Hillsborough is a small town with a big history. Founded in 1754, as a central location for the Orange county courthouse, the downtown historic district features more than 100 homes, churches and buildings from the late 18th and 19th centuries.

Today, Hillsborough is a cultural center in the area, with interesting shops and restaurants and many activities celebrating the arts and history being held monthly. Centrally located in North Carolina, residents enjoy fast access to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the Research Triangle Park. While Hillsborough is a nice place to visit, it's an even nicer place in which to live. For complete information on life in Hillsborough and Orange County, visit our Area Information section or Contact Hillsborough Life.

Communities

Orange County contains three municipalities: Hillsborough, the County Seat, Chapel Hill and Carborro, plus many other smaller towns and communities.

Hillsborough is a hub of activity, including festivals, fairs, concerts and reenactments. Shopping is done downtown, in contrast to the strip malls and shopping centers in other areas. But if you want those amenities, they are only minutes away in Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill.

Chapel Hill is the home of the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Recognized as one of the finest college towns in America, it offers the best in education, arts, culture and entertainment in the state.

Carrboro begins where Chapel Hill leaves off, as the two communities adjoin one another; but in many ways, it is miles apart. Residents have minds of their own, and they are always ready to share their opinions and thoughts. Downtown, the old blends with the new, as many buildings remain from many years ago. Area residents can shop in the community owned Weaver Street Market. And Carrboro has a reputation of being the arts center of Orange, and surrounding counties, hosting local, national and international artists, writers and performers throughout the year.

For complete information on our communities and what they offer, visit our Area Information section or Contact Hillsborough Life.

Education

Orange County Public Schools, of which Hillsborough schools are a part, is recognized as one of the finest school systems in North Carolina. Located in the historic district of Hillsborough, Cameron Park Elementary School shares a strong connection with both the community and the history of the region. At A. L. Stanback Middle School, they believe that a student's unique physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs are enhanced by positive relationships and mutual respect among and between teachers, students, parents, and community. And they strive to make this happen. Orange High School, which is located in Hillsborough, is a comprehensive 9-12 school offering a full complement of academic, co-curricular, career and technical (vocational) programs, plus many extra-curricular opportunities. In addition, there are several fine private K-12 schools in the area from which to choose.

Durham Technical Community College now has a new 19.6-acre campus centrally located in Orange County! The campus, located in Hillsborough, will better serve residents as they pursue their education, workforce training, and lifelong learning. Chapel Hill is the home of the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, without question one of the finest higher education institutions in the world.

For more info on all Hillsborough area schools & colleges, visit our Area Information section or Contact Hillsborough Life.

Health

Hillsborough is served by many medical facilities and specialists including Hillsborough Family Practice, which offers a wide range of health services from minor surgery to routine medical care to preventive health. Hillsborough Family Practice is owned by Duke Primary Care and Duke University Health Systems.

Hillsborough is also only minutes away from Duke University in Durham and UNC-Chapel Hill, both of which feature world-class academic medical centers, including top-ranked public medical schools and modern hospitals. Emergency and urgent care facilities in all locations provide around-the-clock services for accident and trauma victims and for people with minor, but urgent medical needs.

For more information on healthcare in the Chapel Hill area, visit our visit our Area Information section or Contact Hillsborough Life.

Arts & Culture

The arts play an important part of Hillsborough and Orange County living. The Orange County Arts Council, headquartered in Hillsborough, includes over a dozen individual groups including Orange Artisans, a North Carolina guild formed to nurture the production of fine crafts and fine arts, increase awareness of the value of handmade objects; the Imagination Theatre, an intergenerational community theatre; the Orange Children's Theatre, a young people community theatre that encourages children to become actively involved in and knowledgeable of the theatre arts, and many more.

Because of it proximity to the university of Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, Orange County offers arts and cultural opportunities found in cities throughout the world. For more information, visit our Area Information section or Contact Hillsborough Life.

Chapel Hill & Orange County Real Estate

Hillsborough is just what you are looking for if laid-back living is your style. Over 95% of homes on the market in Hillsborough are single-family, selling in 2008 at an average price of under $250,000. Compare this with the average Orange County sale of about $420,000, and you see why many people relocating to the area choose Hillsborough.

Contact Hillsborough Life to learn more about real estate and properties available in Hillsborough and surrounding communities. You may also visit our Property Search section to view all of the properties currently available through our multiple list service.