Three special commissioners were appointed to select a site and choose a name for the county seat, they were Joseph Wright of the Hurricane settlement, Melcher Fogleman and Rev. James Street of the Clear Springs neighborhood.
The special commissioners met on March 21, 1821 at the cabin of Joseph McAdams, located in what is now Taylor Springs, to determine where the county seat would be located. The site was 3 miles southwest of the present day Hillsboro on land owned by David Killpatrick and Joel Smith. The new county seat was name Hamilton. Hamilton was established and died a political death two years later
Elijah C. Berry, Silas Lee Wait and Aaron Armstrong were named as the new special commissioners to relocate the county seat. The new County Commissioners were: Newton Coffey, Major James Wilson and Harris Reavis. The special committee met at Luke Lee Steel's home and voted to move the new county seat to a 20 acre tract that Newton Coffey donated. The 20 acres were deeded to the county on June 30, 1823.
No record of why the county seat was named Hillsboro or Hillsborough. Some think it was because of the hilly terrain and others believe it was named for Hillsboro, North Carolina, the state of Hiram Rountree, John Nussman and others were from.
George File surveyed and platted the 20 acres, which lies north of Wood Street between Broad and Hamilton, extending almost to Brailley street.
Main Street was originally named Coffey street after Newton Coffey. Berry Street was named after Elijah C. Berry which ran south from the southeast corner of Courthouse square to Wood Street. Wait Street, ran north from the northeast corner of the square to Brailley Street and was named for Silas Lee Wait. Armstrong Street was named for Aaron Armstrong and ran north from the northeast corner of the square – political clout later closed Armstrong Street.
The alleyway extending south from the southwest corner of the square to West Wood Street [then named Maple Street] was named Hamilton Street after the first county seat. Later the name was transferred to the now Hamilton Street. The first Hamilton Street became an unnamed alley. Seward Street was named for John Seward and Israel Seward. Israel became the first school commissioner. Israel also owned the first pair of mules in the county. The street that led to the spring near Mr. Nussman's cabin was named Water Street.
The first sale of the 80 lots was held on August 12, 1823. Among the first to purchase lots were Henry Cress, who paid the top price of $66 for Lot 42; Hiram Rountree who bid $60 for Lot 57; William Rice paid $60 for Lot 43; James Isaacs paid $55 for Lot 51 and Jacob Cress paid $53 for Lot 50.
Other purchasers were Cleveland Coffey, John Seward, Aaron Casey, James Meredith, Daniel Meredith, David Killpatrick, James Wright and Luke Lee Steel. These lots were between $30 and $50.50 each. Most lots were 60 feet wide and 105 or 120 feet deep.
Hillsboro was incorporated as a village in 1855.
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