As of 2007, the city of Fayetteville has a population of approximately 172,000 including annexation since the 2000 census. It currently ranks as the sixth-largest municipality in North Carolina. Fayetteville is located near the Sandhills in the western part of the Coastal Plain region, on the Cape Fear River. With a population of 341,363, the Fayetteville metropolitan area is the largest in southeastern North Carolina, and the fifth-largest in the state. Suburban areas of metro Fayetteville include Hope Mills, Spring Lake, and Raeford.
As of the census of 2000, there were 121,015 people, 48,414 households, and 31,662 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,059.2 people per square mile (795.0/km²). There were 53,565 housing units at an average density of 351.9 persons/km² (911.5 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 48.8% White, 42.4% African American, 1.1% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. 5.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 48,414 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,287, and the median income for a family was $41,210. Males had a median income of $30,493 versus $23,477 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,141. 14.8% of the population and 11.7% of families were below the poverty line. 21.4% of those under the age of 18 and 14.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
A 15-month fight came to an end — at least for now — on Sept. 30, 2005 when Fayetteville annexed 27 square miles (70 km) and 46,000 residents. Affected residents and developers had blocked the annexation for more than a year with three lawsuits. They lost in the state Court of Appeals in June. The court ruled the challenges were filed after the deadline. The law requires all challenges to be filed within 60 days of when a municipality adopts an annexation ordinance. When the state Supreme Court refused to consider an appeal, the city went ahead with its plans. A request for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case is pending, and a decision may come in January.
The Fayetteville Regional Airport is served by Delta Air Lines connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Delta Air Lines regional feeder service, and US Airways connection carrier US Airways Express, with daily flights to Charlotte (Charlotte/Douglas International Airport) and Atlanta, Georgia (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport) and seasonal service to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia International Airport).
The Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) serves the Fayetteville and Spring Lake regions, with ten bus routes and two shuttle routes.
There is an Amtrak station downtown, with routes leading to points along the East Coast.