During the1780′s Fayetteville experienced what is sometimes called a “golden decade” . It played host, in 1789, to the convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution and to the General Assembly session that chartered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, America’s oldest public university. The legislators paused for the state funeral of former Governor Richard Caswell, who fell ill after arriving in Fayetteville and died November 10, 1789. Fayetteville lost out to the future city of Raleigh in the bid to become the permanent state capital. From 1789-1793 Fayetteville was the capital of the state
In 1793 the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry formed and is still active as a ceremonial unit. It is the second-oldest militia unit in the country.
Henry Evans (circa 1760-1810) a free black preacher is locally known as the “Father of Methodism, ” for Methodists, in the area. Evans was a shoemaker by trade and a licensed Methodist preacher. He met opposition from whites when he began preaching to slaves in Fayetteville , but his preaching later attracted whites to his services . He is credited with building the first church in town, called the African Meeting House, in 1796. Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church is named in his honor.
Fayetteville was still ranked as the second most urban in the state behind New Haover (Wilimington) in 1820, even though it remained a village of 3,500 residents
The “Great Fire” of 1831 was believed to be one of the worst in the nation’s history , even though, remarkably, no lives were lost. Hundreds of homes and businesses and most of its best-known public buildings were lost, including the old “State House.” Fayetteville leaders moved quickly to help the victims and rebuild the town.
In 1832 the Market hOuse was completed and , became the center of commerce and celebration. The structure was built on the ruins of the old State House. It was a town market until 1906. Before abolition slaves were sold there . It served as Fayetteville Town Hall until 1907. The City Council is considering turning the Market House into a local history museum.
In March 1865, Gen. William T. Sherman and his 60,000-man army moved into Fayetteville. The Confederate arsenal was totally destroyed . Sherman’s troops also destroyed foundries and cotton factories and the offices of The Fayetteville Observer. Not far from Fayetteville, Confederate and Union troops engaged in the last cavalry battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Monroe’s Crossroads.
Downtown Fayetteville was the site of a skirmish, as Confederate Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton and his men surprised a cavalry patrol, killing 11 Union soldiers and capturing a dozen on March 11, 1865.
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