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CHATHAM COUNTY

History of Chatham County

Chatham County is located on the outskirts of the Research Triangle Park and was carved out of Orange County in 1771.  It was named after William Pitt, the first Earl of Chatham who was opposed to the harsh British policies towards the colonials.  The county seat is Pittsboro. 

Chatham was one of the primary counties in the state for coal mining, but the mines were all closed by the 1940s.  Agriculture has been the basis for the county's economy throughout its history, but Pittsboro and Siler City and several of the unincorporated towns in the county were also centers for the poultry and textile industry.  These industries have largely left the county, leaving agriculture as the main economic force, particularly the growing number of small farms focused on sustainable philosophy. 

Life in Chatham County

Jordan Lake runs through Chatham with nearly 47,000 acres of waterways and greenways, offering an abundance of recreational opportunities including beaches, boating, and plenty of wildlife.  The American Tobacco Trail winds its way through Chatham, and the Haw River is a favorite of canoeists and kayakers.

The Town of Pittsboro offers a charming taste of small town life along with some of the best restaurants in the county, an old-fashioned soda shoppe, and a pub for enjoying music and libations.  The General Store Cafe is a local gathering place and presents musical acts almost every night of the week

There are several different areas in Chatham County, each with its own lifestyle.  Growth in Northern Chatham County is largely fed by transplants from neighboring Chapel Hill and Durham who seek a more rural environment that still offers excellent access to shops and medical facilities.  Siler City, in western Chatham, was a dying factory town that has been revitalized by a burgeoning arts center and a vibrant Latino community, as well as one of the premier recording studios in the state.  East of Jordan Lake, the Apex and Moncure areas of Chatham are resisting being swallowed up by the Town of Cary whose borders are fast encroaching traditional rural life there.

All of Chatham County is exceptionally beautiful, with rolling pastures and forests and small antique shops and art galleries sprinkled liberally through every section of the county.

Neighborhoods

Search the MLS for homes for sale in Chatham County.