Why is chapel hill called chapel hill

New technologies were being developed in the Park that attracted major corporations to this hotbed of research and development. More and more people moved to the Triangle Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh for these newly-created jobs. Of course, Chapel Hill, being the most-attractive community in the area, drew more than its share of the attention. Another growth pressure was and is that of senior citizens looking for a great place to retire.

But the attitude of the town, its officials, and the citizens at large was to try to control growth to retain the atmosphere of education and peacefulness that they were used to and loved. As such, while the town has grown, it continues to have the feel of a small university town, and for the most part is. There are an ever-increasing number of housing developments on the perimeter of town with their accompanying commercial centers, but overall, Chapel Hill has been very successful in maintaining a strong sense of community and character.

As the growth moved to the edges of town, downtown Chapel Hill adapted to no longer being the only commercial district, but continues to be the heart and soul of the community. Some say that the "old village is alive and well in downtown. There are over fifteen businesses remaining that are over fifty years old and five that are 75 years old. A returning alumnus can still visit some of their old haunts, even as new students, residents, and visitors discover them.

The tree-lined streets are the place to be on any visit to Chapel Hill or the Research Triangle, so come on down and start your own Chapel Hill history. The town's first charter had no mention of a mayor, but by , H.

Guthrie, magistrate of police, was being called by that title. When the UNC Board of Trustees chose the area around New Hope Chapel as the site for the first state university in , they also named a committee to lay out a town adjacent to the site. Present day reminders of Chapel Hill's history are cherished by residents and admired by visitors. Listed below are key dates and events of a town otherwise known as the Southern Part of Heaven. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience.

Jump to subpage Martin Luther King Jr. Cameron St. Columbia Street Erwin Rd. Franklin St. But as the oldest public university in the nation, UNC — and the town that was created because of it — has a rich history that spans over two centuries. From the founding to the civil rights movement to recent tragedies, here's a timeline of some major events that have happened at the University and in the Chapel Hill area in the past years that students should know about.

Construction began on Old East, the oldest public university building in the country, on Oct. A South Campus dorm, nicknamed HoJo, is named in his honor. While delivering produce around town, Horton was encouraged by UNC students and faculty to teach himself to read and write. He became a published poet in the s. Horton Residence Hall is named after him.

Guthrie became the first mayor of Chapel Hill and held this position until Women were still not allowed to enter as first-years or sophomores during this time. The Carolina Story and History on the Hill. Other questions and information about the University that center on its many historic sites and landmarks include:.

Many legends and good luck omens have become popular lore at Carolina. Two of the most famous ones revolve around a poplar tree and a well.