Nine interesting facts about Fayetteville

While Fayetteville may be best known as the home of Fort Bragg, the city also has a lot to offer by way of its rich history, bustling business environment, happening food scene and vibrant arts and culture.

Among its numerous claims to fame, the All-American city is the birthplace of at least two well-known national franchises, is home to one of the most revered music artists, is a center for Black-owned businesses and it was here that the Great Bambino hit his first home run.

Here are nine noteworthy tidbits about Fayetteville.

Rapper J. Cole was raised in Fayetteville

Born Jermaine Cole in Germany to an Army father and a mother who worked at the post office, the singer-songwriter attended Terry Sanford High School.

His 2014 album, “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” is named for his childhood home in Fayetteville; its cover shows him sitting on the roof of the house.

PHOTOS: J. Cole in Fayetteville through the years

National buffet chain Golden Corral was born in Fayetteville

On Jan. 3, 1973, two business partners with a shoestring budget and a vision to become a household name nationwide opened a family steakhouse on Bragg Boulevard.

It was the store that spawned the Golden Corral buffet restaurant franchise, now with hundreds of locations across the country.

More: This national restaurant chain celebrating 50 years started as a Bragg Boulevard steakhouse

The Fayetteville Observer is the longest-running newspaper in the state

The Fayetteville Observer was established in 1816 by Francis W. Waldo as The Carolina Observer, making it today the oldest daily newspaper in the state. At the time of its founding, it was a four-page weekly, according to The North Carolina History Project.

Edward Jones Hale bought it in the 1820s, according to the History Project, and changed its name to The Fayetteville Observer in 1833.

Fayetteville is a hub of Black-owned businesses

A 2022 study showed that Fayetteville had the highest percentage of Black-owned businesses in the country, at 11.2%, surpassing major cities like Washington, D.C.; Richmond, Virginia; and Atlanta. 

The study found that out of 5,210 Fayetteville businesses, 585 were Black-owned.

More: 72 Fayetteville-area Black-owned businesses

Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is among the oldest in the state

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 by Marion Rogers, who was a music program leader in the local school district.

Today, the orchestra plays about eight concerts during its regular season, in addition to free community concerts and Fayetteville Symphony on Tap, a series of shows at area breweries.

Babe Ruth hit his first home run in Fayetteville

George Herman Ruth Jr. hit his first home run as a professional and earned the famous moniker “Babe″ during a month long visit here for spring training in 1914.

Ruth hit the ball “350 to 400 feet″ into right field in his second time at bat during an intersquad exhibition March 7, 1914, at the Cape Fear Fairgrounds.

More: Birth of the Bambino: Babe Ruth hit first pro home run in Fayetteville

Putt-Putt miniature golf franchise was born in Fayetteville

A Fayetteville insurance man built Putt-Putt, a miniature golf course at Bragg Boulevard and Fort Bragg Road in 1954. It cost a quarter to play the 18-hole course, and if a golfer made a hole-in-one, he got a free game.

Within a year, there were eight locations, and the business expanded into the national franchise known today as Putt-Putt Fun Center.

Fayetteville's oldest restaurant was founded 86 years ago

Rainbow Restaurant was first established on the ground floor of the Palace hotel as “Rainbo Restaurant” at 223 Hay St. in 1937 and moved to Ramsey Street in 1976.

For three generations, the family-owned restaurant has served scratch-made diner food like pancakes and grilled steak.

More: Here is your guide to 19 of the oldest restaurants in the Fayetteville area

Fayetteville borders the most-populated military installation in the U.S.

Fort Bragg employs about 49,000 military personnel and almost 12,000 Department of Defense civilian employees and serves as the home of the Army 82nd Airborne Corps and Army Special Operations Command headquarters.

First established in 1918 as an artillery training ground called Camp Bragg, it was named after Braxton Bragg, an Army artillery commander who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. There are plans for the post to be renamed to Fort Liberty in June.

More: Bragg to be renamed Liberty in June

Reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com.  

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Nine facts to know about Fayetteville, NC