The population of Durham City is approximately 60% white and 38.8% black. The city's growth started in the 1970s with the development of multiple housing projects near Research Triangle Park and the revitalization of downtown Durham. The African American community was recognized by establishing the St. Joseph's Historical Foundation in 1975, which promotes the African American experience and contributions to world culture. There are several African American-owned businesses in Durham, including the Red Hat Company, which was founded by African Americans in the city.
The Durham area has a rich history, dating from the 1700s. In 1701, John Lawson described it as the "flower of the Carolinas." English and Scots settlers built mills and worked the land. In 1771, Loyalist militia cut the Cornwallis Road through the city. In 1771, William Johnston, an early settler, made Revolutionaries' munitions and later served in the Provincial Capital Congress. He also helped fund Daniel Boone's westward explorations.
A thriving Black community formed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In particular, the Hayti area, located just south of the downtown area, was home to the largest black-owned businesses in the region. This neighborhood grew into a thriving commercial center, earning the area the nickname of "Black Wall Street." Dr. James E. Shepard also founded North Carolina Central University, the first publicly funded liberal arts college for African-Americans in the United States.