About the Town of Louisburg
The Town of Louisburg is a charming, small Town in the heart of the North Carolina piedmont. Louisburg is the county seat of Franklin County and is located in the geographic center of the County. With only a 25 minute drive to Raleigh, 40 minute drive to Durham, and 50 minute drive to Chapel Hill, Louisburg has access to some of the best Healthcare, Academic, Cultural, and Entertainment resources in North Carolina and the east coast of the United States!
Louisburg, nestled on the banks of the Tar River, was chartered in 1779 as the County seat of the newly formed Franklin County. Having been created in the midst of the American Revolution, the county was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin who was serving as foreign minister to France at the time. His negotiations with France helped secure financial and military support to the infant country, support that eventually led to the independence of the United States. As a result of this U.S.- France alliance, the Town of Louisburg was named in honor of King Louis XVI of France.
Louisburg soon became to hub for business activity for Franklin County, especially as the main point of agri-business of the time as cash crops such as cotton, wheat, and eventually tobacco were marketed in Town. Soon the town enjoyed an influx of merchants, doctors, attorneys, and craftsmen which also led to the movement of wealthy families to the area. Such demographic shifts resulted in strong, established social and religious organizations that are still alive and vibrant today!
From the beautiful Main St. corridor, full of historic churches and oak lined sidewalks, to the nations oldest private two-year college, Louisburg College, Louisburg is the quintessential small town America, from the multitude of municipal services enjoyed by citizens to the beauty of two river front parks, Louisburg offers many amenities to those wishing to enjoy the relaxed character of the small town while having short access to major city resources.
Useful Information
- Less than 40 miles from RTP
- 45 mins from RDU Airport
- 10 mins from Franklin County Regional Airport
- 4 hrs from Washington DC
- 2 hrs from Beaches
- 3 hrs from NC Mountains
- Established 1779
- Named for King Louis XVI of France
- Population (2010) 3,359
- County Seat of Franklin County
- Elevation 220 feet
- Higher Education: Louisburg College & Vance-Granville Community College
16 Buildings Listed on National
Register of Historic Places Including:
- Cascine
- Cooke House
- Dean Farm
- Franklin County Training School
- Riverside Union School
- Fuller House
- Green Hill House
- Louisburg Historic District
- Main Building
- Louisburg College
- Massenburg Plantation
- Person Place
- Portridge
- Rose Hill
- Patty Person Taylor House
- Thomas and Lois Wheless House
- Williamson House
Downtown Louisburg
Breweries & Distillery
Business and Professional Services
Lodging & Tourism