Apex (Images of America)

This quaint, picturesque community has an interesting history. For years it was a rural hamlet with a nearby pond, simply called Log Pond. It later became Apex, and the pond was eventually drained in the name of progress. Apex appeared on the map because of the coalfields in Chatham/Lee County. The coal companies needed to get their coal to Raleigh, and around 1870, the Chatham Railroad was chugging along, right by Log Pond. It officially became Apex with the establishment of a post office. Apex put the railroad to use immediately and shipped lumber, tar, turpentine, and pitch. Early on, Apex passed a few ordinances that some might find in the Wild West, including those dealing with whiskey, gambling, and prostitution. The town suffered two fires in the early 1900s, but its residents persevered, and ApexÂ’s small-town charm is still enjoyed today.