Centrally located in the beautiful Piedmont region of North Carolina, our Raleigh chapter was chartered in 1985 and has over 85 members. Our members come from a variety of backgrounds, in couples and individuals and all share a common interest in travel and world cultures.

The Friendship Force of Raleigh sponsors social events for club members throughout the year as well as planning for club exchanges - incoming and outgoing - in the US and abroad. Members have opportunities to home host, day host, serve on a variety of committees and the board of directors.

RALEIGH         POPULATION: Raleigh: 350,000; Wake County: 775,000;
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill MSA -- 1.2 million SIZE: Raleigh : 110.5 square miles; Wake County: 833.92 GEOGRAPHY: 434 feet above sea level, Raleigh lies in east-central North Carolina, where the hilly Piedmont region meets the flat coastal plain.

VISITORS: 11.5 million annually to Greater Raleigh     

RALEIGH FACTS:

• Raleigh was founded in 1792 as North Carolina's capital city. It was named for Sir Walter Raleigh, who attempted to establish the first English colony on the shores of the new world in the 1580s.
• The only state capital to have been planned and established by a state as the seat of state government.
• Largest city in a metropolitan area known as the Research Triangle.
• The city's founding fathers called Raleigh the "City of Oaks," and dedicated themselves to maintaining the area's wooded tracts and grassy parks.
• Home of the N.C. State Fair, North Carolina's largest event.

WAKE COUNTY FACTS:

• Includes Raleigh and 11 other Wake County municipalities. Often referred to as Greater Raleigh.
• Home to Raleigh-Durham International Airport and a portion of internationally renowned Research Triangle Park.
• Home to seven colleges and universities.

CLIMATE: Summers range from the mid-60's to the mid-80's; fall averages in the 70's; Winters hit the high 20's to mid 50's. Mean annual rainfall (inches): 44.23.Annual Avg. Temp. (°F) -- 71 (h), 50 (l)
Annual Avg. Snowfall (inches) -- 4.5
Avg. Relative Humidity (%) -- 71.3
Avg. Annual Precipitation -- 44.19 in.

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES (IN MILES)

Asheville -- 241
Atlanta -- 424
Charlotte -- 143
Chicago -- 784
Nashville -- 515
New York -- 489
Orlando -- 588
Washington, D.C. -- 251
Wilmington, N.C. -- 123

 State Motto: Esse quam videri (To be rather than to seem)