Our Community

Chatham County, North Carolina occupies 709 square miles of the Tar Heel state’s geographic center. Founded in 1771, Chatham County was formed from a portion of Orange County and named in honor of England’s Earl of Chatham. Residents of this rural patchwork of communities enjoy convenient access to all of Raleigh-Durham’s bustling metropolitan amenities.

Census data collected in 2008 estimates Chatham County’s population as 63,077, an increase of 28 percent since the last official census in 2000. One-fifth of the area’s residents are concentrated within the incorporated areas, the largest of which are Goldston, Siler City and Pittsboro. Cary, the largest community in Chatham County, also lies primarily within the borders of Wake County. Thirteen additional townships comprise the remainder of Chatham County.

Chatham County nestles between the Piedmont Triad and the Research Triangle regions, which remain two of NC’s largest regions of population and commerce. Major employers include Alamance Regional Medical Center and Biolex in this industrially diverse area where agriculture, health and social services, manufacturing and tourism provide a wealth of career opportunities.

Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the abundance of natural settings in Chatham County, NC. The scenic area boasts miles and miles of birding and walking trails, with access to several farmers' markets and wineries. Recreation areas include the Deep, Haw and Rocky rivers, in addition to the Jordan Lake Educational State Forest. Other popular tourist destinations in Chatham County include Carnivore Preservation Trust, New Hope Valley Railroad and Museum, gemstone mining at The Rocks, Premier Motorsports, and The Camelback Truss Bridge, which holds a place on the National Register for Historic Places.

Top-notch public schools and a small selection of private schools await those seeking educational facilities for their primary and secondary age children. Those interested in post-secondary institutions have access to an impressive array of options, all located within a 35-mile radius. Local colleges and universities include Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Meredith College in Raleigh. Nearby Durham also offers such fine facilities as North Carolina Central University, Duke University and Durham Technical Community College.

Pittsboro residents have access to the Chatham County Courthouse, located at 12 E. St, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Other local communities utilize Chatham County’s alternate facility, located at 311 N. Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344. The District Court division hears all civil issues, including domestic cases such as divorce, marital property division, custody, visitation, and child support. In addition, The NC department of Health and Human Services operates a Child Support Enforcement website featuring online resources that may help parents avoid an unnecessary visit to the Clerk of Court.

The Family Court hears cases that include abortion consent waivers, adoptions, involuntary commitments, guardianships, termination of parental rights, child custody, visitation rights, juvenile delinquency charges, neglect and abuse charges, and all paternity issues. Chatham County Family Courts also handle domestic violence, divorce, and related financial issues such as alimony, child support, and equitable distribution of property.

NC Judges who handle domestic issue cases often refer families to classes, counselors, and other mediators to help individuals find their own resolutions outside of the court system. In these cases, the judge remains a last resort if families cannot resolve their legal issues. The courts assign individual families to a case manager and one judge, in order to help families negotiate their way through the system and make sure that the cases fall within the Family Court time recommendations for resolving the case. Chatham County courts commit to promptly resolve all domestic cases.

Chatham County, North Carolina residents enjoy well-rounded communities with a wealth of cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities. This predominantly rural region, combined with the nearby amenities of the cosmopolitan cities of Durham and Raleigh, make Chatham County a fine place to call home.