Tar Heel, North Carolina

About Tar Heel

Set in the southern part of North Carolina, Tar Heel is a tiny community with an estimated population of 90.

Tar Heel holds the status of an incorporated town — local government on a neighborly scale. The community covers 0.23 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 391 residents per square mile.

📰 Tar Heel News Today

• Column: Straight outta Scampus The Daily Tar Heel · Aug 15
• ACC Network Tar Heel Takeover Set For Wednesday July 1 University of North Carolina Athletics · Jun 30
• Tar Heel hoists the Stanley Cup — twice The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Jul 29
• North Carolina authorizes AI-powered license plate reader cameras on all state roads and highways The Daily Tar Heel · Aug 14
• Men's Golf Primed for Tar Heel Intercollegiate at North Carolina UCF Athletics · Apr 10

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Tar Heel Unique

• The only place in America named Tar Heel — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• One of the smallest municipal footprints in the country at just 0.23 sq mi.
• With 90 residents, it's one of America's smallest incorporated communities — everybody really does know everybody.
• Positioned in southern North Carolina, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.

Why People Love It Here

• Small-town pace of life: less traffic, more community, and neighbors who wave.
• Cost of living typically runs below the big-metro average.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 12 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Tar Heel

• Dani's Kitchen
• Now Tha's A Burger & Seafood
• The Log Cabin — steak

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Tar Heel

• Municipal Park Complex reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Tar Heel

• Plain View Primary
• Tar Heel School

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Tar Heel

🏘️ Nearby Communities