Carrboro, nicknamed the "Paris of the Piedmont," is a center of the Triangle's arts community, a walkable town that takes pride in its eclectic downtown and its progressive politics. This former railroad and mill town's sidewalks are always bustling along its many shops and restaurants. Carrboro is North Carolina's most densely populated city, with nearly 17,000 residents in its 6.3 square miles. Excellent schools and proximity to its neighbor, Chapel Hill, have made the town an increasingly popular - and expensive - place to live.

What are the local attractions?

Weaver Street Market has become a local landmark. It is a cooperative market that carries local, organic foods while also being very involved in the community. The market's lawn is a well-known community gathering spot, hosting Sunday live jazz brunches from April to October and Thursday evening live music events from late spring to early fall.

The Arts Center is a community gathering space that "nourishes the arts, creativity and community through education, performance and exhibition." It provides art classes, theater productions, concerts, children and family programs and gallery exhibits. It participates in the 2nd Friday Artwalk.

Carrboro Century Center is another one of the town's gathering spaces. The Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department schedules many programs and classes a month for children at the Century Center. The center houses the large Century Hall as well as the Cybrary (a cyber library) downstairs, and the police department is also in the same building.

Town Commons is where the Carrboro Farmers Markets sets up here every Saturday and Wednesday. Also on the first Saturday of every month, the Really Really Free Market is held under the pavilion. It's an event where everything is free for the giving and free for the taking — no money is exchanged, and no bartering necessary. Everything really is free. People bring everything from clothes and kitchen appliances to food and services, like free haircuts. The Town Commons has a play area with play equipment and open space.

Every spring, the town holds Carrboro Day, a day full of events celebrating itself. It's a show of pride for people who live, work or play in Carrboro.

Cat's Cradle — 300 E. Main St.; (919) 967-9053. A nationally known live music club. Not only does Cat's Cradle continuously host live concerts, it also hosts some film festivals, benefit concerts and acts that are part of the Carrboro Music Festival. Cat's Cradle sponsors a lot of other shows and concerts around the Triangle as well. It's known to draw big names.

What's the history?

The town started up as West Chapel Hill in the 1880s when a spur from the Durham-Greensboro Southern Railway line was extended to link university students with the outside world. Carrboro got its name from Julian Carr, who built a hosiery mill in 1913. That mill would later be saved by community efforts and converted into Carr Mill Mall, which today houses shops and businesses such as the Weaver Street Market. You can go here to learn more about the history of Carrboro.

Who runs the town?

The town is governed by the Board of Aldermen, which includes the mayor. The board meets every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the boardroom of Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Regular meetings are on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, work sessions are on the second Tuesdays of the month and public hearings are on the fourth Tuesdays of the month. There are no aldermen meetings on the fifth Tuesday of the month.

Town Hall is at 301 W. Main St., adjacent to the Town Commons, and it shares the building with the town's main fire station. The Mayor's Office, the Town Clerk's Office, the Planning Department and the Economic and Community Development office are all housed in Town Hall. Utilities are provided through the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA). A public, nonprofit water and sewer agency serving the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area. It's nine-member board of directors is appointed by the Carrboro Board of Aldermen, the Chapel Hill Town Council and the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Who lives here?

The median age in Carrboro was 28.1 as of the 2000 census. The racial breakdown is 72.7 percent white, 13.5 percent black, and 5.1 percent Asian. Hispanics or Latinos of any race make up 12.3 percent of the population. Bachelors degrees or higher are held by 60.9 percent of the population over 25.

What about public safety?

Police services are provided by the Carrboro Police Department. Here are the crime statistics for 2006 (source: SBI):

Murder: 0

Rape: 5

Robbery: 28

Aggravated Assault: 41

Burglary: 209

Larcenies: 692

Motor Vehicle Theft: 30