Fort Bragg, a major United States Army installation, is located twelve miles northwest of Fayetteville, North Carolina. The military base covers over 251 square miles in four North Carolina counties: Cumberland County, Hoke County, Moore County, and Harnett County. Fort Bragg and its companion base, Pope AFB, have a massive economic impact on both Fayetteville and Cumberland County and are integral parts of the local community. Fayetteville and Cumberland County have long military histories, starting with the Revolutionary War and continuing to the present day. Each city and county offers a wide range of programs specifically for military personnel and their families.
Fort Bragg is one of the largest and busiest military complexes in the world. Approximately one quarter of Fort Bragg’s 61,000 acres are devoted to the equivalent of a major city with its own housing, office space, shopping centers, major medical center, schools, churches, restaurants, and recreational facilities. The U.S. Census Bureau shows Fort Bragg, a census designated place, was home to an estimated 25,785 residents in 2008. Males made up 69.4% of the population, females 30.6%. There were 4,095 housing units on the base.
Fort Bragg, originally known as Camp Bragg, was established on September 4, 1918 as an artillery training ground. The Fayetteville region was chosen primarily for the climate, which made the location suitable for year-round training, and its proximity to port and rail transportation. Fort Bragg is named for Confederate General Braxton Bragg whose distinguished military career was served as a United States Army officer, a general in the Confederate States Army, and a military adviser to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Fort Bragg is best known as the home of the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Forces. Several airborne units of the U.S. Army are stationed at Fort Bragg, notably the XVIII Airborne Corps HQ, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). In addition, the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command is headquartered at Fort Bragg. The Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg provides medical services to base residents and the more than 160,000 eligible beneficiaries in the region.
The U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and the Army Reserve Command (USARC) are expected to relocate to Fort Bragg from Fort McPherson in Atlanta, GA by mid-September 2011. These relocations will bring nearly 3,000 additional active-duty personnel to Fort Bragg.
The 82nd Airborne Division Museum is located at Fort Bragg. The museum showcases the 82nd Airborne Division from World War I to the present. Exhibits at the museum include donations of artifacts from soldiers who have served in the 82nd Airborne, vintage aircraft, large field artillery pieces, and other important 20th century historical pieces.
The military’s presence in North Carolina has historically provided economic opportunities for many residents. The Comprehensive Regional Growth Plan for the Fort Bragg Region, produced by the Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base Regional Task Force, reports Fort Bragg’s positive economic impact on the surrounding communities totals $1.69 billion.
North Carolina has the fourth-largest active duty military population in the U.S., distributed among 7 military installations and 14 U.S. Coast Guard facilities. These military installations contribute directly and indirectly to the economic development of the state.
