3PL Warehouse Companies in North Carolina: A Centralized East Coast Location
North Carolina is a central location along the east coast. The “Tar Heel State” has a colorful history and has been a hub for shipping and transportation for centuries. If you are looking to store or transport goods along the east coast, to central states or the west coast, 3PL Warehouse Companies in North Carolina offer an ideal solution. North Carolina has long been a centralized location for ships and rail and today, with several international airports and major highways, air and ground freight are easily accessible.
The state has a diverse landscape ranging from the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachian Mountains. In 1629, King Charles I granted territory in America to his Attorney General, Sir Robert Heath, to be named Carolina, or the province of Carolina. First nicknamed the “Old North State”, the tar heel nickname actually came from the state’s long history as a “producer of naval stores–tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine–all of which were culled from the State’s extensive pine forests.” By the late 1700s, North Carolina had a large economic base in its Coastal Plain and Piedmont, there were settlements extending as far west as present-day Statesville. Wagons and boats took imported goods to the inland areas. Raleigh had the state’s first railway and by 1869, after the first transcontinental railroad was completed, a resident of North Carolina could travel by rail from Wilmington to Sacramento, California, in five to seven days. One last major form of transportation—aviation—created one of the fastest ways to migrate. North Carolina helped start airplane travel when brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first powered flight on December 17, 1903, in Kill Devil Hills. As time has passed and the state has gown and flourished a couple of cities have asserted themselves as centers of industry.
Top Locations for 3PLs in North Carolina
Popular Fulfillment Locations in North Carolina Include Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Greensboro
Among the most popular areas to locate fulfillment operations within the state of North Carolina include Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro. Other areas that have quality companies include Wilmington, Wilson, and Winston-Salem.
3PL Warehouse Companies in Charlotte North Carolina
Today, Charlotte has the largest population of any city in North Carolina. It certainly stated out from more humble roots. The city of Charlotte is in the Carolinas’ Piedmont region, between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the flat coastal plain along the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The eastern parts of North Carolina had been settled for over 100 years before the first settlers came to Charlotte in 1753. The settlement sat where two trails intersected. One ancient trail was known as the Trading Path, because traders from eastern Virginia followed it south to trade with the Native Americans in the 1750’s. Now, U.S. Highway 29 follows part of this route. The growth of Charlotte was heavily influenced by the railroad. It first arrived in 1852, and in 1854 work began on a state-owned railroad from Raleigh and Goldsboro to Charlotte, in part to connect the eastern cities with the railroad to Columbia. Charlotte’s importance increased with addition of two more lines in the next seven years. In 1860 a railroad company known as the Atlantic, Tennessee, and Ohio began running trains out of the city. When the U.S. began its Interstate Highway program Charlotte became a center in this new system, which would strengthen Charlotte’s place as a distribution center. In 1958 east-west I-85 opened, linking the city with Atlanta, Durham, and Richmond. Soon after, construction began on north-south I-77 through the city, which created a link to Columbia, South Carolina, Roanoke, Virginia, and the Midwest.
Now, Charlotte is not only a transportation and distribution hub it is also a “major U.S. financial center and is the second largest banking center in the United States after New York City,” according to Forbes. It is ranked 14th on the list of best cities for businesses and careers. Charlotte is also home to several notable universities including Johnson & Wales University, Queens University of Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith University, and the Charlotte School of Law.
Charlotte is the banking capital of North Carolina, with corporate headquarters of Wells Fargo and Bank of America found here. It’s also a popular travel destination with the NASCAR track being right here. Lake Norman is the largest man-made lake in the city, bringing in those who want to enjoy the great outdoors. Charlotte consistently makes it on the list of one of the best places to live in the United States as well.
As one of the biggest commercial hubs in all of North Carolina, Charlotte is an immediate favorite for businesses to find fulfillment centers. With the biggest population of any NC city, you can also reach a big customer base thanks to 842,501 currently living there. You won’t find just a minimal list of 3PL’s here for obvious reasons, making Charlotte warehousing and fulfillment services overly competitive.
3PL Warehouse Companies in Raleigh and Durham North Carolina
Raleigh is the state capitol of North Carolina. It is known as the City of Oaks for its many oak trees. In 1587, Under direction of Sir Walter Raleigh, John White founded the “Cittie of Raleigh.” As more settlers came to America the city began to grow. Raleigh is an early example of a planned city, chosen as the site of the state capital in 1788 and incorporated in 1792. In 1833 the first railroad in the state was completed in Raleigh. Riding the train became a popular means of entertainment for Raleigh society. The Raleigh & Gaston Railroad opened in 1840 with 86 miles of track. The steam locomotives had the animated names of “Tornado,” “Whirlwind,” “Volcano” and “Spitfire.” In August 1892 the Union Rail passenger station opened. Raleigh became a stop on the first regular passenger airline flight from New York to Miami in 1931.
Today, Raleigh has the second largest population in the state. It is part of the Research Triangle, which is “one of the largest research parks in the world”. It is named for the three hub cities of Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill, or more properly for the three major research universities in those three cities, Duke University, NC State University and the University of North Carolina.” This area is one of the most prominent technology centers in the United States. The park is home to over 190 companies employing 50,000 workers and 10,000 contractors.
Recent surveys have found Raleigh to be among America’s most friendly environments for small business and one of the nation’s new “opportunity cities” according to Rocket Lawyer’s Semi-Annual Small Business Index. Raleigh ranked in second place in Forbes’ 2014 poll of America’s 20 fastest-growing cities with the 2013 jobs growth rate of 2.44 percent and population increase of 2.15 percent. The city also has the Raleigh–Durham International Airport, and multiple shipping and transportation centers.
Raleigh, North Carolina has just as many warehouses and isn’t too far from Charlotte. You’re also not far from the Virginia border to reach other nearby southern markets, which makes for a potentially good option for your fulfillment location in North Carolina.
Known for having a technological business boom, Durham is right in the middle of the state to give you a good logistical advantage in covering the entire state.
Greensboro North Carolina Fulfillment Warehouses
Another city near Charlotte, Greensboro holds 287,000 people, showing how high the populations are in places like North Carolina. If you wanted to serve just the region alone, you could.
Greensboro is found to the north of the state and is home to many factories. This includes No Nonsense pantyhose as well as Kent cigarettes. Tobacco, furniture, textiles, and other things are what dominates the industries in this city, and a few US headquarters for international brands also call this part of North Carolina home. Tourism is heavy within the city as well, with Wet ‘n Wild, Greensboro Science Center, and The Bog Garden being amongst some of the family friendly attractions that are available.
Asheville North Carolina Pick and Pack Warehousing Services
Asheville is tucked within the mountains, providing stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains. There are several parks and trails that bring tourists from all over, as well as a lot of shopping and cultural venues. Some of the top employers in the area include Mission Health System as well as the City of Asheville. Several of the resorts are also big employers and unemployment is low year-round. Steady tourism is what helps to keep the city booming.
Chapel Hill North Carolina Warehouses
Chapel Hill is located southwest of Durham and offers a lot of history, trees, and small businesses. Approximately 14,000 businesses are registered here who have less than 10 employees. Entrepreneurship isn’t the only thing the city has going for itself, however. The local University of North Carolina campus is a large employer, as is the UNC Health Care System. Many people come here for the small town feel and stay because of the many opportunities to get involved and find a quality place to live.
North Carolina is home to many different industries from arts in Asheville, to technology in Raleigh, and distribution in Charlotte to several military bases across the state. There are multiple international airports including the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and the Piedmont Triad International Airport. Major highways run throughout the state, as well as railways and there are still coastal shipping ports. All of this means easy access to any shipping, warehousing, and transportation services. North Carolina is a centralized point on the east coast, making transportation to anywhere in the U.S. easy.
Key Fulfillment Data in North Carolina
Choosing the best 3PL warehouse in North Carolina is a complex decision. Below is summary information about North Carolina population, number of warehouses, and taxes so that you can make a more informed decision about whether the state offers your company the best fulfillment services potential.
To get an idea of the types of companies that operate in North Carolina, check out the top 10 largest companies in the state.
Average Fulfillment and Warehousing Pricing in North Carolina
The below table gives a high-level idea of what average rates might look like in North Carolina for fulfillment services, based upon surveys of outsourced warehousing companies throughout the US.
North Carolina is a Great Place for Your 3PL Warehousing
North Carolina has many fulfillment providers to fit your needs. Don’t sort through all the choices alone. Let us find the best provider to meet your needs. Fill out our form on the left and we will gather a list of pre-screened providers that will work with your requirements. This service is free, and you are under no obligation to choose a provider that we suggest.
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