Carrboro: A quaint town commonly referred to as the "Paris of Piedmont"

Carrboro is a cozy town with an absence of parking meters and a reputation for a terrific farmers market. The town, commonly referred to as the “Paris of Piedmont,” takes pride in being known as a community rich in cultural and economic diversity. Carrboro is an economic base of locally owned small businesses. You will enjoy how this town has created the shopping district so that you can enjoy strolling from one business to another. The hub of downtown is centered around Carr Mill Mall, a commercially mixed-use property that extends to nearly an entire square block of Carrboro’s downtown. Three buildings make up the property, which includes a grocery store (Harris Teeter), a drugstore (CVS Pharmacy), Weaver Street Market, and an abundance of local specialty shops. The mall is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places under its original name of “The Alberta Complex.” Click here for an overview of its history!

The Farmer’s Market is a popular place to visit to find fresh produce (Locally grown, nationally known, year-round!) and beautifully produced, hand-crafted items made by local artisans that are available from March until December.

Settled in 1882 around a railroad spur of UNC, Carrboro was first known as West End because of its geographical location west of Chapel Hill. Incorporated in 1911 as Venable, the town made its final name change two years later in honor of Julian Shakespeare Carr, owner of the local textile mill. For the first fifty years after its incorporation, Carrboro remained a small mill town with a slow, steady pace of growth. In 1960, approximately 2000 people lived in the town. By the year 2000, the town’s population had grown to over 16,000 residents.

Featured Carrboro Neighborhoods

Carrboro Community Links

Carrboro School Links