Community Profile

As of 2008, the Town of Wendell had an estimated population of 5,798  persons according to the NC Office of State Planning. Wendell is starting to experience increased growth and expansion due to the town’s close proximity to the City of Raleigh and Research Triangle Park via Highway US64. The municipal property tax in Wendell is competitive with other Wake County communities at 49 cents / $100. There are a wide range of housing opportunities within Town, making Wendell the ideal location for families relocating to the region especially those seeking a more laid-back pace of life than found in and around downtown Raleigh. As Wendell continues to grow, the town’s elected officials and administration are committed to maintaining a high level of service with a focus on protecting the community’s small town feel.

 

Wendell Stats

  POP2000 POP2008 POP2013
Wendell 4250 5798 7464
Wake 627846 829397 951994
Raleigh 276095 329021 362953
Zebulon 4042 4191 4361
Knightdale 5957 7909 9189
Growth Rates 2008 2013
Wendell 1.32% 2.81%
Wake 32.10% 14.78%
Raleigh 19.17% 10.31%
Zebulon 3.58% 4.06%
Knightdale 32.76% 16.17%
Labor Force 9/1/09
State 4534063
Wake 451224
Raleigh 205236
Unemployment 9/1/09
State 10.8%
Wake 8.3%%
Raleigh 7.4%
Taxes Rate
Wendell 0.49
Wake 0.534
Raleigh 0.3735
Zebulon 0.5
Knightdale 0.4
Average Weekly Wage  
Wake $878.00
NC $766.00
2007-2008 $ Spent per pupil  
Wake $8,119.00
NC $8,522.00
Demographic Summary  
Population 5,111
Households 2,053
Population by Race/Ethnicity  
White 72.16%
Black 21.68%
Hispanic 7.92%
Asian or Pacific Islander 0.97%
American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut 0.32%
Housing Summary  
Owner-occupied Housing Units 66.2%
Renter-occupied 26.0%
Vacant Housing Units 7.8%
Average Household Size 2.47
% in Residence 5+ Years 35.0%

Police

The Town of Wendell maintains a full service police force headed by Police Chief Vance Johnson. The Wendell Police Department has a staff consisting of 16 sworn officers and 2 civil dispatchers. All emergency dispatch calls for the Town are routed through the Wake County 911 call center. The Wendell Police Department provides a variety of prevention services, Operation I.D., and various seminars that are of interest to the public. Officers are available to talk to civic groups.

Town of Wendell Police Department

 

Fire Department

The Wendell-Holmes fire department was first established in 1908. Since that time, the area population and commercial development has grown significantly, which resulted in a second station being added. Wendell Station 1 is located at 2960 Wendell Blvd. and Station 2 is located at 6529 Bethany Church Rd., outside of the town limits. Both stations are now manned 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The Wendell Fire Department is also proud to house one of the area’s only Haz-Mat units used in the recovery of hazardous materials due to fuel spills, chemical spills, etc. The department is also a medical first responder-defibrillation department, backing up the area EMS. Also located at Station 2 are an Eastern Wake EMS unit and a Wake County Advanced Paramedic. The Wendell Fire Department now consists of 16 full-time paid members and 28 volunteers. All members of the department are trained on a regular basis from simple kitchen fires to an overturned tanker truck. Wendell firefighters are also fully trained in the extrication of victims who may be involved in automotive accidents. The department is also equipped with two boats for situations that may require water rescue.

Fire Department

 

Water and Sewer Service

The Town of Wendell merged its utility system with the City of Raleigh in 2006. At the time of the merger, the Town of Wendell was allocated 3.65 million gallons of water and 1.75 million gallons of wastewater. There are 53 miles of water line in the Town of Wendell with three booster pump stations and two elevated water storage tanks. The elevated tanks serve four functions: maintain operational pressure, equalize demand, supplement supply capabilities for fire protection, and provide emergency reserves in case on an accident or natural disaster. NCDENR recommends total elevated storage equaling a one-day supply of water to ensure adequate emergency reserves, and Wendell currently exceeds this standard. The 39-mile sanitary sewer system consists of two interceptor lines – Buffalo Creek and Mark’s Creek. Prior to the service agreement with Raleigh, Wendell treated its sewage at its own treatment plant located on Lake Glad Road. This plant continues to operate as a pre-treatment facility for the Town’s wastewater before it is sent to Raleigh for ultimate disposal. The sanitary sewer system has 14 pumping stations. Some septic tanks exist within Wendell’s ETJ, but current Town policy prohibits septic tank use for new construction.

Town of Wendell Public Works Department