CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Most drivers don't know that U.S. Highway 15-501 in Orange County is partially named the Jefferson Davis National Highway. County commissioners now want to change that.

  • In 1959, county commissioners unanimously voted for a resolution, supporting to name Highway 15 as the Jeff Davis Highway
  • Davis was the late Confederate president, a slave owner, and white supremacist
  • Current commissioners now want to pass a new resolution, repealing the namesake

In 1959, county commissioners unanimously voted for a resolution, supporting to name Highway 15 as the Jeff Davis Highway after the United Daughters of Confederacy proposed it. Davis was the late Confederate president, a slave owner, and white supremacist. A highway marker was also placed on nearby Franklin Street in front of UNC.

“There was a movement to sort of revive these symbols of the Confederate and white supremacy,” said Commissioner Mark Dorosin.

Current commissioners now want to pass a new resolution, repealing the namesake. They plan to vote and pass the measure Tuesday night during a meeting.

There's also an effort to remove the highway marker but there's a challenge. Neither the county nor NCDOT officials have permission to remove it, believing that it's privately owned.