Established as the Orange County seat in 1754 where the Great Indian Trading Path crossed the Eno River, Hillsborough appears much as it did in the 18th century. Known as the "capital of the back country," it was the scene of many dramatic events prior to the Revolutionary War and the base of operations for both British and Continental forces during the Revolution. It has retained an impressive collection of buildings, sites, and landscapes that reflect its important role from the Colonial period through North Carolina's textile mill heritage, and its downtown historic district, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, features over 100 late 18th- and early 19th-century buildings, many open to the public.