The waterway acquired its moniker in the late 1700s in honor of Wills Hills, the esteemed British Colonial Secretary and Lord Earl of Hillsborough.

Throughout the 1930s era of the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) designated the region neighboring the river’s rushing waters as a Hillsborough River State Park, providing a public sanctuary.

A significant portion of the park’s edifices and the iconic suspension bridge exhibit the distinct CCC flair of rustic design, seamlessly blending with the beauty of the surroundings.