, circa 1974

Murray Tire Company on the southeastern corner of Wilmington and Davie Streets, Raleigh, circa 1974

North Carolina Archives and History Building, Raleigh, circa 1974

North side of Raleigh and Gaston/Seaboard Coastline Building, Raleigh, circa 1974

Parking lot on the 400 block of South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, circa 1974

Parking lot on the 400 block of South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, circa 1974

Residence at 2405 Rock Quarry Road in Raleigh, circa 1974

Salisbury Street looking north, Raleigh. Albemarle Building can be seen, circa 1974

State Personnel Office, 116 West Jones Street, Raleigh, circa 1974

Unidentified location in Downtown Raleigh, circa 1974

Unidentified semi-rural area, circa 1974

Unidentified semi-rural area, circa 1974

View from Raleigh Beltline overpass looking south down Wake Forest Road toward Holly Park Shopping Center, circa 1974

West side of the 200 block of Fayetteville Street in Raleigh. Briggs Hardware Building is seen among others, circa 1974