Hillsborough, NC

Hillsborough is the county seat of Orange County, set along the Eno River northwest of Durham and Chapel Hill. It is one of North Carolina's more historic small towns, with roots tied to the Great Indian Trading Path, colonial government, and preserved old streets near downtown. The Eno River adds real landscape character, while the town's arts scene gives it more cultural weight than its size might suggest. Hillsborough is also home to the Music Maker Relief Foundation, an internationally known nonprofit supporting traditional musicians.