The hub of southeastern North Carolina, Fayetteville anchors a metropolitan area of more than 300,000 residents. The counties that surround Greater Fayette, including Cumberland, Harnett, and Hoke, bring the regional population to well over half a million. The city enjoys a strategic location halfway between Manhattan and Miami in an area that offers easy access to Interstate 95 for north/south travel and Interstate 40 for east/west destinations. Fayetteville stands as a leader in providing advanced healthcare, the home of one of the state's largest hospitals and one of the finest military healthcare providers in the nation, Womack Army Medical Center. The 755-bed Cape Fear Valley Health System encompasses an affiliated rehabilitation center and behavioral medicine center. Other important services and centers that make up the system include full-service hospitals, medical offices, a cancer treatment center, an open heart surgery unit, a birthing center, occupational healthcare, and extensive community education and outreach programs for every age level.
Cape Fear Valley Health System also features the award-winning HealthPlex, the largest and most comprehensive fitness and wellness center in the area. HealthPlex covers 65,000 square feet with more than 140 pieces of next-generation cardiovascular and strength-building equipment, swimming pools, a supervised play center, an aerobics studio with shock-resistant floor, a 1/10 mile indoor walking and running track, private massage therapy rooms, a full-court gymnasium, and whirlpools.
Quality educational opportunities for students of all ages are underlined by a selection of public and private schools from preschool through 12th grade. Opportunities for higher education close to home include Fayetteville Technical Community College, one of the largest technical training colleges in North Carolina, serving more than 20,000 students. The college also nurtures the growth and development of the regional economy through its Center for Business and Industry, a source of specialized training for new employers. Fayetteville State University provides a well-respected public institution that confers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and social sciences, basic and applied sciences, teacher education, and business and economics
Other options for state-supported institutions include North Carolina State University in nearby Raleigh and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. This master's level degree-granting university is one of 16 schools in the University of North Carolina system, excelling in a favorable teacher/student ratio and individualized attention. Methodist College is a private coed college of liberal arts and sciences, distinguished as one of the fastest-growing private colleges in the state. Another choice in a private college in this area is Campbell University, affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
Lifestyle
With its brief and mild winters, Fayetteville offers a scenic and comfortable community that blends urban amenities with first-rate recreational opportunities, Southern hospitality, and small-town friendliness. More than 30 golf courses are located with a 30-mile radius of the city, including the Pinehurst Country Club and Resort that consistently hosts the US Open. Throngs of guests clamor to the Cumberland County Crown Museum, part of a world class entertainment and sports complex where four venues host a colorful variety of events and productions. The 13,500-seat Crown Coliseum combines with a large Expo Center, arena, and auditorium for a full calendar of dates to remember. Star-studded concerts, ice skating shows, fairs and circuses, rodeos, sports competitions, arts and crafts or antique shows, and even symphony orchestras keep the marquee burning brightly. These first-rate facilities serve as an attractive home for the NBDL basketball team, the Fayetteville Patriots, and make the city a popular choice for basketball tournaments. Fayetteville Parks and Recreation efficiently manages more than 40 lush parks filled with recreational facilities. Organizing seasonal family events and offering activity classes for all ages, this organization also operates a hands-on children's museum, a special population center, and a senior center.
Downtown Fayetteville is experiencing an exciting renaissance that is bringing new life to national landmarks and historic sites while it boosts the local economy. The charming city center is graced by architectural styles from early Federal through Art Deco periods, encouraging widespread renovation and preservation. New businesses join established stores in the historic downtown district to offer art galleries and studios, antique shops, gift specialty stores, fine restaurants, cozy coffee shops, a micro-brewery, lively cultural and entertainment centers, and government offices. As businesses appear on the ground floors of beautiful vintage buildings, the upper levels are being transformed into highly desirable living spaces.
Those who appreciate theatre, music, and art will find a number of elegant venues and a dazzling lineup of talent. The award-winning Cape Fear Regional Theater is a semi-professional community theater that consistently surprises and delights audiences with a pleasing mix of plays. The Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center serves as a valuable resource for young professionals, area businesses, and families. Reflecting the city's close association with the U.S. Army's Fort Bragg, the Airborne & Special Operations Museum boasts dramatic life-size dioramas and interactive displays as well as large-screen theater and rare artifacts. The valuable collections held by the Fayetteville Museum of Art, the Museum of the Cape Fear, and Cape Fear Botanical Gardens are complemented by the "living history" showcased in wonderful festivals and traditional seasonal celebrations.
As a city honored with the coveted "All-America City" award from the National Civic League, Fayetteville blends charming historic neighborhoods and long-established residential communities with vibrant new construction. Residents enjoy a high quality of life, an affordable cost of living, and an easy drive to regional attractions like the North Carolina beaches, the North Carolina Motor Speedway at Rockingham, and Raven Rock State Park. For sheer livability, few cities can rival Fayetteville.