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1863

Population of Hillsborough Approximately 751

Historical Context

Number of States in the US – 24 in the Union, 11 in the Confederacy

President – Abraham Lincoln

1861 -- Lincoln elected president; states secede; firing on Ft. Sumter begins the

            Civil War, 90% of all eligible men will fight during the war

1863 – Emancipation Proclamation issued; Battle of Gettysburg

1865 – Lee surrenders at Appomattox and Johnston surrenders at Bennett Place;

            Reconstruction begins

1868 -- NC ratifies 14th Amendment and is admitted back into the US;

            Governor William Holden is elected

1870 -- NC passes Shoffner Act to combat KKK;

            Holden is impeached

1877 -- Reconstruction ends

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Based on Original Research and the Unidentified Map Below

This map is in the collection of the Orange County Historical Museum.  It's title is "Plan of the town of Hillsboro taken Oct 1863," but it contains no identifiable author nor any statement regarding why it was drawn.  It depicts the lot numbers and names of the property owners.  The original text was done in brown ink.  At some point, additional names of property owners were added in pencil.

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Mapping the Businesses of Hillsborough

 

In June 2023, the Orange County Historical Museum began an ambitious project to chart the businesses that have existed in the downtown, historic district of Hillsborough.  Phase 1 depicts the commercial activities along Churton Street from just below Margaret Lane to just above Tryon Street, focusing on the businesses that fronted Churton Street.  Other phases will expand the coverage.

This website was created and is maintained by the Orange County Historical Museum

 

If you have additional information to share or if you notice information that is incorrect, please

email: programs@orangehistorync.org or phone: 919-732-2201

Special thanks to al those who contributed information to this project including:

Mark Chilton, H. Gee Coleman, Kaye Williams Crawford, Judy Frank, Brooks Graebner, Sue Smith Liner, Tom Magnuson, Kate Millard, Kim Morris, Steven Rankin, Alice Seelye, Remus Smith, Jr., and Wesley Woods,

The information about the businesses along Churton Street in 2024 was collected by the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce.  Our sincere appreciation to Scott Czechlewski and Erika Isley.

Much of the information for this site was found at www.openorangenc.org

Another essential source was Stewart E. Dunaway's Hillsborough NC:  History of Town Lots, The Complete Reference Guide.

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The mission of the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County is
to enlighten and engage our community and visitors from around the world 
by preserving and interpreting the history of Hillsborough and Orange County.
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