Raleigh-Cary is fastest growing metro area in U.S.

Residents living in the Raleigh area now have proof they have a slew of new neighbors.  The city and its Cary suburb make up the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country, according to federal statistics released Thursday.

The combined population of North Carolina's capital city and its family-friendly suburb increased to 1.1 million people between July 2007 and July 2008 - a 4.3 percent jump, according to the U.S. Census Bureau data.

Local government leaders in Raleigh and Cary attribute the growth to top hosipitals, universities and Research Triangle Park, a sprawing business complex with more than 170 research and development companies and more than 50,000 employees.