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Fayetteville, North Carolina

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Fayetteville, North Carolina
File:Seal.R1.jpg
City seal
City nickname: "All-American City"

Location in the U.S. state of North Carolina
County Cumberland
Area
 - Total
93.55 mi²
Population
 - Total (2005)
 - Density
 - Metropolitan
174,000
911.5/mi²
806,894 (2005 est.)
Time zone Eastern: UTC–-5
Mayor Anthony G. Chavonne
Acting City Manager Kyle Sonnenberg
City website
Fayetteville Linear Park

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 Template:GR, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army base located northwest of the city.

As of 2006 the city of Fayetteville has a population over 174,000 and ranks as the sixth largest municipality in North Carolina. Fayetteville is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region and is the anchor city of the Cluster Metro. It is the largest metropolitan area in southeastern North Carolina.

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 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 in honor of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, a Revolutionary War hero. Many cities are named after Lafayette but, Fayetteville, NC 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 County is named for him, as are Rowan Street and Rowan Park in Fayetteville and a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

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, America's oldest public state/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

The old "State House" in Fayetteville was destroyed in the "Great Fire" of 1831 along with a multitude of historic buildings.

Fayetteville remained a village of only 3,500 residents in 1820, but the county's population still ranked as the second-most urban in the state behind New Hanover (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

The Confederate arsenal in Fayetteville was destroyed in March 1865 by Union Gen. William T. Sherman during the Civil War.

In March 1865 Gen. William T. Sherman as his 60,000-man army moved into Fayetteville. The Confederate arsenal in the town 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 after in the post-World War II years, with its 43 percent 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 AFB. 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 fight in 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 weren't new to Fayetteville, by any means, but Hay Street, the city's so-called main street, became notorious for bars, strip joints 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 from 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 will open in late 2006, have all contributed to the changing face of the downtown area.

The western part of Fayetteville has experienced rapid growth over the past decade and the area is one of busiest shopping destinations in North Carolina. The growth has spilled over into suburbs such as Hope Mills, Raeford, and Spring Lake.

Government

File:Chavonne.jpg
Anthony G. Chavonne (D) is the current Mayor of Fayetteville, NC (2005-present)

In 1949, Fayetteville adopted the council/manager form of government. Under this form of government, citizens are both stockholders and customers, the elected body represents the board of directors, and the manager is the paid professional responsible for the daily operations of the corporation.

Under the council/manager form of government, the Fayetteville City Council performs the legislative functions of the City: establishing the city's laws and policies as well as annual goals and objectives. Anthony G. Chavonne (2005-present) is the current mayor of Fayetteville. The current Acting City Manager is Kyle Sonnenberg (2006-present).

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 18th Airborne Corps HQ, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).

Fort Bragg was the home of the Field Artillery during 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. Soldiers tested the Army's new bantam car - soon to be known as the Jeep. But most of the power to move artillery came from horses and burros. On Sept. 12, 1940, the Army contracted to expand the post, bringing the 9th Infantry Division to Fort Bragg.

Pope Air Force Base 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 US Army 82nd Airborne Division, which is based at neighboring Fort Bragg,

Geography

Location of Fayetteville, North Carolina
Location of Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville is located at 35°04'00" North, 78°55'03" West (35.066663, -78.917579)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 155.3 km² (60.0 mi²). 152.2 km² (58.8 mi²) of it is land and 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.98% water.

Areas of Fayetteville

Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum

Arden Forest, Arlington Plantation, Arran Lakes West, Ascot, Ashton Forest, Bayfield, Baytree, Baywood, Beaver Creak, Beaver Run, Belmont, Birch Creek, Black's Bridge, Bordeaux, Borden Heights, Braxton Hills, Brettonwood Hills, Briarwood Hills, Bridlewood, Brightmoor, Broadell, Buckhead, Cambridge, Clifton Forge, College Downs, Cottonade, Country Club Hills, Cypress Lakes, Devonwood, Edenroc, Elk Run, Ellerslie, Englewood, Englewood Forest, Eutaw, Evergreen Estates, Foxfire, Furlong, Gallup Acres, Gates Four, Gilcrest Sands, Glenbrook, Greenwood Homes, Haymount, Heritage Heights, Hillendale, Hillendale West, Holly Springs, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Jack's Ford, Kensington Village, King's Grant, King's Mill, Kingsford, Kinwood, Lagrange, Loch Lomond, Locks Creek, Mallard Creek, Manchester Forest, Middle Creek, Middleton Plantation, Montclair, Montibello, Murray Fork, Myrtle Hill, North Hills, Oakdale, Pebble Creek, Pinewood Lakes, Ponderosa, Porter Place, Qualridge, Raintree, Rayconda, Remington, River Field, Robinwood Estates, Sandy Pines, Scotsdale, Seabrook, Shenandoah, Southgate, Summer Hill, Tallywood, The Cove, The Lakes, Three Lakes, Tiffany Pines, Timberlake, Tranquil Acres, Tunbridge, Vanstory Hills, Water's Edge, Wells Place, Welmar, Wendemere, West Point, Wheatland, Windy Pines

Colleges and universities

Demographics

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 795.0/km² (2,059.2/mi²). There were 53,565 housing units at an average density of 351.9 persons/km² (911.5 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.76% White, 42.42% African American, 1.10% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 2.53% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 5.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Because of the transient nature of military families, Fayetteville is one of the most diverse cities in the nation.

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 27 square miles 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.

Neighborhoods

  • Pine Valley
  • The Murch
  • Downtown
  • Haymount
  • Eureka Springs
  • Shaw Mills
  • Cambellton
  • Cumberland
  • Cliffdale
  • Cedar Creek
  • Santa Fe

Transportation

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  • NC-24
  • NC-53
  • NC-59
  • NC-87
  • NC-210
  • Local Bus: The Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) serves the city with ten bus routes and two shuttle routes.
  • Passenger Rail: There is an Amtrak station downtown, with destinations up and down the East Coast.

Famous People from Fayetteville

File:Henryevansfaync.jpg
Henry Evans (circa 1760-1810) built the first church in Fayetteville in 1793 and is known as the "Father of Methodism" for blacks and whites in the area.

Entertainers

Cape Fear River Trail

Points of interest

http://www.asomf.org

Liberty Point in Fayetteville where the "Liberty Point Resolves" were signed in June 1775
Cool Spring Tavern, built in 1788

Sports

Fayetteville Guard - NIFL Football

Fayetteville Swampdogs - CPL Baseball

Fayetteville FireAntz - SPHL Hockey (Formerly Cape Fear FireAntz)

High School Football Championships

  • Fayetteville High School (now Terry Sanford)(4): 1921, 1947 (4-A), 1948 (4-A), 1956 (4-A)
  • Seventy-First High School (3): 1970 (3-A), 1984 (4-A), 1986 (4-A)
  • Southview High School (1): 1991 (4-A)

College Football Championships

  • Fayetteville State University (NCAA Division II)(2): 2002, 2003 CIAA Champions

College Basketball Championships

  • Fayetteville State University (NCAA Division II)(1): 1973 CIAA Champions

College Golf Championships

  • Methodist College (NCAA Division II, III, NGCA)(28): Men's Golf(9): 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Women's Golf(19): 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

References

  • Fenn, Elizabeth A. (2003). Joe A. Mobley (ed.). The Way We Lived in North Carolina. The University of North Carolina Press. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Meyer, Duane (1961). The Highland Scots of North Carolina, 1732-1776. The University of North Carolina Press.
  • Oates, John (1981). The story of Fayetteville and the upper Cape Fear. Fayetteville Woman's Club.
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