The history of Fort Bragg and how it shaped Fayetteville
Fort Bragg began as Camp Bragg, a field artillery training camp the War Department established in 1918. It became the "Home of the Airborne" and now covers about 251 square miles across four counties. The post helped turn Fayetteville from a small town into a city of about 208,000 people (2020 Census), and its steady PCS turnover still drives local home buying, selling and renting.
When was Fort Bragg founded?
On August 21, 1918, the War Department established Camp Bragg as a field artillery cantonment, and Congress authorized buying more than 50,000 acres in Cumberland and Hoke counties. The camp was officially established on September 4, 1918. These dates come from CityView NC and NCpedia.
Fort Bragg timeline
August 21, 1918: Camp Bragg established as a field artillery cantonment.
September 4, 1918: Camp Bragg officially established.
April 1, 1919: The airfield was named Pope Field, after 1st Lt. Harley H. Pope.
1921: After World War I, the War Department ordered the camp abandoned. Brig. Gen. Albert Bowley's efforts kept it as a permanent post.
1922: Camp Bragg was renamed Fort Bragg.
July 1941: Fort Bragg was the largest Army post by population, with more than 67,000 soldiers.
August 15, 1942: The 82nd Airborne Division moved to Fort Bragg. It stayed after World War II, making Bragg the "Home of the Airborne."
1947: Pope Field became Pope Air Force Base.
1952: The Psychological Warfare Center, later the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, and Special Forces were established there.
October 12, 1961: President John F. Kennedy visited and authorized the Green Beret for Special Forces.
2011: Pope Air Force Base was absorbed into Fort Bragg as Pope Army Airfield.
June 2, 2023: The post was renamed Fort Liberty.
March 7, 2025: The post was renamed Fort Bragg at a ceremony, now honoring Pfc. Roland L. Bragg.
Why was the post renamed in 2023 and 2025?
The original name honored Gen. Braxton Bragg, a North Carolina native who served as a Confederate general. In 2023, following the recommendations of a congressionally created commission that reviewed military installations named for Confederate officers, the post was renamed Fort Liberty on June 2, 2023.
On March 7, 2025, the post was renamed Fort Bragg. The name now honors Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II paratrooper with the 17th Airborne Division who received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge. You will still see "Fort Liberty" on some documents and in some data, such as the BAH area name for 2026.
How did Fort Bragg shape Fayetteville's growth?
Fayetteville was a much smaller town before 1918. As the post grew, especially during World War II, the city grew with it. Soldiers, civilian workers, contractors and the businesses that serve them all needed places to live and shop. Over the decades, that demand helped make Fayetteville one of North Carolina's largest cities.
Growth tended to follow the gates. Businesses, housing and roads spread along the corridors that connect the post to the rest of the city:
Bragg Boulevard: one of the main routes between downtown Fayetteville and the post, lined with commercial strips and housing built over many decades.
Yadkin Road: a corridor on the north side with shopping and neighborhoods close to post.
Skibo Road and Raeford Road: the west Fayetteville corridors where much suburban growth happened, with shopping centers and subdivisions.
Spring Lake: a town that grew right next to the post.
How did annexation tie the city and the post together?
Two annexations stand out. On October 1, 2005, the city's "Big Bang" annexation added about 46,000 people and 27 square miles of western Cumberland County. Involuntary annexation was legal in North Carolina then, and some annexed areas waited many years for sewer service.
On September 1, 2008, the city limits were extended onto Fort Bragg and Pope at the military's request. That added about 30,000 residents and pushed Fayetteville over 200,000. North Carolina ended involuntary annexation with laws passed in 2011 and 2012, so the city now grows mostly through voluntary annexations, often tied to water and sewer service.
The road network kept evolving too. The I-295 Fayetteville Outer Loop was completed on November 25, 2025, after 26 years. Its 39 miles connect I-95 near Eastover, north Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, west Fayetteville and the Hope Mills area, then rejoin I-95 near Parkton.
How does PCS turnover shape the market today?
A post this size means a constant stream of arrivals and departures. Each PCS move can lead to a home sale, a purchase, a new lease or an owner deciding to keep a home as a rental. That is why Fayetteville has steady rental demand and why so many sales happen on a timeline set by military orders.
The area also has a large veteran and military-retiree population. Many people who served here come back, or never leave, which adds long-term owners to a market with a lot of short-term movement.
As a former Air Force member who made three PCS moves, I find it meaningful to work in a city whose history is so closely tied to the people who serve.
What does this history mean for buyers, sellers and owners?
Buyers: Check your commute by gate and time of day, compare your payment to your BAH, and think about whether the home would rent well if you move.
Sellers: Expect many military and VA buyers, and plan around the busy late spring and summer PCS months.
Owners and investors: Turnover is part of the market, so plan lease dates, reserves and maintenance around it.
For specific road or housing projects, check the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County planning websites.
Frequently asked questions
When was Fort Bragg established?
Camp Bragg was established by the War Department on August 21, 1918, and officially established on September 4, 1918. It was renamed Fort Bragg in 1922.
Why is it called Fort Bragg again?
The post was renamed Fort Liberty on June 2, 2023, and renamed Fort Bragg at a March 7, 2025 ceremony. The name now honors Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II paratrooper.
What is Pope Army Airfield?
It began as Pope Field in 1919, became Pope Air Force Base in 1947, and became part of Fort Bragg as Pope Army Airfield in 2011.
When did Fort Bragg become part of Fayetteville?
On September 1, 2008, the city limits were extended onto Fort Bragg and Pope at the military's request, adding about 30,000 residents.
Next steps
Moving to the area or thinking about your next step here? Visit my area and PCS information page and download the free Home Buyer's Guide or Property Owner's Guide. Call or text me at 910-718-9733, seven days a week.
About the author
Jesse Dickenson is a REALTOR® and the Property Manager at Brookdale Property Management LLC in Fayetteville, NC (NC broker license #368428). A U.S. Air Force veteran with three PCS moves behind him, he helps buyers, sellers, and rental owners across Cumberland County and the Fort Bragg area. Call or text 910-718-9733, 7 days a week.
