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History of Fayetteville
| Named after Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette, Fayetteville was the first and, supposedly the only city named after him that he actually visited. Lafayette arrived in Fayetteville by horse-drawn carriage in 1825 and was warmly welcomed by the residents.
The Fayetteville area was originally settled by Scottish Highlanders, arriving in 1739 via the Cape Fear River Basin. Incorporated in 1762, Fayetteville grew popular with the government and for commerce because of its location as an inland port. Our area was also the hub of the early "Plank Roads" system, key to land travel in the mid 1800's. |
Instrumental in developing U.S. history, Fayetteville pledged local support for the The Liberty Point Resolve of 1775 Revolutionary War cause of independence from England.
In Fayetteville in 1789, North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution and chartered the University of North Carolina, America's oldest state university.
| The Great Fire of 1831 destroyed over 600 of the original buildings, but the rapid reconstruction resulted in the building of the historic Market House...one of North Carolinas most recognized landmarks.
During the Civil War, Fayetteville was again damaged by General Sherman's Union troops who destroyed many buildings and burned the N.C. Arsenal which had been a munitions center for the Confederacy. |
Today we are recognized for our cultural diversity and military presence, standing testament to its proud past.
Many structures have been meticulously preserved to reflect our history in four designated historic districts: Downtown Historic District, Haymount Historic District, Liberty Point National Register District and Market House Square National Register District.
Historic Sites of Fayetteville
