1980-2004

In many ways, despite many challenges, Cumberland County started coming into its own during this 25-year period leading up to its 250th anniversary. Some of the biggest changes have involved the relationship between the county and the city of Fayetteville.

In 1984, after being stymied by legislation for 25 years, Fayetteville was able to begin annexing suburban areas. Subsequent annexations have swelled the city's population to 130,000, the state's sixth-largest municipality. Another annexation this year is scheduled to add 43,000 residents to the city.

In 1985, the county schools and city schools merged into one system after a history of separation.

A number of major public buildings have been constructed during this period. They include the new central library, Highsmith-Rainey Memorial Hospital, Fayetteville City Hall, the police station, the county jail, the Public Works Commission office building, the Health Department building and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum downtown. They also include the $55 million Crown Coliseum off U.S. 301.

Expanding in size

Among the various community institutions, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville Technical Community College and Methodist College all have expanded in size and services. A new Womack Army Medical Center, costing $250 million, also has opened.

During a post-Cold War time of cutbacks, Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base have held strong. And the troops have been busy - with major deployments beginning in the 1980s to places such as Grenada, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Haiti and the Balkans, and on into 2004 in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Today the county continues to work to diversify its economy and provide a better standard of living for residents, whether they're looking for a place to settle after leaving the military or they're civilians whose ancestors were here when Cumberland County was founded in 1754.

James Rose, left, the Public Works Commission's chief operating officer, and Jon Parsons, construction manager, look over downtown in January 2000 from an unfinished floor of the PWC building on Hay Street.