Durham · Chapel Hill · Raleigh
Just moved to Hillsborough?
The Orange County seat — a small historic downtown on the Eno, fifteen minutes up I-85 from Durham.
Hillsborough is the county seat of Orange County, which means the county courthouse, the main library, and the school district offices are all here. Its downtown historic district is on the National Register, with more than a hundred 18th- and 19th-century buildings in a few walkable blocks, and the Eno River runs along the edge of town with a Riverwalk greenway beside it. One thing that surprises people: the town runs its own water system, so the OWASA setup that covers Chapel Hill and Carrboro doesn't apply here.
Happening near Hillsborough
- Sunday, September 1338th Annual Sculpture in the Garden opens · Chapel Hill
- Sunday, September 13Artist Conversation: Phaan Howng · Chapel Hill
- Sunday, September 13His Girl Friday · Triangle
- Monday, September 14Ackland Film Forum: "Z" (Costa-Gavras, 1969) · Chapel Hill
- Monday, September 14Constitution Day: The Constitution and Executive Power · Chapel Hill
🧳 Utilities & everyday essentials
Start with your street address. A mailing address alone may not tell you which government or utility serves your home.
- Orange County governmentCounty services, recycling, property records, and public notices. Hillsborough is the county seat.
- Town of HillsboroughTown services, trash and recycling, parks, and public meetings for the Orange County seat.
- Hillsborough water & sewerHillsborough runs its own water system, separate from OWASA. Read the deposit and connection-fee requirements before your move-in date.
- NCDMV new-resident checklistLicense, title, registration, and insurance requirements in one place. Check which office handles each step.
- NC voter registrationRegister, update your address, or check your registration through the State Board of Elections.
🚌 Buses, traffic & the airport
Plan the whole trip, including the ride home. Regional and local buses have separate routes, schedules, and fare policies.
- GoTriangleRegional connections across Durham, Orange, and Wake counties, plus fares and airport-shuttle information.
- DriveNCNCDOT’s live map of crashes, road closures, work zones, and traffic conditions.
- RDU ground transportationCompare airport bus, shuttle, taxi, rental-car, and rideshare options from the airport’s own guide.
📚 Schools & libraries
Use the school district’s address lookup before making enrollment plans. For libraries, check the card policy for the system you want to use.
- Orange County SchoolsA separate district from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, serving Hillsborough and the rest of the county. Find enrollment and school information here.
- Orange County Public LibraryCheck branches, borrowing options, card eligibility, and county library programs. The main library is in Hillsborough.
🌳 Parks, trails & gardens
Pick an entrance before you set out. Trail conditions, parking, accessibility, and pet rules vary by location.
- American Tobacco TrailPlan a walk or bike ride along the rail-trail. Check the map for parking and changes between paved and unpaved sections.
- Occoneechee Mountain State Natural AreaTrails and an overlook above the Eno River just outside Hillsborough. Check the map for parking and trail conditions.
- Jordan Lake State Recreation AreaFind swimming areas, boat access, campsites, fees, and closure notices around the lake.
🎭 Events, music & local culture
Use the Brief’s calendar for a curated starting point, then the organizer’s page for the final details.
- The Triangle Brief calendarUpcoming events across Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and the wider Triangle.
- Visit Chapel Hill eventsThe visitor bureau’s calendar for Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Orange County.
- Triangle on the CheapAn independent local guide to free and low-cost outings. Confirm offers with the organizer.
🤝 Community help & getting involved
Find help with a practical need, a place to volunteer, or the right source during severe weather.
- NC 211Call 211 or search online for local food, housing, utility, and other community support resources. Availability depends on the program.
- Food Bank: find foodSearch the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina’s partner network. Confirm hours and requirements before traveling.
- ReadyNCOfficial North Carolina information on emergency planning, weather readiness, and disaster resources.
- Activate GoodFind Triangle volunteer opportunities by cause, date, and organization.
Also moving to…
Durham
The Bull City — Duke, downtown, and a lot of old tobacco warehouses turned into something else.
Read the guide →📚Chapel Hill
UNC's town, plus Carrboro next door — smaller, walkable, and college-town at its core.
Read the guide →🌳Raleigh
The City of Oaks — North Carolina's capital and by far the biggest of the three.
Read the guide →🌾Pittsboro
Chatham County's seat, built around a traffic circle with an 1881 courthouse in the middle of it.
Read the guide →🌲Cary
Officially still a town, sitting between Raleigh and Research Triangle Park.
Read the guide →🗺️the Triangle
Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh are three different cities that share an airport, a job market, and a lot of the same weekend plans.
Read the guide →🏡Living Here
The practical stuff for getting settled, plus the places that make it feel like home.
Browse the guide →New to the area?
Get the local rundown — news, events, and things to do — every few days.