Old North Durham is an historic neighborhood that was built in response to the expanding reach of the electric trolley. Located just north of downtown Durham, the neighborhood was developed from the late 1800s to 1950s. Old North Durham Park, a city park, features an athletic field and playground. The neighborhood is also conveniently located near the Duke Park neighborhood, which features a huge city park.

Mangum Street was known as "Mansion Row" because of the number of well-to-do people who chose to build large homes there. After World War I, developments downsized to bungalows and cottages. Today, Old North Durham features a mix of single family homes and apartments. Home styles include bungalow, Tudor Revival, and Victorian.

One interesting section of Old North Durham, Pearl Mill Village, was developed mostly in the early 1900s as housing for employees of the Pearl Cotton Mills. Pearl Mill Village continued to be owned by the cotton mill until the 1950s, when the homes were sold to private individuals. Many of the homes are still standing today on Washington Street and Orient Street.

Located directly north of downtown Durham, Old North Durham is in easy walking distance to the Central Park and DIY Districts. Durham Central Park hosts a year-round farmers' market, food truck rodeos, and outdoor concerts during the summer. The park also features a playground and skate park. 

Some of the drinking and dining options in the district include Cocoa Cinnamon, for some of the city's best coffee, and Fullsteam, a family/pet friendly brewery/bar that focuses on local ingredients, Geer Street Garden, a casual restaurant, Rise, for biscuits and donuts, and Piedmont, a farm to table restaurant. 

The district also boasts tons of activities beyond just eating and drinking. Motorco and the Blue Note Grill both host live music. The Mothership is a retail shop with locally made goods, as well as workspace and event space. Vega Metals is a metalworking studio that features metal artwork, jewelry, and fine art. Vega Metals also hosts a weekly Art and Food Truck Market with a diverse, always changing, group of artists and makers. Bull City FINDS is a vintage furniture store and will customize any piece of furniture with its full-service lacquer studio. Claymakers is a ceramics center that features a gallery, store, studio space, workshops, and classes open to anyone from beginners to advanced potters. Blue Point Yoga Center is a popular yoga studio offering a wide range of yoga classes.