History of Wake County, NC With Sketches of Those Who Have Most Influenced Its Development By Hope Summerell Chamberlain, Published 1922, 300 pages, searchable Bonus Book #1 – Historical Raleigh With Sketches of Wake County from 1771 By Moses N. Amis, Published 1915, 290 pages, illustrated, searchable Requires Adobe Reader 5.0 or higher to View $9.99 $1.99 shipping and handling http://cgi.ebay.com/Wake-County-North-Carolina-History-Bonus_W0QQitemZ200370569620QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea7044194 The county was formed in 1771 from parts of Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County. It was named for Margaret Wake, wife of Governor William Tryon. The first courthouse was built at a place called Wake Courthouse, commonly known as Bloomsbury. In 1771, the first elections and court were held, and the first militia was formed. Wake County lost some its land area during the subsequent formation of other new counties. Portions were taken by Franklin County in 1787 and by Durham County in 1881 and 1911. Municipalities Municipalities, with populations as of July 2007. Municipalities in italics overlap county borders, and these population figures reflect only the part of those municipalities that lie within Wake County. Angier, 72 Apex, 29,973 Cary, 132,355 Fuquay-Varina, 14,959 Garner, 24,832 Holly Springs, 19,474 Knightdale, 9,810 Morrisville, 14,308 Raleigh, 366,391 Rolesville, 2,290 Wake Forest, 25,179 Wendell, 5,742 Zebulon, 4,955 Book Contents Chapter I Introductory Chapter II The First Twenty-Five Years Chapter III Early Worthies Chapter IV Raleigh The Capital Village Chapter V Early Life and Thought Chapter VI Giants of Those Days Chapter VII More Biographies Chapter VIII Improvements and Progress Chapter IX The Middle Years Chapter X Our Benefactors Chapter XI Distinguished Visitors Chapter XII These Later Days