Durham Neighborhoods, Locations and Districts

(Durham, North Carolina - NC, USA)



Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, Durham forms the famous Research Triangle of North Carolina, one of the leading research centers in the US. Centered around Durham's Duke University, the 'City of Medicine' features a wealth of quality art galleries, museums and performing arts venues, located throughout its districts and neighborhoods.

The variety of Durham's edutainment attractions, its cultural diversity and its pleasant expanses of greenery make Durham a rewarding destination to visit. Here are Durham's main districts, historic neighborhoods and locations.


Downtown District

Franklin Street is the focal point of Durham's downtown district and the center of the city's fascination with music. The street is lined with bars featuring live music of every genre and there are plenty of spots where you can dance the night away. Mixed in with the bars in downtown Durham are dozens of excellent restaurants, serving up both local and international cuisine. Durham holds several festivals throughout the year, with the majority being hosted downtown.

Duke University District

Duke University dominates all aspects of life in Durham. From the huge student body and world-class research centers to entertainment venues, almost everything that's going on in the Durham area has some link to the university. Durham's Duke University is spread out over two main campuses, East Campus and West Campus. The East Campus is home to Durham's acclaimed Duke University Museum of Art, while West Campus boasts the magnificent Duke Chapel. The architectural theme differs between the campuses, with East Campus having a Georgian theme and West Campus having adopted a Gothic appearance. East Campus is located off Broad Street, while West Campus is situated on Chapel Drive.

Brightleaf Square

With a name that invokes memories of Durham's tobacco town heritage, Brightleaf Square is now a completely revamped area of the city. The old tobacco warehouses in this part of Durham have been converted into a modern shopping and dining district, and the square is now one of the trendiest parts of Durham's downtown area. The areas surrounding Brightleaf Square form a cultural part of the city that contains the Carolina Theater.

West Point District

A district of the city on the banks of the Eno River, West Point is the most traditional part of Durham. Encompassed by a large section of parkland, Durham's West Point district features a number of historic buildings. These include an 18th-century mill, 19th-century blacksmith's and a 19th-century home, all of which are open to the public. The parkland itself is a great place to relax and unwind, and hosts Durham's fabulous Folklife Festival each July.