Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville, North Carolina
Name	Fayetteville
Settlement type	City
Nickname	"All-American City"
Pushpin label	Fayetteville
Coordinates	35, 04, N, 78...
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	U.S. state
Subdivision name1	North Carolina
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Cumberland
Established title	Settled
Established date	1739
Established title1	Incorporated
Established date1	1762 (as Campbellton), 1783 (as Fayetteville)
Government type	Council–Manager
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Mitch Colvin
Leader title1	City manager
Leader name1	Douglas J. Hewett
Unit pref	Imperial
Area total km2	387.4
Area total sq mi	149.6
Area land km2	384.1
Area land sq mi	148.3
Area water km2	3.3
Area water sq mi	1.3
Elevation m	30
Elevation ft	98
Population total	208,501
Population as of	2020
Population density km2	542.8
Population density sq mi	1406.0
Population metro	529,252 (Fayetteville MSA)
Timezone	EST
Utc offset	−5
Timezone DST	EDT
Utc offset DST	−4
Postal code type	ZIP Code
Postal code	28301–28306, 28311–28314
Area code	910
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	37-22920
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	1020179
Website	www.fayettevillenc.gov

Contents

History
Geography
Demographics
Economy

Fayetteville, North Carolina is a prominent city located in the Sandhills region of the Piedmont. It serves as the county seat of Cumberland County and is a major economic and cultural hub for southeastern North Carolina. The city is best known as the home of Fort Liberty, one of the world's largest military installations, which profoundly shapes its identity and economy. Fayetteville has received the All-America City Award on multiple occasions, reflecting its community engagement and resilience.

History

The area was originally settled by various Siouan-speaking peoples, including the Cape Fear Indians. European settlement began in 1739 with the establishment of a Highland Scots community along the Cape Fear River, leading to the founding of the town of Campbellton in 1762. Following the American Revolutionary War, the town merged with the adjacent settlement of Cross Creek and was renamed in 1783 in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero of the American Revolution. It holds the distinction of being the first city in the United States named for Lafayette. Fayetteville briefly served as the state capital and was the site of the state legislature's ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789. The city was devastated by the Great Fire of 1831 but was quickly rebuilt. During the American Civil War, it was a vital Confederate manufacturing and transportation center, with General Sherman's troops occupying it in March 1865. The 20th century was defined by the establishment of Fort Bragg in 1918, which transformed the city into a global military nexus.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city encompasses a total area of approximately 150 square miles, with the vast majority being land. It lies within the Atlantic Coastal Plain, characterized by its sandy soils, and is situated on the western bank of the Cape Fear River. The city's topography is generally flat to gently rolling, typical of the Sandhills region. Several significant creeks, like Cross Creek and Massey's Creek, flow through the area into the Cape Fear River. The climate is classified as humid subtropical, with hot, humid summers and mild winters, and the city is occasionally affected by remnants of Atlantic hurricanes.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 208,501, making it the sixth-most populous city in North Carolina. The metropolitan statistical area includes all of Cumberland County and neighboring Hoke County. The population is diverse, with a significant presence of both African American and White residents, as well as growing Hispanic, Asian, and multi-racial communities. This diversity is heavily influenced by the presence of Fort Liberty and Pope Army Airfield, which attract service members and their families from across the United States and around the world. The city is also home to a notable population of Lumbee Tribe members, one of the largest state-recognized tribes in the eastern United States.

Economy