Introduction to Carrboro

Carrboro is a small town only in size. With one of the Triangles most desired addresses, Carrboro is now home to 16,000 plus residents. Sitting at the western end of Chapel Hill the entire town is only 4.25 square miles in size. For a community that started in 1882 as a place for a railroad station to service UNC travelers, it is now the most densely populated town in the state.

Carrboro got its start as a real town with the 1898 addition of "Alberta," Tom Lloyds beloved cotton mill. By 1913 the town had established itself as a world leader in manufacturing railroad cross-ties but the town's name change came when Julian S. Carr bought the cotton mill. Today Alberta is the home of Carr Mill Mall and Fitch Lumber Company which is still operational and just across the street at their original 1923 location.

Saved from demolition, Carr Mill not only remains a landmark, it is now a focal point for Carrboro residents. At one end of the mall you will encounter Weaver Street Market, hugely successful, they are no longer just a specialty grocery, but also a bakery, café, restaurant and community patrons. Dedicated to Carrboro, they sponsor dozens of annual events ranging from "Sunday Jazz on the Lawn," the "Thursday night Music Jam," and "A Family 4th of July Celebration" just to name a few. They are major donors to the local schools and charities. Often you will find lots of people gathered at the outdoor arcade eating, exchanging ideas and depending which day, enjoying a free music event.

Not only have buildings and businesses endured Carrboro's history, the Farmer's Market, which began in 1945, is still going strong. Today the Farmer's Market is held at the Town Commons; with all the vendors living within 50 miles of Carrboro freshness is guaranteed. In addition to the wonderful fruit and vegetables, dairy products, and flowers many learning opportunities and events are offered to the public. You can experience the chili cook-off, get cooking demonstrations or receive instructions on canning along with a multitude of other topics. Not entirely about food, locals also provide a variety of natural products and crafts for purchase.

A liberal atmosphere, cutting edge ideas and a commitment to intelligent managed growth have made Carrboro a remarkable little town by anyone's standards. The residents share a top-notch school system with Chapel Hill, but in all other ways they have created their own identity. The people of Carrboro are extremely diversified in every aspect from age, to income, background and origin. All the residents benefit from the forward thinking that enables Carrboro not to be ruined by sprawl and to remain true to its charming village character. Not only is there a determination to restore public buildings and the old mill houses, the truly common denominator for Carrboro today seems to be the dedication to art and music that is apparent throughout town.

A prime example of the community's spirit is the Carrboro "ArtsCenter." What started as a painting class in a small loft in 1975 is today an artistic center with classrooms offering more than 100 classes each trimester, 2 separate performance theaters, a dance studio and gallery. The ArtSchool portion of the center offers classes and special programs to families or individuals of all ages. The performance and music series vary from local talent to touring professional companies and musicians. The stage for musicians is not limited to the ArtsCenter; live music is everywhere downtown. Along with outdoor performances around town, many bars and restaurants offer live music. Cat's Cradle is a legendary music venue, possibly the best in the Triangle and highly ranked throughout the southeast. Professional musicians with national recognition and local bands compete for bookings at Cat's Cradle. Music is so strong in Carrboro that there are now several recording studios located in town. During Carrboro's annual Music Festival, a free day of music is sponsored at locations all over town.

Not to be outdone by the musicians, local artist display they wares in galleries, open studio shows and area businesses. On every other Sunday between April and December local artist, craftsman, antique and collectible dealers come together, in a collection ranging from hobbyist to seasoned professionals, to present the "Carrboro Sunday Market." If everything mentioned isn't impressive enough, the latest jewel in Carrboro's crown is the Century Center. The town once again has created a beautiful space by converting an old building to a showpiece. Century Hall with its stunning grand piano and hardwood floors is perfect for meetings and performances.

Creativity is alive and well all over Carrboro. Any town with this much to offer will continue to benefit the residents not only culturally but also in property value and pride. While great focus has been put on art and music, they by far aren't the only amenities Carrboro has to offer. University Lake covers 213 acres that provides Carrboro's water as well as being a great place to fish and picnic. The six parks range from the 54 acre Anderson Community Park to small neighborhood parks. Making sure that the parks provide activities for everyone, the dogs even have their own leash free area at Anderson. Sports minded kids and adults have fields and courts for play and for those times when being a spectator is your preference, the UNC Tarheel teams are in their backyard.

Buying a home in Carrboro is an investment that simultaneously benefits you and the community. Houses range from old mill houses to newer high-end homes and everything in between. With a vital downtown, a motivated community and scenic surroundings, there are lots of reasons to choose a home in Carrboro. It may be a small town but they have big ideas.

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