CHAPEL HILL

town, Orange county, central North Carolina, U.S., 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Durham. It was founded in 1792 and named for the Church of England New Hope Chapel that once stood at the crossroads on the hill at the settlement's centre. With the adjoining town of Carrboro (to the west), it forms a university community, being the seat of the University of North Carolina (chartered 1789; opened 1795). The Old Well, a campus landmark, has become the university's shrine and symbol. The Morehead Planetarium has an art collection as well as facilities for indoor stargazing. The Carolina Playmakers Community Theatre has a national reputation. Inc. 1851. Pop. (1990) 38,719.