Hillsboro was originally called Monticello, and under the latter name was platted in 1839, and named after Monticello, home of President Thomas Jefferson. The name Monticello was afterwards changed because the U.S. postal authorities refused to accept that name, there being another post office in the state with a similar name. The present name Hillsboro is the English equivalent of the Italian name Monticello. A post office has been in operation at Hillsboro since 1838. The Thomas C. Fletcher House and Sandy Creek Covered Bridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
Hillsboro is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land.
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,821 people, 900 households, and 623 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 957 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 94.5% White, 2.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population. There were 900 households of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couplesliving together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.23. The median age in the city was 29.2 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.2% were from 25 to 44; 19% were from 45 to 64; and 8.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.0% male and 48.0% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,675 people, 581 households, and 395 families living in the city. The population density was 701.4 inhabitants per square mile. There were 620 housing units at an average density of 259.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 95.46% White, 2.03% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population. There were 581 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09. In the city, the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $36,850, and the median income for a family was $44,000. Males had a median income of $30,880 versus $24,408 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,585. About 9.7% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
