The town of Chapel Hill makes up one corner of the North Carolina area traditionally known as "The Triangle". The next point is Durham, and at the southeast corner is Raleigh, the state capitol. With a population of over 64,000, Chapel Hill is the 16th-largest municipality in the state. The town started with a real chapel, on a real hill. Originally, there was a small Anglican "chapel of ease," which was built in 1752. The location was a crossroads on an important hilltop, meant as a rest stop for weary parishioners on their long journey to the main church in Hillsborough. The town grew up around the chapel and continued growing along the expanding University of North Carolina. Chapel Hill was chartered in 1851, naming its main thoroughfare Franklin Street after statesman Benjamin Franklin.

Although part of a now burgeoning region and holding a key position in the Triangle, Chapel Hill retains its small-town feel. In 2009 Chapel Hill ranked number three on the list of "Top 25 Most Uniquely American Cities and Towns". The quintessential college town, Chapel Hill is notable for its scenic beauty, classic culture, Southern hospitality and the state's best public schools. The town, aka "Blue Heaven", is home to highly advanced medical care from UNC- Hospitals.