Attractions

One of Carrboro's attractions is the Carrboro Farmer's Market, which features local organic produce, locally produced cheeses, baked goods, and handmade crafts. Created in 1977, the Carrboro Farmers' Market was one of the earliest to link farmers directly with their customers. The Carrboro Farmers' Market requires that everything sold must be grown or produced within a 50-mile radius of Carrboro. If you're a 'localvore', this is the town for you.

Carrboro has a bustling arts scene. The town is known for the Carrboro Music Festival, an all-day event which celebrates local music with performances throughout the downtown area. Carrboro is also home to the two-day annual Carrboro International Poetry Festival created by former Carrboro Poet Laureate Patrick Herron.

Carrboro is home to two music venues that host national and regional acts. The Carrboro ArtsCenter hosts nationally known roots music acts, such as David Lindley, Leon Russell, and Dr. John. The ArtsCenter also holds art classes, dance classes, and art exhibitions. Not far away, The Cat's Cradle typically hosts more rock acts than the ArtsCenter, but a number of musicians have played both venues. The Reservoir and Speakeasy also host bands on a semi-regular basis.

In June 2004, WCOM began broadcasting at 103.5 FM in Carrboro. WCOM is a low-power FM station featuring music, community affairs, and Spanish-language programming. The station is volunteer-run and all shows feature local radio talent.

Carrboro is also a favorite destination for UNC folk for its variety of restaurants such as Elmo's Diner, Panzanella, the seasonal store for Maple View Farm, Southern Rail, Tyler's Restaurant & Taproom, Carrburrito's, Armadillo Grill, Akai Hana, Glass Half Full, Jade Palace, Acme, Weaver Street Market and several taco trucks. Also popular are coffee shops Padgett Station and Open Eye Cafe.

Anderson Park provides a host of outdoor athletic activities including a dog park.

History

Known originally as West End because of its location west of Chapel Hill, Carrboro was settled in 1882 around a spur of the Durham-Greensboro Southern Railway. The railroad stop was located about a mile west of the University of North Carolina (UNC) campus in order not to disturb the local population and to make it more difficult for students to leave campus by train.

In 1913, the town was renamed Carrboro, after mill owner Carr began providing streets and electric power to the community and expanding the mill buildings. The mill went through several owners over the next several decades. The Carrboro Board of Aldermen intended to have it demolished in 1975 until a community petition and fund-raising effort provided for its restoration as Carr Mill Mall.