Chapel Hill, town (1990 pop. 38,719), Orange co., central N.C., 9 mi/14.5 km SW of Durham at the edge of the Piedmont region; 35°55'N 79°02'W. Primarily residential, the town’s economy is based on research and education. Research Triangle Park 10 mi/16 km to E, business park developed by Duke Univ., N.C. State Univ. and Univ. of N.C. Chapel Hill is the seat of the Univ. of N.C. (first public univ. in U.S., est. 1795). Ackland Art Mus., Morehead Planatarium, N.C. Botanical Gardens, Coker Arboretum are here. Univ. L. reservoir to SW. Horace Williams Airport to NW. Founded 1792, inc. 1851.
