Cumberland County started out as a settlement named Campbellton that was founded between 1729 and 1736.  It was a vital transportation link located on the Cape Fear River.

In 1754, Cumberland was formed out of Bladen County and was named after the Duke of Cumberland, William Augustus, who commanded the English Army.  In 1783, Campbellton was renamed Fayetteville in honor of Marquis de LaFayette, a French general who served in the Revolutionary Army.

At the end of the Civil War, General Sherman marched through Fayetteville in 1865.  The city did not experience much growth after that until Camp Bragg (named after Braxton Bragg, a Civil War Confederate General) opened in 1918. The base later became a permanent army post and the city and military base have grown considerably. Fort Bragg is the home of the Airborne and also of Special Operations soldiers and it plays a vital role as a rapid deployment base.