SafekipediaCumberland County, North Carolina
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer 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 more than 300,000 people living there, according to the numbers from the 2020 census. In fact, it is the fifth-most populous county in all of North Carolina.
The main city and important center 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 a larger area known as the Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which means it connects closely 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, covers a total area of 658.48 square miles (1,705.5 km2), with 652.56 square miles (1,690.1 km2) of land and 5.92 square miles (15.3 km2) of water.
The county has several protected areas and sites, including Bushy Lake State Natural Area, Carvers Creek State Park, and the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. Major water bodies in the area are the Cape Fear River, Cross Creek, and Hope Mills Lake.
Cumberland County is surrounded by several other counties: 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 highways 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.
Major infrastructure includes 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 living there. The average age was 33.4 years. About 24% of the people were younger than 18, and 13% were 65 or older.
The 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, while the rest live in more rural areas.
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% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average household size was 2.65 people, and the average family size was 3.11 people. The median age was 30 years, and about 28% of people were under 18 years old.
| 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 together with other nearby areas through a group called the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments. This helps the county share resources and make decisions that benefit everyone in the region.
Education
Cumberland County has several schools and universities. You can find Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, and Fayetteville Technical Community College there. The Cumberland County Schools district helps most 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 started as the Fayetteville Library Society in 1794 and has eight branches today. These libraries offer many services like children’s programs, homework help, and free online books and videos for everyone to use.
Arts & Culture
A study from October 2023 showed that arts and culture groups in Fayetteville and Cumberland County helped create jobs and brought money to the area in 2022. In April 2024, the Arts Council announced that these activities brought over 900,000 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 many 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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