Holly Springs was established in the early 1800s around freshwater springs that bubbled up beneath groves of holly trees, a detail that gave the town both its name and its first reputation as a natural gathering place. The community was officially incorporated in 1877, serving as a rural trade center for surrounding farms. A major turning point came in the late 20th century when the Research Triangle’s growth reached southern Wake County, transforming Holly Springs from a quiet crossroads into one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing towns while still preserving its small-town roots.