SafekipediaCumberland County, North Carolina
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
Cumberland County is a place in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is one of the bigger counties in the state, with lots of people living there.
The main city of the county is called Fayetteville. This city is known for its history and is a busy place where many people live and work. Cumberland County is also part of the Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, meaning it connects with nearby towns and cities.
History
Cumberland County was created in 1754 from Bladen County. It was named after Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, a British army leader.
Over time, parts of Cumberland County were used to create other counties. In 1771, parts joined to form Wake County. In 1784, the western part became Moore County, and for a short time, the eastern part was called Fayette County before returning to its original name. Later, Harnett County was formed from the northern part in 1855, and Hoke County came from parts of Cumberland and Robeson County in 1911.
Geography
Cumberland County, North Carolina, is 658.48 square miles (1,705.5 km2). Most of it is land, and a small part is water.
The county has protected areas like Bushy Lake State Natural Area, Carvers Creek State Park, and the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. Important water places are the Cape Fear River, Cross Creek, and Hope Mills Lake.
Cumberland County touches other counties. These are Harnett County to the north, Sampson County to the east, Bladen County to the south, Robeson County to the southwest, and Hoke County and Moore County to the west.
Important roads in the county include I-95, I-295, US 13, US 301, US 401, NC 24, NC 53, NC 59, NC 82, NC 87, NC 162, NC 210, NC 217, NC 242, NC 295, and NC 690.
The county has important buildings like Fayetteville Regional Airport, Fayetteville Station, part of Fort Bragg, Pope Army Airfield, and Simmons Army Airfield.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Cumberland County had 334,728 people. The average age was 33.4 years. About 24% were younger than 18, and 13% were 65 or older.
People in Cumberland County come from many backgrounds. About 42% are White, 38% are Black or African American, and smaller groups include American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, and others. Some people also identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Most people, about 86%, live in towns and cities.
2010 census
In the 2010 census, there were 302,963 people living in Cumberland County. The population density was 464 people per square mile.
The racial makeup was 55% White, 35% African American, and smaller groups of Native American, Asian, and others. About 7% identified as Hispanic or Latino.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 8,730 | — | |
| 1800 | 9,264 | 6.1% | |
| 1810 | 9,382 | 1.3% | |
| 1820 | 14,446 | 54.0% | |
| 1830 | 14,834 | 2.7% | |
| 1840 | 15,284 | 3.0% | |
| 1850 | 20,610 | 34.8% | |
| 1860 | 16,369 | −20.6% | |
| 1870 | 17,035 | 4.1% | |
| 1880 | 23,836 | 39.9% | |
| 1890 | 27,321 | 14.6% | |
| 1900 | 29,249 | 7.1% | |
| 1910 | 35,284 | 20.6% | |
| 1920 | 35,064 | −0.6% | |
| 1930 | 45,219 | 29.0% | |
| 1940 | 59,320 | 31.2% | |
| 1950 | 96,006 | 61.8% | |
| 1960 | 148,418 | 54.6% | |
| 1970 | 212,042 | 42.9% | |
| 1980 | 247,160 | 16.6% | |
| 1990 | 274,566 | 11.1% | |
| 2000 | 302,963 | 10.3% | |
| 2010 | 319,431 | 5.4% | |
| 2020 | 334,728 | 4.8% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 338,473 |  | 1.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 154,639 | 165,057 | 159,304 | 150,749 | 133,201 | 62.57% | 60.12% | 52.58% | 47.19% | 39.79% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 74,800 | 86,216 | 104,068 | 113,939 | 124,173 | 30.26% | 31.40% | 34.35% | 35.67% | 37.10% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 3,660 | 4,208 | 4,371 | 4,655 | 4,647 | 1.48% | 1.53% | 1.44% | 1.46% | 1.39% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 4,042 | 5,488 | 5,552 | 6,885 | 8,943 | 1.64% | 2.00% | 1.83% | 2.16% | 2.67% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x | x | 839 | 1,114 | 1,357 | x | x | 0.28% | 0.35% | 0.41% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 899 | 299 | 735 | 671 | 2,206 | 0.36% | 0.11% | 0.24% | 0.21% | 0.66% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x | x | 7,175 | 11,228 | 20,703 | x | x | 2.37% | 3.52% | 6.19% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9,120 | 13,298 | 20,919 | 30,190 | 39,498 | 3.69% | 4.84% | 6.90% | 9.45% | 11.80% |
| Total | 247,160 | 274,566 | 302,963 | 319,431 | 334,728 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Government and politics
Cumberland County works with nearby areas through a group called the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments. This helps the county share resources and make good decisions for everyone in the region.
Education
Cumberland County has many schools and universities. You can find Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, and Fayetteville Technical Community College there. The Cumberland County Schools district helps students from kindergarten through 12th grade. There are 17 high schools, including Cape Fear, Douglas Byrd, E.E. Smith, and Pine Forest.
The Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center began as the Fayetteville Library Society in 1794 and now has eight branches. These libraries offer services like children’s programs, homework help, and free online books and videos for everyone.
Arts & Culture
Arts and culture groups in Fayetteville and Cumberland County helped create jobs and brought money to the area. In April 2024, the Arts Council announced that these activities brought many visitors to the region.
Points of interest
Historic sites
- Cool Spring Tavern
- Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church
- Ellerslie Plantation
- The first Golden Corral
- Hay Street United Methodist Church
- Heritage Square
Libraries
- Cumberland County Libraries
Museums
Parks and recreation
The county also has Carvers Creek State Park, where families can visit the historic Rockefeller House and enjoy hiking trails.
Shopping
Theaters and arenas
Communities
City
- Fayetteville (county seat and largest community)
Towns
Census-designated place
Townships
- Beaver Dam
- Black River
- Carvers Creek
- Cedar Creek
- Cross Creek
- Eastover
- Gray's Creek
- Manchester
- Pearces Mill
- Rockfish
- Seventy-First
Unincorporated communities
Images
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Cumberland County, North Carolina, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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