Early years

The community was established around 1795 and named after John and Isaac Hill, pioneer settlers, and originally spelled Hillsborough.^[3][4] It was the county seat of Baldwin County briefly in 1806 before the county was divided into Jasper and other counties. It is the birthplace of Benjamin Harvey Hill, a United States and later Confederate States Senator.^[4]

Civil War

During the American Civil War, Hillsboro was in the path of Sherman's March to the Sea and suffered damage and plundering from Federal troops.^[2] The community was sacked a second time, when cavalry under Major General George Stoneman passed through on their way to Macon, where Stoneman was subsequently captured by the Confederate Army troops.^[2]

20th Century and beyond

By the early years of the 20th century, Hillsboro was described as "a thriving and prosperous community" with a number of stores, churches, and shops. There was also a bank and a two-story school house.^[2] By the later years of the century, in the wake of declining enrollment and school district consolidation, the old school house was converted to a community center.^[2]

Hillsboro has a post office with ZIP code 31038.^[5][6]