Carrboro, North Carolina
Carrboro is a town of 21,204 people in Orange County, North Carolina, founded in 1882.
Why visit Carrboro
Townapedia lists 28 museums and landmarks, 33 parks and trails, 154 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Playmakers Theatre, Varsity Theatre, Ackland Art Museum and Morehead Planetarium.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 29°F.
Weather in Carrboro
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Carrboro
Carrboro is a town in Orange County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 21,295 at the 2020 census. The town, which is part of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill combined statistical area, was named after North Carolina industrialist Julian S. Carr.
From the Wikipedia article Carrboro, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do10
Playmakers Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Theatre building on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, originally a social venue
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry
School · 2.4 mi
Dental school in North Carolina
CURRENT ArtSpace + Studio
Cinema and theater · 1.9 mi
123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Museums and landmarks28
Ackland Art Museum
Museum · 2.0 mi
Museum in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
101 South Columbia Street, Chapel Hill
We-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 13:00-17:00; Jul 4 off; Dec 24 off; Dec 25...
Morehead Planetarium
Museum · 2.2 mi
250 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Fr 14:30-18:00; Sa,Su 13:00-18:00
Arthur C. and Mary S.A. Nash House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
United States historic place
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Orange County, North Carolina
Carolina Inn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Hotel in Chapel Hill, United States
Carr Mill Mall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Carrboro Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Chapel Hill Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Listed on the NRHP in Orange County
Chapel Hill Town Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Town hall in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Gimghoul Neighborhood Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Old Chapel Hill Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Cemetery in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Old East
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Residence hall at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA)
16 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds33
Coker Arboretum
Park · 2.3 mi
Botanical garden in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
110 Raleigh Street, Chapel Hill
Silent Sam former location
Park · 2.1 mi
Confederate statue's former spot on McCorkle Place prior to protests in 2017-2018 that led to its forcible removal by civilians, having...
24/7
21 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes154
Alpha Pie
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.0 mi
157 East Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill
We 18:00-02:00, Th-Sa 18:00-03:00
Sutton's Drug Store
Restaurant · Burger, Breakfast · 2.0 mi
159 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Mo-Sa 07:00-14:00; Su 09:00-14:00
401 Main
Bar and pub · American · 1.6 mi
401 East Main Street, Carrboro
Tu-Fr 15:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00; Mo closed
Al's Burger Shack
Restaurant · Burger · 1.7 mi
516 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Tu-Sa 11:00-20:00
Bandido's
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.0 mi
159 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Tu,We 17:00-21:00; Th 11:30-14:30,17:00-21:30; Fr...
Bonchon Chicken
Restaurant · Chicken, Korean, Sushi · 2.1 mi
205 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Cold Stone Creamery
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 2.0 mi
131 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:00
142 more on the map.
History
Before European settlement, the Occaneechi Indians lived in the area of what is now Hillsborough, north of Carrboro. As part of North Carolina's piedmont region, European settlement in the area likely did not begin until at least the 1730s.
The history of Carrboro is similar to the history of many mill towns in North Carolina and largely parallels the histories of the State University Railroad and the Alberta Cotton Mill. Located just west of Chapel Hill, Carrboro was originally known as West End. It was settled in 1882 near the terminus "in a vacant field" of the 10.2 miles (16.4 km) State University Railroad spur from University Station in Glenn, North Carolina. (State law required that the railway be at least 1 mile (1.6 km) from the university campus "to guard against possible damage to student morals and habits of study," or as it was more cynically put, "to discourage students from leaving on the weekends and spending their money elsewhere.) Settlement in West End increased after 1898 when Thomas F. Lloyd of Chapel Hill built a steam-powered grist mill near the depot. This would become the Alberta Cotton Mill, and in 1900 the town briefly called itself Lloydville in his honor.
From the History section of Carrboro, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Hampton Inn & Suites Chapel Hill-Carrboro/Downtown
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
370 East Main Street, Carrboro
The Carolina Inn
Motel and hotel · 2.2 mi
211 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill
Churches and places of worship17
Chapel of the Cross
Church · Episcopal · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
304 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
United Church of Chapel Hill
Church · United · 2.4 mi
1321 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Chapel Hill
Newman Activity Center
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.1 mi
214 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 2.0 mi
1050 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Chapel Hill
Shopping35
Gas and EV charging10
Schools, colleges and libraries51
Carrboro High School
School · Nondenominational · 2.4 mi
201 Rock Haven Road, Carrboro
Louis Round Wilson Library
Library · 2.4 mi
201 South Road, Chapel Hill
Healthcare10
Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.4 mi
101 Renee Lynne Court, Carrboro
Map of Carrboro
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 29°F | 4.0 in | 1.5 in |
| Feb | 54°F | 31°F | 3.3 in | 0.9 in |
| Mar | 62°F | 38°F | 4.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 47°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 68°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 82°F | 62°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 38°F | 3.5 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 54°F | 32°F | 3.9 in | 0.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chapel Hill 2 W Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Orange County has had 19 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-09-11: Tropical Depression Chantal (Tropical Depression)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-06: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- Durham 11 mi east, about 18 min by car
- Cary 18 mi southeast, about 29 min by car
- Apex 18 mi southeast, about 29 min by car
- Raleigh 26 mi east, about 42 min by car
- Clayton 40 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Greensboro 43 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Asheboro 43 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Anderson Creek 46 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Archdale 49 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- High Point 51 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 495402520 e32b834bb7 o, Elizabeth B. Thomsen Ethomsen, CC BY 2.5
- Looking Glass Cafe, Carrboro, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Carrboro Farmers Market 2013, Digitalican, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Eggplants in Carrboro, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Carrboro Community Health Center, Mx. Granger, CC0
- PTA Thrift Shop, Carrboro, Mx._Granger, CC0
- 2008-07-28 Elmo's Diner in Carrboro, Ildar Sagdejev ( Specious ), CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2008-03-11 Bicyclist in Carrboro, Ildar Sagdejev ( Specious ), CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Station, Carrboro, Mx._Granger, CC0
- 2008-07-11 Chapel of the Cross, Ildar Sagdejev ( Specious ), CC BY-SA 4.0
- BETA THETA PI FRATERNITY HOUSE; CHAPEL HILL; ORANGE COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CHAPEL HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT, ORANGE COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Playmakers Theatre, (User: Wgreaves ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carolina Inn, d&e, CC BY 2.0
- CHAPEL HILL TOWN HALL, ORANGE COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CARRBORO COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT; ORANGE COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- THOMAS F. LLOYD HISTORIC DISTRICT; ORANGE COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old East, (User: Wgreaves ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Arthur C. and Mary S.A. Nash House 1, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Gimghoul Castle, THE evil fluffyface, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2008-07-21 Old Chapel Hill Cemetery 2, Ildar Sagdejev ( Specious ), CC BY-SA 4.0
- THOMAS AND MARY HOGAN HOUSE; ORANGE COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WEST CHAPEL HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT, CHAPEL HILL, ORANGE COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hydropisphaera peziza 341470196, Jenny, CC0
- Hydropisphaera peziza 341470182, Jenny, CC0
- Red-Spotted Purple, JRintoul, CC BY 4.0
- West Chapel Hill Cemetery, Mx. Granger, CC0
- PXL 20220501 210415445, Globalla, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fairy Tale Eggplant, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Smith Middle School, Chapel Hill - June 2020, Mx. Granger, CC0
- North Carolina Crafts Gallery - interior, Mx._Granger, CC0
- Cope's Gray Treefrog 386044474, (c) colorful-corvid, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0
- Smith Middle School, Chapel Hill, Mx. Granger, CC0
- 2014-02-23 14-09-41 - 2014-02-23-22h09m41, Digitalican, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greetings from U.S. Navy Pre Flight School, Athletics, Chapel Hill, N.C. - Large Letter Postcard (6430151405), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Strobilomyces strobilaceus 23706609, David George, CC BY 4.0
- Strobilomyces strobilaceus 23706601, David George, CC BY 4.0
- Weaver Street Market, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Collins Crossing in 2016 2, Mx. Granger, CC0
- 2003-07 Blue bench and garbage receptacle, Ildar Sagdejev ( Specious ), CC BY-SA 3.0
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