Hillsborough's downtown comes alive with arts and entertainment the last Friday evening of each month during warm weather. See the Hillsborough Arts Council and Orange County Arts Commission.

Destinations in Hillsborough include Riverwalk, a greenway along the Eno River that is part of the N.C. Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Along Riverwalk, you'll find the Occaneechi Village Replica Site and a bee hotel. See the Recreation Facilities page.

Additional Sites to Visit 

Hillsborough Visitors Center
150 E. King St.
919-732-7741
visithillsboroughnc.com

Ayr Mount Historic Site
376 St. Mary's Road
919-732-6886
classicalamericanhomes.org/sites/ayr-mount

Burwell School Historic Site
319 N. Churton St.
919-732-7451
director@burwellschool.org
www.burwellschool.org

Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail
320 Elizabeth Brady Road
www.enoriver.org/features/occoneechee-speedway

Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
625 Virginia Cates Road
984-250-1370
www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/occoneechee-mountain

Orange County Historical Museum
201 N. Churton St.
919-732-2201
info@orangeNChistory.org
www.orangehistorync.org

Hillsborough is built on the site of three successive Native American villages, which stood from about 1000 to 1710 CE. Orange County was founded in 1752.

• In 1754 — The town of Orange was laid out by William Churton on land where the Great Indian Trading Path crossed the Eno River.
• In 1766 — Hillsborough was renamed after Irish peer William Hill, earl of Hillsborough and secretary of state for the colonies from 1768 to 1772.

Politically and Culturally Active

The town was a center of political and cultural activity during the 18th and 19th centuries. Several governors lived in town, as did a signer of the Declaration of Independence, William Hooper, whose house still stands. The state’s Constitutional Convention and five sessions of the General Assembly were held here between 1778 and 1784.

The Alexander Dickson house, now the town's visitors center, served as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's headquarters when he surrendered the largest of the Confederate armies to Gen. William T. Sherman at the end of the Civil War.

• Town Size — 6.1 square miles
• Population — 9,660 (2020 U.S. Census)
• Households —3,998
• Median Household Income — $86,250
• Median Age — 42.9

Source of last three statistics — 2022 American Community Survey estimates