Cumberland County
Cumberland County,
North Carolina, settled in 1730, nestles in the Upper Cape Fear Valley in
the region known as the “Sandhills”. The area’s refreshing moderate climate and
spectacular scenery provide an ideal setting for boating, fishing, golfing and
site seeing. Cumberland County teems with antique shops, museums and
interesting historic sites. Popular destinations in the region include
Cape Fear Botanical Gardens and the
Clark Park Nature Center.
Cumberland County’s location along the banks of the mighty
Cape Fear River initially poised the county as a vital transportation link
for NC’s south-central region. Cumberland County continues to maintain its
regional significance today. The area is home to important military facilities
such as
Fort Bragg and
Pope Air Force Base, as well as numerous prosperous businesses. Cumberland
County offers local businesses significant state and local incentives, a
centralized location and a healthy economy. Citizens generally earn a median
household income of $37,466. The median family income averages $41,459 per
year.
According to
2000 Census data, Cumberland County includes 302,963 residents (304,530
according to 2005 estimates). Encompassing nearly 660 square miles, Cumberland
County is home to twelve towns, one city and two military posts. Cumberland
County’s towns include
Falcon,
Godwin,
Linden and
Wade, which have less than one thousand citizens each, while
Eastover and
Vander are each home to less than two thousand individuals.
Fayetteville,
Hope Mills and
Spring Lake are the largest communities in Cumberland County.
Situated directly off busy I-95,
Fayetteville enjoys a strategic location just an hour’s drive from
South Carolina’s border. Fayetteville serves as the seat of Cumberland
County and with a population of more than 130,000 residents, ranks as NC’s sixth
largest city. In 2001, the National Civic League honored Fayetteville with the
highly respected
All-American Civic Award. Located six miles south of Fayetteville,
Hope Mills is home to more than 12,000 residents, many of which are military
personnel. This delightful small town features an historic downtown district
and several parks and recreational areas, such as
Hope Mills Lake. Spring Lake, also the home of many military families, has
a population of just over 8,000 citizens. Nearly 30,000 individuals reside at
Fort Bragg itself.
Cumberland’s
County School System is NC’s ninth largest and includes several elementary
and junior high schools and eleven high schools. The region is also home to
several facilities for higher learning. These include
Fayetteville Technical Community College,
Fayetteville State University and
Methodist University. Recent data indicated that more than 24% of
Fayetteville’s population over the age of 25 earned a Bachelor’s degree or
higher, while just over 8% earned a Graduate’s degree or higher.
Cumberland County,
North Carolina features a balanced community ranging from quiet, historic
neighborhoods to highly commercialized areas. Cumberland County continues to
experience growth in both the commercial and residential areas, while keeping to
the traditions of small-town southern charm. The vibrant communities that
comprise Cumberland County afford individuals with an idyllic setting in which
to live and work. |
