Triangle J History

Shortly after Gov. Luther H. Hodges announced in 1959 that Research Triangle Park would be developed by the nonprofit Research Triangle Foundation, the Foundation established the Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission. This organization was designed to bring Durham, Orange and Wake counties together to ensure the orderly and economical development of the areas surrounding the Park. The Commission also included the cities of Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh.

The Commission was renamed the Triangle J Council of Governments in 1972 when the state legislature created a statewide system of 18 regional councils. The legislature designated that Region J be comprised of Durham, Orange, Wake, Chatham, Johnston and Lee counties. These six counties and the 30 municipalities therein were eligible for membership in Triangle J. Triangle J has since established itself as a leader in intergovernmental cooperation and planning, bringing together elected officials and local government staff to address issues on a regional basis.

Upon the dissolution of Region H in the summer of 2001, Triangle J gained Moore County as a seventh member county of Region J.