|
|
|
|
Fayetteville, North Carolina
|
| |
|
| |
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 121,015. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city.
As of 2007, the city of Fayetteville has a population of approximately 172,000 including annexation since the 2000 census.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Fayetteville, North Carolina' Start a new discussion about 'Fayetteville, North Carolina' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 121,015. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city.
As of 2007, the city of Fayetteville has a population of approximately 172,000 including annexation since the 2000 census. It currently ranks as the sixth-largest municipality in North Carolina. Fayetteville is located near the Sandhills in the western part of the Coastal Plain region, on the Cape Fear River. With a population of 341,363, the Fayetteville metropolitan area is the largest in southeastern North Carolina, and the fifth-largest in the state. Suburban areas of metro Fayetteville include Hope Mills, Spring Lake, and Raeford.
History
Early Settlement
The area of present-day Fayetteville was inhabited by various Siouan Native American peoples such as the Eno, Shakori, Waccamaw, Keyauwee, and Cape Fear Indians for more than 12,000 years.
After the violent upheavals of the Yamasee War and Tuscarora Wars during the second decade of the eighteenth century, the administration of North Carolina colony encouraged colonial settlement along the upper Cape Fear River, the only navigable waterway entirely within North Carolina. Two inland settlements, Cross Creek, and the riverfront settlement of Campbellton were established by Scots from Campbellton, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Merchants in Wilmington wanted a town on the Cape Fear River to secure trade with the frontier country. They were afraid people would use the Pee Dee River, taking their goods to Charleston, S.C. Merchants, though, bought land from Newberry in Cross Creek. Campbellton became a place where free blacks and poor whites lived and was known for its lawlessness.
After the American Revolutionary War, the two towns were united and renamed to honor General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the American Army during the American Revolutionary War. Many cities are named after Lafayette but, Fayetteville, N.C. was the first and, it is told, the only one he actually visited. The Frenchman arrived in Fayetteville by horse-drawn carriage in 1825.
American Revolution
The Fayetteville area was the home of many residents, particularly the Highland Scots, who were loyal to the British government. But it also included a number of active Patriots.
In late June 1775, the "Liberty Point Resolves" preceded the Declaration of Independence by a little more than a year. The Liberty Point document pledged the group to "go forth and be ready to sacrifice our lives and fortunes to secure (the county's) freedom and safety." The document concluded: "This obligation to continue in full force until a reconciliation shall take place between Great Britain and America, upon constitutional principles, an event we most ardently desire; and we will hold all those persons inimical to the liberty of the colonies, who shall refuse to subscribe to this Association; and we will in all things follow the advice of our General Committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety of individual and private property." Robert Rowan, who apparently organized the group, signed first.
Robert Rowan (circa 1738-1798) was one of the area's leading public figures of the 1700s. A merchant and entrepreneur by trade, Rowan arrived in Cross Creek in the 1760s. He served as an officer in the French and Indian War, as sheriff, justice and legislator, and as a leader of the Patriot cause in the Revolutionary War. Rowan circulated the statement known as the "Liberty Point Resolves" in 1775. Rowan Street and Rowan Park in Fayetteville and a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution are named for him, though Rowan County (founded in 1753) was named for another Rowan (Matthew Rowan), who was not related to Robert.
Flora MacDonald (1722-1790), the Scottish Highland heroine, who gained fame for aiding "Bonnie Prince Charlie" after his Highlander army's defeat at Culloden in 1746, lived in North Carolina for about five years. Legend has it that she exhorted the Loyalist force at Cross Creek that included her husband, Allan, as it headed off to its eventual defeat at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in 1776.
Seventy-First Township in western Cumberland County (now a part of Fayetteville) is named for a British unit during the American Revolution - the 71st Regiment of Foot or 'Fraser's Highlanders,' as they were first called.
Post-Revolutionary Fayetteville
Fayetteville experienced what is sometimes called its "golden decade" during the 1780s. It played host, in 1789, to the convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution and to the General Assembly session that chartered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, America's oldest public university. The legislators paused for the state funeral of former Governor Richard Caswell, who fell ill after arriving in Fayetteville and died November 10, 1789. Fayetteville lost out to the future city of Raleigh in the bid to become the permanent state capital. Fayetteville was the capital of the state from 1789-1793.
In 1793 the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry formed and is still active as a ceremonial unit. It is the second-oldest militia unit in the country.
Henry Evans (circa 1760-1810) a free black preacher is locally known as the "Father of Methodism," for blacks and whites, in Fayetteville. Evans was a shoemaker by trade and a licensed Methodist preacher. He met opposition from whites when he began preaching to slaves in Fayetteville, but his preaching later attracted whites to his services. He is credited with building the first church in town, called the African Meeting House, in 1796. Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church is named in his honor.
Antebellum Fayetteville
Fayetteville remained a village of only 3,500 residents in 1820, but Cumberland County's population still ranked as the second-most urban in the state behind New Hanover County (Wilmington).
The "Great Fire" of 1831 was believed to be one of the worst in the nation's history, even though, remarkably, no lives were lost. Hundreds of homes and businesses and most of its best-known public buildings were lost, including the old "State House." Fayetteville leaders moved quickly to help the victims and rebuild the town.
The Market House, completed in 1832, became the center of commerce and celebration. The structure was built on the ruins of the old State House. It was a town market until 1906. Slaves were sold there before abolition. It served as Fayetteville Town Hall until 1907. The City Council is considering turning the Market House into a local history museum.
The Civil War Era
In March 1865, Gen. William T. Sherman and his 60,000-man army moved into Fayetteville. The Confederate arsenal was totally destroyed. Sherman's troops also destroyed foundries and cotton factories and the offices of The Fayetteville Observer. Not far from Fayetteville, Confederate and Union troops engaged in the last cavalry battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads.
Downtown Fayetteville was the site of a skirmish, as Confederate Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton and his men surprised a cavalry patrol, killing 11 Union soldiers and capturing a dozen on March 11, 1865.
20th century to the Present
Cumberland County's population exploded in the post-World War II years, with its 43% increase in the 1960s the largest in any of North Carolina's 100 counties. Construction was fast-paced as shopping developments and suburban subdivisions began to spread outside the Fayetteville city limits toward Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base. The Fayetteville and Cumberland County school systems moved toward integration gradually beginning in the early '60s and busing brought about large-scale student integration in the 1970s.
Civil rights marches and sit-ins, with students from Fayetteville State Teachers College (now Fayetteville State University) at the forefront, led to the end of whites-only service at restaurants and segregated seating in theaters. Politics changed. Blacks and women gained office in significant numbers, from the late 1960s and on into the early '80s.
The Vietnam Era was a time of turmoil in the Fayetteville area. Fort Bragg did not send many large units to Vietnam. But from 1966 to 1970, more than 200,000 soldiers trained at the post before leaving for the war. The effect of such a large troop rotation was dramatic and would continue to be for years to come. Then there were the anti-war protests. They drew national attention because of the proximity to Fort Bragg, in a community that generally supported the war. Jane Fonda came to Fayetteville to participate in three anti-war events. Bars were not new to Fayetteville, by any means, but Hay Street, became notorious for bars, strip clubs and prostitutes during the Vietnam era up until the late 1980s. Fayetteville's reputation was dealt a huge blow and nicknames such as "Fayettenam" stuck.
Fayetteville has successfully reversed the image of its downtown area through a multitude of downtown revitalization projects. New additions, such as the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, The Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum, Fayetteville Linear Park, and Fayetteville Festival Park, which opened in late 2006, have all contributed to the changing face of the downtown area. However, the downtown Hay St. area is in close proximity to an impoverished and very high crime area extending from the edge of downtown eastward to the NC Highway 301 area.
The towns and rural areas surrounding Fayetteville have experienced rapid growth over the past decade. This growth has spilled over into suburbs such as Hope Mills, Raeford and Spring Lake.
The western part of Cumberland County was annexed into Fayetteville in recent years.
BestLife Magazine, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Education Statistics, the FBI, the American Association of Museums, the National Center for Health Statistics and the American Bar Association, ranked Fayetteville as the 3rd worst city in America to raise a family.
Crime
Fayetteville's per capita violent crime rate is 64% higher than the national average and the property crime rate is 75% higher than the national average. Fayetteville is known as one of the few cities in the South-East region of the United States to have Blood and Crip gang Violence.
However, according to the Fayetteville Police Department, statistics kept by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation show that Fayetteville's 2007 index crime rate for violent and property crimes is the lowest it has been since the year 2000.
Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base
Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base are located next to the city of Fayetteville.
Several U.S. Army airborne units are stationed at Fort Bragg, most prominently the XVIII Airborne Corps HQ, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the United States Army Special Operations Command.
Fort Bragg was the home of the Field Artillery at the onset of World War II. All the Army's artillery units east of the Mississippi River were based at the post, about 5,000 men in all. Soldiers tested the Army's new bantam car, which was soon to be known as the Jeep, although most of the power to move artillery still came from horses and burros. On Sept. 12, 1940, the Army contracted to expand the post, bringing the 9th Infantry Division to Fort Bragg.
Missions at Pope AFB range from providing airlift and close air support to American armed forces, to humanitarian missions flown all over the world. Pope AFB particularly provides air transportation for the 82nd Airborne, among other airborne units on Fort Bragg.
Most of Pope AFB's fighter jet squadrons have been relocated to Moody AFB GA. Pope is being turned over to Army control in 2011 and will be called Pope Army Air Field. However, the main entity at Pope at that time will be the Air Force Reserves. The 440th Airlift Wing will handle the majority of Pope Army Airfield's mission.
In September 2008, Fayetteville annexed 85% of Ft. Bragg, bringing the official population of the city to 206,000. The increased population will help to facilitate the perception that the crime rate in Fayetteville is officially lower. Ft. Bragg still has it's own police, fire, and EMS services. Fayetteville hopes to attract large retail businesses to the area using the new population figures.
Geography
Fayetteville is located at 35°04'00" North, 78°55'03" West (35.066663, -78.917579).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 60.0 square miles (155.3 kmē). 58.8 square miles (152.2 kmē) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 kmē) of it is water. The total area is 1.98% water.
Education
Public Schools
Cumberland County Schools, serving Fayetteville and surrounding Cumberland County, is the 78th largest public school system in the nation.
Private Schools
Colleges and universities
Demographics
| Historical populations |
|---|
| 1930 | 13,309 | | 1940 | 17,428 | | 1960 | 47,106 | | 1970 | 53,510 | | 1980 | 59,507 | | 1990 | 75,695 | | 2000 | 121,015 | | 2005 | 137,777 | | 2007 | 203,000 |
As of the census of 2000, there were 121,015 people, 48,414 households, and 31,662 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,059.2 people per square mile (795.0/kmē). There were 53,565 housing units at an average density of 351.9 persons/kmē (911.5 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 48.8% White, 42.4% African American, 1.1% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. 5.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 48,414 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,287, and the median income for a family was $41,210. Males had a median income of $30,493 versus $23,477 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,141. 14.8% of the population and 11.7% of families were below the poverty line. 21.4% of those under the age of 18 and 14.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
A 15-month fight came to an end at least for now on Sept. 30, 2005 when Fayetteville annexed and 46,000 residents. Affected residents and developers had blocked the annexation for more than a year with three lawsuits. They lost in the state Court of Appeals in June. The court ruled the challenges were filed after the deadline. The law requires all challenges to be filed within 60 days of when a municipality adopts an annexation ordinance. When the state Supreme Court refused to consider an appeal, the city went ahead with its plans. A request for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case is pending, and a decision may come in January.
Transportation
Air Transportation
The Fayetteville Regional Airport is served by Delta Air Lines connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Delta Air Lines regional feeder service, and US Airways connection carrier US Airways Express, with daily flights to Charlotte (Charlotte/Douglas International Airport) and Atlanta, Georgia (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport) and seasonal service to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia International Airport).
Highways
- N.C. 24
- N.C. 53
- N.C. 59
- N.C. 87
- N.C. 162
- N.C. 210
Public Transportation
The Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) serves the Fayetteville and Spring Lake regions, with ten bus routes and two shuttle routes.
Passenger Rail
There is an Amtrak station downtown, with routes leading to points along the East Coast.
Famous People from Fayetteville
* Chris Armstrong - ex-Arena Football League player
The Virginian, Cimarron Strip, and It's a Man's World, was born and resides in Fayetteville.
- Aaron Curry- Wake Forest linebacker and top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft.
- Christopher Daniels - Professional wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
- Brad Edwards - Former Washington Redskins Player, and Super Bowl winner
- Henry Evans - Free black Methodist preacher who established Methodism in the Cape Fear River valley of North Carolina.
- Raymond Floyd - Professional PGA Golfer
- Blenda Gay - Former NFL player, murdered in 1976
- Frank P. Graham - President of the University of North Carolina and United States Senator
- Moonlight Graham - New York Giants outfielder for two innings on May 25, 1905; represented in the novel Shoeless Joe and the movie Field of Dreams
- Joe Horn - National Football League wide receiver
- Edward M. Joyner Jr. - Canadian Football League Right Defensive End for the Ottawa Rough Riders. Grey Cup winners 1968 and 1969
- Michael Joiner - basketball player for Florida State Seminoles and New Zealand National Basketball League
- Jimmy Raye - former NFL wide receiver
- Hiram Rhodes Revels - first African American member of Congress
- Charles Manly Stedman - U.S. Representative and Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
- Robert Strange - United States Senator
- Jerry Richardson - Owner of the Carolina Panthers, played for the Baltimore Colts, Fayetteville High School, now Fayetteville Terry Sanford High
- Calvin Lowry - NFL Safety for Denver Broncos, Penn State, Douglas Byrd Sr. High
- Doug Wilkerson - Former NFL Guard for the San Diego Chargers
- Joey Arias - Singer and performance artist
- Jonathan Byrd - Folk singer-songwriter
- Ryan Dunson - Singer of the Warner Bros/111 records rock band Rookie of the Year
- Jimmy Herring - Guitarist, Widespread Panic, Allman Brothers Band, the Dead, Aquarium Rescue Unit
- Dave Moody - Grammy nominated artist, producer, songwriter, filmmaker
- Julianne Moore - Actress
- Anthony Stokes - Singer & Actor
- Ronnie C. Rouse - Music producer, songwriter, and recording artist
- Candice Woodcock - reality television star from Survivor: Cook Islands
- Jeff Capel III - University of Oklahoma men's basketball head coach and former basketball star at Duke University and South View High school.
- Rookie of the Year - recording artist
Radio Stations
- 98.1 FM WQSM Q98 Top 40 Music
- 88.3 FM WUAW Various genres
- 88.7 FM WRAE Religious Music
- 89.3 FM WZRI Christian Contemporary Music
- 91.9 FM WFSS Public Radio
- 95.7 FM WKML Country
- 96.5 FM WFLB Classic Hits
- 99.1 FM WZFX Hip Hop
- 103.5 FM WRCQ Rock
- 104.5 FM WCCG Adults R&B Music
- 105.7 FM WGQR Gospel Music
- 106.9 FM WFVL Oldies
- 107.3 FM WCLN Contemporary Christian
- 107.7 FM WUKS R&B
- 640 AM WFNC News/talk
- 1230 AM WFAY Sports
- 1450 AM WFBX Spanish
- 1490 AM WAZZ Standards
- 1600 AM WIDU black gospel/talk
Points of interest
- Cameo Art House Theatre
- Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County
- Cape Fear Botanical Garden
- Fort Bragg
- Cape Fear River Trail
- Fayetteville Museum of Art
- Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum
- Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church
- Hay Street United Methodist Church
- Museum Of The Cape Fear
- Airborne and Special Operations Museum
- Cool Spring Tavern
- Myrtle Hill Plantation
- Liberty Point
- Cross Creek Linear Park
- Fascinate-U Children's Museum
- Jordan Soccer Complex
- Cross Creek Mall
- Cape Fear Regional Theater
- Heritage Square
Clubs and organizations
Sports
Religion
Old Bluff Presbyterian Church was founded in Wade in 1758 and is one of the oldest churches in the Upper Cape Fear Valley. Since then, hundreds of houses of worship have been established in and around Cumberland County. Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist and Presbyterian churches have the largest congregations.
maintains a detailed history of Old Bluff Presbyterian Church at their website.
The fourth Sunday of September each year is the annual Old Bluff Reunion; it is open to the public.
Also, Fayetteville is home to St. Patrick Church. It is the oldest Catholic parish in North Carolina.
Sister City
Saint-Avold, France
External links
Sources
|
| |
|
|
