About Chapel Hill and Orange County

Quick Facts

Mayors

Chapel Hill – Mark Kleinschmidt
Carrboro – Mark Chilton
Hillsborough – Tom Stevens

Population (2008)

Orange County – 129,296
Chapel Hill – 55,616
Carrboro – 19,479
Hillsborough – 6,660
Metropolitan Population – 488,107
(for The U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s Durham Metropolitan Statistical Area, including Chatham, Durham, Orange and Person Counties)

Neighboring Cities
Raleigh – 377,353
Durham – 228,480
Cary – 141,167
Burlington – 50,927
Mebane – 9.848

Size

Orange County – 398.0 square miles
Chapel Hill – 21.1 square miles
Carrboro – 6.3 square miles
Hillsborough – 5.35 square miles

Location

Orange County is located in north-central Piedmont section of North Carolina, approximately midway between Washington, DC, and Atlanta, GA.

Transportation

Orange County is easily accessible by car, bus, rail or airline.

Driving – North Carolina has the largest state-maintained highway system in the nation. Three interstate highways intersect the Research Triangle area, giving the area excellent access to many East Coast destinations. Major highways through Orange County include Interstates 40 (east and west) and 85 (north and south), US Highways 15-501 and NC Highways 49, 54, 57, 86 and 157.

Bus – Chapel Hill Transit offers free bus service throughout Carrboro, Chapel Hill and the University, including its hospitals. The Triangle Transit Authority provides daytime intercity service between Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. It also serves RDU Airport and the Research Triangle Park. Intrastate and national service is available from Carolina Trailways and Greyhound Bus Lines from nearby Raleigh and Durham.

Rail – Amtrak offers direct service to 56 cities from nearby Raleigh. The Silver Star provides daily service to Richmond, Washington, New York, Miami, and many points in between. The Carolinian travels daily between Charlotte and New York City, with stops in Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia. The Piedmont makes daily trips between Raleigh and Charlotte.

Airline Services – Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is 30 minutes east of downtown Chapel Hill. Each year, over 9-million travelers use it with 424 daily arrivals and departures. There are 44 destinations served by nonstop flights provided by 9 major airlines and 18 regional airlines.

Local Sales Tax

7.75%

Occupancy Tax

6% for accommodations in Chapel Hill (3% county + 3% Chapel Hill) and 3% for accommodations outside of Chapel Hill in Orange County.

Climate

Summers range from the mid 60s to the high 80s; fall sees high 40s to the low 70s; winter ranges from high 20s to the low 50s; and spring has mid 40s to low 70s. The annual average temperature (°F) is 71 (high) and 47 (low). The annual average snowfall (inches) is 5.3. The average annual rainfall (inches) is 46.2.

Distance to Major Cities (miles)

Asheville – 220
Atlanta – 380
Charlotte – 140
Chicago – 830
Nashville – 510
New York – 503
Orlando – 624
Washington, DC – 270
Wilmington, NC – 158

Website Links

Chapel Hill was named after the New Hope Chapel, which stood upon a hill at the crossing of two primary roads. Chapel Hill is nicknamed “the Southern Part of Heaven” and is best known as the home of the University of North Carolina, our nation’s first state university. Town lots were auctioned in 1793, when work began on the university’s first building. Along Franklin Street, the town’s center of activity, visitors will find foods to please every palate, specialty shops for the most discriminating shopper and a variety of nightlife.

The Town of Carrboro began its proud history in 1882 when a spur from the Durham-Greensboro Southern Railway line was extended to link university students with the outside world. The town was named after Julian Carr, owner of the local hosiery mill. Carrboro features unique retail stores, restaurants and a growing arts community. It is home to the famous Cat’s Cradle.

Historic Hillsborough, founded in 1754, celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2004. It is located about 15 minutes northwest of Chapel Hill and was laid out where the Great Indian Trading Path crossed the Eno River. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the central district boasts over one hundred late 18th and early 19th century structures.

About the Visitors Bureau

For a brief general description of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, including its mission and purpose, funding, board of directors, administrative staff and complete contact addresses, click here.


Did You Know?

Franklin Street was named after Benjamin Franklin.