Historians consider Morehead Hill to be North Carolina's first suburb. The neighborhood took shape in the early 1900s when Durham's new electric trolley system connected it with downtown.

Most of the area had been the farm of William Gaston Vickers. In the late 1870s and 1880s, he sold hillside parcels overlooking tobacco factories south of downtown to several well-to-do businessmen who built imposing residences along South Duke Street and Morehead Avenue. Eugene Morehead's house, built on the highest of these lots, gave the area its name. Morehead Hill was the most prestigious neighborhood in the city.

Today, housing in Morehead Hill contains single-family homes and multi-family rental properties. Some of the large historic homes have been converted to businesses, apartments and clinics. 

Partner school Morehead Montessori Elementary is in Morehead Hill. Morehead Hill is represented in the Southwest Central Durham Quality of Life Committee, facilitated by Mayme Webb-Bledsoe in Duke’s Office of Community Affairs. The grassroots committee’s goals include increasing affordable housing options, celebrating the history of its six neighborhoods, strengthening neighborhood nonprofits and encouraging cooperation among businesses.

Click here for a printable detailed map of our partner neighborhoods.