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Entertainment • TV series

One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill is an American teen drama television series created by Mark Schwahn.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

One Tree Hill is an American teen drama television series created by Mark Schwahn. It originally aired on The WB and later The CW from 2003 to 2012, and follows the lives of half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina. The series aired in Canada during its original run and remains part of the broader North American teen-drama television canon familiar to Canadian viewers.

Premise

One Tree Hill centres on the family, romantic, and athletic lives of teenagers and young adults in Tree Hill, especially half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott. The series blends sports drama with coming-of-age and relationship storylines.

Production and broadcast

Created by Mark Schwahn, the series premiered on The WB in 2003 and continued on The CW after the networks merged. It ended in 2012 after nine seasons.

Cast and characters

The main cast included Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott, James Lafferty as Nathan Scott, Hilarie Burton as Peyton Sawyer, Bethany Joy Lenz as Haley James Scott, and Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis.

Filming

Although set in a fictional North Carolina town, the series was filmed mainly in Wilmington, North Carolina. This location became closely associated with the show’s production.

Key facts

  • The series was created by Mark Schwahn.
  • One Tree Hill ran for 9 seasons and 187 episodes.
  • The show premiered on The WB in 2003 and moved to The CW after The WB and UPN merged.
  • It is set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina.
  • Principal filming took place in Wilmington, North Carolina.
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Canadian context

The series aired in Canada on television during its original run and remains part of the broader North American teen-drama television canon familiar to Canadian viewers.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the creator of One Tree Hill?
One Tree Hill was created by Mark Schwahn.
How many seasons does One Tree Hill have?
One Tree Hill has 9 seasons.
What happened to the character of Lucas Scott?
Lucas Scott, played by Chad Michael Murray, is written out after season 6; the character leaves Tree Hill with Peyton and their daughter, Sawyer Brooke Scott.
Is One Tree Hill based on a true story?
No. One Tree Hill is a fictional teen drama set in the made-up town of Tree Hill, North Carolina.
Where was One Tree Hill filmed?
One Tree Hill was filmed mainly in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States.
Who played Peyton Sawyer in One Tree Hill?
Hilarie Burton played Peyton Sawyer.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Tree_Hill_(TV_series)
    Supports: Created by Mark Schwahn; 9 seasons; original run; premise and network history.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368530/
    Supports: Creator, cast, episode count, and filming location.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_One_Tree_Hill_characters
    Supports: Lucas Scott's departure; Peyton Sawyer and Lucas ending; character and casting details.