Incorporated in 1873, Apex was so named because of its distinction as the highest point located on the Chatham Railroad between Jacksonville, Florida and Richmond, Virginia. Population growth was slow but steady in Apex for the first several decades. After experiencing a devastating fire in 1912, the town was rebuilt and is now one of the most complete railroad towns throughout the entire state.

During the Depression, the town experienced some more minor setbacks. By the 1950s, however, the town really began to grow. This was largely due to the proximity of the town to North Carolina's Research Triangle Park.

Despite the major boom in population growth, Apex managed to maintain its small-town feel. When the population boomed to almost four times its original population in the 1990s, however, the town's infrastructure was stressed greatly. The town managed to keep up and by July of 2007 it was listed in CNN/Money magazine as one of the top 100 small towns.

Apex offers a mixture of races and ethnicities, though over 80% if the population is Caucasian. The median income for its residents is quite respectable, with the median household income being $71,052 and the median family income being $78,689. Less than 2% of the population is living below the poverty line.

A number of transportation options exist in Apex. The Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located nearby, as is I-40 and US-64. Although the town is not directly serviced by passenger trains, there is Amtrack service nearby in Raleigh and in Cary. The town is served by the Triangle Transit Authority, which provides bussing in the region and also connects to the bus systems within Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill.