Carrboro’s roots began in the late 19th century when a branch of the North Carolina Railroad extended south to the edge of Chapel Hill and the first local textile mill opened nearby. Informally known as West End and Lloydville, the community incorporated as a town named Venable in 1911. Two years later, the state legislature renamed the town Carrboro at the request of Julian S. Carr, a post-Civil War business leader who was also an active and influential participant in Jim Crow era efforts to create a system of racial segregation. Although the town continues to bear his name, Carr’s values and actions do not represent Carrboro today. In the 1970s, Carrboro residents joined together to change the town’s power structure and advocate for a community that fully included all residents. Thanks to their commitment, Carrboro today honors its working-class roots while reaching toward the goals of social equity, environmental harmony, and fiscal responsibility.