Winning the “All-America City” designation is nothing to sneeze at. This prestigious title, awarded by the National Civic League, has helped many communities win grants and attract new employers. But what if a city won it not just once – or twice – but three times?
That’s the case for Fayetteville, North Carolina, the capitol city and the county seat for Cumberland County. The city won the award in 1985, 2001 and 2011. It’s no wonder that the county population has grown from approximately 300,000 in 2000 to 320,000 today.
Begun as a settlement in the Upper Cape Fear Valley between 1729 and 1736 by European migrants known as Highland Scots, Cumberland County became a vital transportation link to other major settlements. Today, it’s best known as the unofficial “home” of the US military.
There are few communities that can compete with the military heritage of Cumberland County, from the Revolutionary War to today. The county’s military tradition is centered in Fort Bragg, originally called “Camp Bragg” in 1918, when it was a field artillery training facility during World War I.
Named for Confederate General Braxton Bragg, an officer from North Carolina, the camp became a permanent post and was renamed Fort Bragg in 1922. Fort Bragg’s airborne tradition was launched in 1934 as artillery spotters jumped from a balloon platform.
The Airborne and Special Operations Museum, located on Bragg Boulevard at Hay Street, preserves the accomplishments of parachute and glider-borne troops and special operations forces, and is one of the area’s premier attractions. The museum includes a 240-seat large-screen theater featuring a specially-produced movie; a 24-seat simulator that allows riders to “experience” a helicopter attack, parachute jump and off-road pursuit; vivid life-size dioramas; interactive displays and artifacts; and a memorial garden.
The US military is the largest area employer, followed by retail and wholesale industries. The Cape Fear Valley Health System is the largest private employer, offering approximately 5,200 jobs. Other large employers include Goodyear Tire Company, Purolator and Wal-Mart.
Cumberland County’s population is 51 percent white, 37 percent black, and six percent Latino. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 101.90 males. The median income for a household in the county is $37,466.
Data provided by GreatSchools.org 2025 © 2025. All rights reserved.
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