The Place

Chatham County is a place rich in resources, opportunities, and history. Chatham residents value the county’s open space, its rich natural resources, and the high quality of amenities offered by local real estate, schools, public safety and health care providers, and recreational opportunities. The EDC works diligently to help Chatham residents and business owners maintain a balance between preserving the relaxed rural atmosphere of Chatham past and the growing, forward-thinking future of Chatham tomorrow.

A Brief History

Formed in 1771, Chatham County broke off from Orange County to provide residents in the southern part of the county with greater access to the county seat. Communities developed as settlers followed the trading paths of the Catawba Indians from the north and the Cape Fear River Valley from the South into Chatham County.

Chatham County’s early commerce developed from a mixture of natural resource based industries and agricultural endeavors. Coal and clay deposits in the Deep River and Moncure areas led to mining and brick making, while the county’s rivers powered sawmills, gristmills, and a textile mill in the Bynum community. A large lumbering industry grew up around Goldston’s pine forests and supported rail development in Southwest Chatham County. Most of Chatham County’s industry eventually shifted to Siler City and Moncure where businesses could easily access natural resources and rail transportation. Pittsboro became the county seat and a hub of trade for the northeastern section of the county, while Siler City grew into the commercial center for the county’s farming community. Cash crops like cotton fueled the agricultural economy in Chatham County until World War I, when farmers shifted to poultry and cattle production.

Today, Chatham County is gaining a regional reputation for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. In addition to its substantial industrial base, Chatham County is also the home of community-oriented businesses like the Chatham Marketplace, green/clean technology pioneers like Piedmont Biofuels and Brooks Contractor, and creative endeavors like the Chatham Arts Incubator.

With this outstanding reputation, Chatham County continually attracts a diverse mix of artists, entrepreneurs, traditional industrialists, and scientists, helping make the region an unparalleled center of collaboration and innovation.

Chatham’s place-based assets include: