The Town of Carrboro is situated in the center of North Carolina, equidistant to the mountains and the coast, and nestled in the rolling, wooded Piedmont.
Affectionately known as “The Paris of the Piedmont,” Carrboro was first settled in the late-1800s along a University of North Carolina railroad spur and quickly became a mill town. Today, 20,000 people call it home.
Carrboro has a small town feel with big city culture, including brilliant minds, award-winning restaurants, innovative businesses, and a vibrant music and performing arts scene.
Carrboro is regarded as one of the most progressive communities in the South. It was the first municipality in North Carolina to grant domestic-partner benefits to same-sex couples in 1994 and elect an openly gay mayor in 1995.
Carrboro is adjacent to Chapel Hill, which is home to the nation’s first public university. These side-by-side towns and university make up the heart of the region, which is known as one of the best college towns in America as it “blends liberal philosophy and Southern culture in a way that borders on the utopian” (The Guardian, 2017)
Locals delight in telling friends about the Carrboro vibe, how it radiates openness and optimism, and stirs their sense of freedom and self expression. Carrboro is a place where curiosity and creativity come to life, and the uncommon is common.
No matter who you are or where you’re from, you are welcome in Carrboro. Visit Carrboro and feel free to unwind, dream, follow your heart, create, taste, shop, play, and be yourself.
Not just a town, it’s a feeling… It’s Carrboro. Learn more about Carrboro and its many wonderful and unexpected delights.