Crossing state or county lines to get married is nothing new. Some little towns just "over the border" have become known as wedding destinations. But somehow, in the early part of the 20th century, Hillsborough NC (then called Hillsboro) was picking up a reputation as the place to get hitched.
In an articles headlined Hillsboro Begins To Gain Fame As Marriage Market, we learned that Hillsboro had come to rival South Carolina towns as a "marriage mart, especially for the younger set who wish to keep their wedded bliss a secret. A number of couples from adjoining counties, even including Wake and Guilford, have been coming here to have themselves bound together in matrimony. ... A number of these couples have been married at night, occasionally after officials had retired for the night." -- The Raleigh Times 7/4/1928
The article went on to note that the previous month had been a slow one with only eleven licenses issued. December had been the best month of the past twelve.
