Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 334,728, making it the fifth-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Fayetteville. Cumberland County is part of the Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The county was formed in 1754 from Bladen County. It was named for Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), captain-general of the British army and victorious commander at the Battle of Culloden.
In 1771 parts of Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County were combined to form Wake County. In July 1784 the western part of Cumberland County became Moore County; the eastern part became Fayette County in honor of the Marquis de la Fayette, but the name Cumberland County was restored three months later. The county was represented as Fayette County in the North Carolina General Assembly of April 1784. In 1855 the northern part of Cumberland County became Harnett County. Finally, in 1911 parts of Cumberland County and Robeson County were combined to form Hoke County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.90%) is water.
State and local protected areas/sites
Bushy Lake State Natural Area
Carvers Creek State Park
Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex
Oak Grove Plantation
Old Linden School
Rhodes Pond Game Land (part) Rhodes Pond Public Fishing Area Suggs Mill Pond Game Land (part) Taliaferro's Division Monument William T. Smith House
Major water bodies
Cape Fear River
Carvers Creek
Cross Creek
Hope Mills Lake
Little River
Mingo Swamp
Rockfish Creek
South River
Adjacent counties
Harnett County – north
Sampson County – east
Bladen County – south
Robeson County – southwest
Hoke County – west
Moore County – west
Major highways
(component highway for I-295)
Major infrastructure
Fayetteville Regional Airport
Fayetteville Station
Fort Liberty (part) Pope Army Airfield Simmons Army Airfield, military airfield
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 334,728 people, 128,135 households, and 78,365 families residing in the county.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, 302,963 people, 107,358 households, and 77,619 families resided in the county. The population density was . The 118,425 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 55.15% White, 34.90% African American, 1.55% Native American, 1.88% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 3.13% from other races, and 3.09% from two or more races. About 6.90% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
By 2005, Cumberland County's population was 51.5% non-Hispanic Whites, 36.7% African American, 6.4% Latino, 3.1% more than one race, 2.1% Asian, and 1.7% Native American.
Of the 107,358 households, 39.4% had children under 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were not families. About 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65, and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the age distribution was 27.9% under 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.30 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,466, and for a family was $41,459. Males had a median income of $28,308 versus $22,379 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,376. About 10.4% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those 65 or over.
Government and politics
Cumberland County is a member of the regional Mid-Carolina Council of Governments.
Education
Cumberland County is home to Fayetteville State University (an HBCU in the CIAA Conference), Methodist University (a member of the USA South Athletic Conference), and Fayetteville Technical Community College.