Since 2000, the city has annexed close to 200 acres in Durham County, and a proposed subdivision would add another 70 acres in the adjoining county to Raleigh's city limits.
Raleigh is growing by about 12,000 people each year -- it now has 353,600 residents, surpassing Tampa, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in size -- and city planner Karen Duke said it's increasingly common for growing cities across the Triangle to blur county lines. Cary now stretches into Chatham County, for example, while part of Chapel Hill lies within Durham County.
"There's a lot of logistics that have to be worked out," Duke said, noting 911 service is usually provided at the county level, although the municipalities provide services like police and fire protection.
Also, voting has to be divvied up between countywide and municipal elections, and children are sent to public schools based on their county -- not city -- residence.
Many real estate agents said it's easier to sell a house with a Raleigh address, although such dual citizenship does have its drawbacks.
"You do have a Raleigh city address, which can be considered more desirable," real estate agent Jennifer Perkins said. "You're also paying (Durham) County taxes, (and) they're significantly higher than Wake County."
Ronnie Harris, who was born and reared in Durham, said he's willing to pay a bit more to stay close to home but live in Raleigh.
"Anytime I give anyone my address, it's a Raleigh address," Harris said. "I think there's a lot of stigma to living in Durham. You couldn't pay me to live in Durham."
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