Mars Hill is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States.

The California Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Mars Hill College Historic District, Mars Hill High School, and Thomas J. Murray House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), all land.

Founded in 1856 by local Baptists, it is the oldest college or university in western North Carolina.

Although it is no longer directly associated with a Baptist church or organization, the university does state that "it is an academic community rooted in the Christian faith."

The university's enrollment typically runs from 1300 to 1600 students; they are not included in the census calculations of the town's population.