Carrboro, North Carolina

When I visited this area, locals told me that many old-timers who grew disenchanted with the growth of Chapel Hill opted to move to the less cosmopolitan atmosphere of Carrboro, just to the southwest. This small town, which is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan statistical area, was named after North Carolina industrialist Julian Shakespeare Carr. Carrboro has a reputation as one of the most liberal communities in the Southern United States. One of Carrboro's attractions is the Carrboro Farmers' Market, which features local organic produce, locally produced cheeses, baked goods, and handmade crafts. Created in 1977, the Market was one of the first in the area to link farmers directly with their customers. The paved Libba Cotten Bike Path connects Carrboro with Chapel Hill.