Chapel Hill NC
Chapel Hill is a large city in the Research Triangle region with a number of attractions and desirable qualities. This college town is most known as the home of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Real Estate
There is a diverse range of Chapel Hill homes for sale, due to the city’s large size and varied terrain. The cost of living in Chapel Hill is high compared to the rest of the state and country, which includes the city’s real estate. The median home price in Chapel Hill is more than double both the averages for the state and country. You will find a variety of homes in Chapel Hill, including quaint townhomes in the city and grandiose mansions on large lots.
Lifestyle and Attractions
Chapel Hill is a large city located near Durham and Raleigh, which are about 10 and 30 miles away, respectively. Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh make up the three corners of the Research Triangle, named after the creation of Research Triangle Park located between Durham and Raleigh. With a growing population of nearly 60,000, Chapel Hill is a large community that has been able to maintain its small-town charm.
Chapel Hill is known throughout the world as the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation’s oldest public university and one of the best in academics and affordability. The community centers on the UNC campus for events, sports and other local happenings. The UNC Tarheels sporting events, particularly the men’s basketball games, are a major attraction for Chapel Hill residents and visitors.
Franklin Street is the town’s most popular street and the site of many celebrations, such as festivities for UNC men’s basketball victories, Homegrown Halloween on Franklin Street, Festifall and more. Chapel Hill is home to the North Carolina Botanical Garden, the largest natural botanical garden in the Southeast. The gardens are comprised of nearly 800 acres of preserved land with nature trails, carnivorous plant collections, aquatics and herb gardens.
There are a number of art and history museums in Chapel Hill, including the Ackland Art Museum, the North Carolina Collection Gallery, the Morehead Planetarium and more. Carolina Performing Arts performs at three venues located on the UNC campus, including Memorial Hall, Gerrard Hall, and the Historic Playmakers Theatre. The Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department maintains a variety of parks of all shapes and sizes.
Chapel Hill has built a reputation over the years as a liberal-minded town in regards to social, economic and environmental issues. The community is dedicated to sustainability, evident in the annual Science Expo held at UNC. Chapel Hill has received a number of accolades over the years, including “The Best Places to Live” by Money Magazine, “The Best Cities for Entrepreneurs” by Entrepreneur Magazine, and more. Chapel Hill is home to the headquarters of several large corporations, including USAT Corp and Real Time Ops.
Nearby Schools and Higher Education
Chapel Hill is served by three public school systems. In Chapel Hill, there are 19 public schools in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system, two schools in Chatham County Schools, and one school in Orange County Schools. Additionally, there are five private schools in the Chapel Hill and Hillsborough areas. Chapel Hill is most known as the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but there are several colleges and universities nearby, including Duke University in Durham and North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
History
The area now known as Chapel Hill was originally the home base for early settler William Barbee of Middlesex County, Virginia. He received a land grant of 585 acres in 1753, but died shortly after establishing himself and his family. The center of Chapel Hill now sits atop a hill that was originally occupied by a small Anglican “chapel of ease”, built in 1752. New Hope Chapel is now home to the historic Carolina Inn.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was established in 1789, and in 1819, a town was soon after founded to serve the university, and subsequently grew around it. Chapel Hill was officially chartered in 1851, and its main street, Franklin Street, was named in memory of Benjamin Franklin.
In 1968, just one year after schools were fully integrated, Chapel Hill became the first predominantly white municipality in the South to elect an African-American mayor, Howard Lee, who served from 1969 to 1975, and helped establish the town’s bus system.
Approximate Distance to:
Durham: 11 Miles
Raleigh: 28 Miles
Raleigh-Durham International Airport: 17 Miles
Hospitals:
UNC Health Care: 1 Mile
N.C. Children’s Hospital: 1 Mile
Major Highways:
US-501: 2 Miles
I-40: 4.5 Miles