A view of Franklin Street in Downtown Chapel Hill

Franklin Street is a prominent thoroughfare in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Often known as the "Main Street of North Carolina", it loosely serves as the northern border of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus and could be considered the center of social life for the school and the town, as it is home to numerous coffee shops, restaurants, music stores and bars. The street in downtown Chapel Hill is notable for its festivities, nightlife, and culture^[1]. The stretch of college-oriented businesses continues west into neighboring Carrboro. Both streets are home to small music venues, like the Cat's Cradle and the Arts Center, which were influential in the birth of Chapel Hill rock. Image File history File links Franklin_street-chapel_hill. ... Image File history File links Franklin_street-chapel_hill. ... Nickname: The Southern Part of Heaven Location in North Carolina Coordinates: Country United States State North Carolina Counties Orange, Durham, and Chatham Founded 1793 Mayor Kevin C. Foy Area    - City 51. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, coeducational, research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. ... City nickname: The Paris of the Piedmont Incorporated 1911 County Orange County Mayor Mark Chilton Aldermen Joal Hall Broun (mayor pro tem) Dan Coleman Jacquelyn Gist Randee Haven-ODonnell John Herrera Alex Zaffron Town Manager Steven E. Sherman Area  - Total  - Water 11. ... North Carolina is known particularly for its tradition of old-time music, and many recordings were made in the early 20th century by folk song collector Bascom Lamar Lunsford. ...

Geography

The intersection of Franklin Street and Columbia Street

The three-mile span is divided into West and East Franklin Streets. West Franklin begins at the intersection of South Merrit Mill Road where Carrboro's East Main Street ends. West Franklin moves east-northeast through the town's historic business district to Columbia Street, where it becomes East Franklin. East Franklin continues the straight path through the business district, passing campus and then curving north "down the hill" through some of Chapel Hill's historic neighborhoods. East Franklin Street ends just beyond Ephesus Church Road, where it morphs into U.S. Highway 15-501 towards Durham. Image File history File links Franklin_columbia-chapel_hill. ... Image File history File links Franklin_columbia-chapel_hill. ... City nickname: The Paris of the Piedmont Incorporated 1911 County Orange County Mayor Mark Chilton Aldermen Joal Hall Broun (mayor pro tem) Dan Coleman Jacquelyn Gist Randee Haven-ODonnell John Herrera Alex Zaffron Town Manager Steven E. Sherman Area  - Total  - Water 11. ... The U.S. Highway 15-501 concurrency is a vital route in the U.S. state of North Carolina. ... Nickname: Bull City, City of Medicine Location in North Carolina Country United States State North Carolina County Durham County  - Mayor Bill Bell Area    - City 245. ...

Heritage

Named after Benjamin Franklin by the commissioners of the University (Franklin was a proponent of practical education for youth), the street has been in use under its current name since the 1790s, when construction of the University began [1]. The stretch of Franklin from Columbia to Raleigh streets borders the campus, allowing views of wooded McCorkle Place [2] (the North Quadrangle, named after Reverend Samuel E. McCorkle, who authored the original bill requesting a charter from the NC General Assembly for the University in 1784). McCorkle Place is home to some of the school's oldest structures: Old East and Old West Dormitories, Person Hall (originally the University chapel), the South Building (main administration building), and the Old Well (site of the original well for the University). Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most well known Founding Fathers of the United States. ... The first public university building in America, Old Easts corner stone was laid in 1793. ... The Old Well in front of South Building. ...

Just east of campus along Franklin Street are several of Chapel Hill's historic homes [3], including the President's House, the Samuel Phillip's House, Spencer House, Widow Puckett House, Hooper-Kyser House, the Presbyterian Manse, Kennette House, Archibald-Henderson House, and the town's first law office (known as "Mr. Sam's Law Office" - now a private residence). Kay Kyser (June 18, 1905, Rocky Mount, North Carolina - July 24, 1985) was a famous bandleader and one of the first to become a radio celebrity. ...

Franklin Street has long been a favorite destination for entertainment and nightlife for Carolina students, Chapel Hill locals and visitors from Carrboro, Hillsborough, Durham and Raleigh. Going out for a night of revelry on Franklin Street has been known to be referred to as "going uptown". Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. ... Nickname: City of Oaks Motto: You Can See the Whole State from Here Map of Wake County, North Carolina Coordinates: Country United States State North Carolina County Wake County Founded 1792 Government  - Mayor Charles Meeker (D) Area  - City  115. ...

The colorful brick wall of an alley: one of many murals in Chapel Hill by artist Michael J. Brown^[2]

Image File history File links Alley-chapel_hill. ... Image File history File links Alley-chapel_hill. ...

Dining

Franklin street is home to several dining establishments including Pita Pit, Subway, Quizno's, Franklin Street Pizza and Pasta, Bandido's, Asia Cafe, Firehouse Subs, Ham's, McCalister's Deli, The Old Waffle Shop, Quidobas, Goldie's Grill, Lime and Basil, Cosmic Cantina, I Love NY Pizza, Yogurt Pump, Pepper's Pizza, ColdStone Creamery, Ben 'n Jerry's, Top of the Hill, China 35, Timeout, Alladin's, Spanky's, and many others.^{[citation needed]}

Celebrations

Franklin Street is home to several yearly festivals/gatherings, some of which are nationally famous:

• Victory celebrations: Students and sports fans have been known to spill out of bars and dormitories upon the victory of one of Carolina's sports teams. In most cases, a Franklin Street "bonfire" celebration is due to a victory by the men's basketball team, although other Franklin Street celebrations have stemmed from wins by the women's basketball team and women's soccer team. Upon the event the men's basketball team team reaches the national championship game, local stores are known to halt sales of Carolina-blue paint ^[3] to avoid a repeat of the 1993 jamboree which resulted in Franklin Street being painted blue by celebrating fans. After many important vicories, small bonfire]]s are started in the street by fans^{[4] [5]}.

• Halloween: Franklin Street is most notable for its Halloween celebration which ocurrs annually on October 31. Tens of thousands of all age groups attend the event each year; nearly 80,000 attended in 2004^[6]. The event is not town sponsored and the town actually discourages out-of-towners from attending; yet, an influx of non-residents decend on the town each year despite the town's suggestion ^[7]. In an attempt to promote order during the event the Town of Chapel Hill now closes the street to traffic after 8:00pm on Halloween and directs visitors to satellite parking decks around the town, from where buses can shuttle tourists to the main event area^[8]. Attendees of the event along the street most often dress up in various costumes and walk up and down the street watching various activities and and viewing other costumes.

• Apple Chill: traffic is closed off along the main business strip during the annual springtime street fair to allow for musicians, food vendors and local artists to set up shop. This festival is currently on indefinite hiatus following three shootings near the Franklin/Columbia intersection immediately after the 2006 Apple Chill ended. The Chapel Hill Town Council voted unanimously to end the festival [4].

This refers to the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). The name Tar Heel is also often used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State. ... Tipoff of UNC-Duke game The UNC-Duke rivalry, sometimes referred to as The Battle of Tobacco Road or The Battle of the Blues, is a fierce rivalry, particularly in mens college basketball, between Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) athletic teams. ... Head Coach Roy Williams 4th Year, 92-25 Home Stadium Dean E. Smith Center Capacity 21,750 Outfitter Nike Conference Affiliation Independent (1910-1921) Southern Conference (1921-1953) Atlantic Coast Conference (1953-Present) Team Records All-Time: 1,900-691 (.733) NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Champions (4) 1957... This refers to the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). The name Tar Heel is also often used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State. ... This refers to the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). The name Tar Heel is also often used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State. ... Head Coach Roy Williams 4th Year, 92-25 Home Stadium Dean E. Smith Center Capacity 21,750 Outfitter Nike Conference Affiliation Independent (1910-1921) Southern Conference (1921-1953) Atlantic Coast Conference (1953-Present) Team Records All-Time: 1,900-691 (.733) NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Champions (4) 1957... Image of Tar Heel logo used by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heel is a nickname applied to the state and inhabitants of North Carolina, as well as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hills athletic teams (see North Carolina Tar Heels). ... Halloween or Halloween is a tradition celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets, fruit, and other gifts. ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 61 days remaining. ...

See also

• Hillsborough Street
• U.S. Route 15-501 in North Carolina

Hillsborough St. ... The U.S. Highway 15-501 concurrency is a vital route in the U.S. state of North Carolina. ...

External links

• Official Town Website.
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• The World Music Central guide to Chapel Hill. For cultural travelers shopsinterested in local roots music, venues, CD , instrument makers, etc.
• HTYP: Chapel Hill, NC (wiki-based directory)
• OrangePolitics Multi-author blog about progressive politics in the Chapel Hill area, founded by local activist Ruby Sinreich.
• Uniting Neighbors of Carrboro and Chapel Hill.

References

1. ^ Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership - History of Downtown Chapel Hill and Franklin Street
2. ^ murals in Chapel Hill by artist Michael J. Brown
3. ^ Sports Fan Magazine - Students paint Franklin Street Carolina blue
4. ^ News and Observer: Bonfires mark Tar Heels' win (March 5, 2007)
5. ^ News and Observer: Radical changes for Chapel Hill celebrations
6. ^ Town of Chapel Hill: Halloween
7. ^ UNC GradSchool - Lifestyles: Halloween on Franklin Street
8. ^ Town of Chapel Hill: Halloween 2005 Parking