My first college was Wingate, spent 3 semesters there before transferring.
Anyway, the worst thing about Union county is driving on 74 from Monroe to Charlotte. It's not as bad as Capital Blvd, but then again what road is? Other than that, I have no issues. Classic example of rapidly developing sprawl on the west (facing Charlotte), and still rural farms on the East. I'm not sure the housing prices are quite to the point of Wake, but I don't feel like looking it up at the moment.
I heard they finally got the 74 bypass toll road built. That means us Wake peoples aren't the only ones that get to complain about toll roads.