Another thread made me think about a question that's been buggin me ever since I first hear the term. I don't know why I didn't ask this here before. Please excuse me if the question is inappropriate. If it is, I will be happy to inform the webmaster to delete it. I've heard people refer to Fayetteville as Fayette Nam (interestingly not from anyone who actually lived there). Why? The obvious would be that refugees from Viet Nam congregated there (where I grew up, it's now called "Little Saigon for that reason), but I've been to Fayetteville and haven't seen any more Vietnamese than anywhere else in the state. So what's with the term?
I have heard that term over a 100 times. IMO thought it was either due to crime being like a war zone or b/c Ft Bragg is basically right there.
Google can be your friend if you but ask. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Fayettenam Craig
It is a deroggatory term to identify Fayetteville. Back in it's "Hay" day during the 70's and 80's the city strongly catered to the military population, whether it be the active duty or retired individual. Along the end of the 80's and into the 90's Fayetteville leaders began to work diligently to turn the negative connotation around. Now a days Fayetteville is an empty place compared to the hustle and bustle of the 70's and 80's. Much of the military is overseas. Some of the spouses and families may have returned to their originally homes for moral support from their families while their loved ones are away. There is still a lot of military there but no where the quantity during the 70's and 80's. Personally, the city of Fayetteville has worked hard to improve it's image and it does show, so I am sad to hear that folks still continue to toss around that term without ever visiting the city. I highly recommend taking the time and drive to visit the Airborne Museum. The kids would love it.
Sorry, have to disagree with you on this one. My kids were bored to tears, and they and my husband both love planes. Take them to an airshow instead, Goldsboro has a nice one. Also, been to Fayetteville numerous times. I've lived in and visited many places all over the US, and comparatively, overall, it is nasty. Poverty, razor wire, and ugly. It is crystal clear to me why it is called Fayettenam.
We all are entitled to our own opinions. A museum is meant for history. History buffs and military buffs I believe would highly enjoy it. An airshow is the demonstration of current aviation. To me, they are two different animals. The kids and I would make a day trip out of driving to the area and visiting the museum then out to lunch and touring Ft. Bragg. One of the children even had a 'pen pal' during Desert Storm. On one visit to Faytteville in the late 90's we were able to meet the 'pen pal' in person. The description you've given of the area can be found in just about any city not just Fayetteville.
I think it came from the hatred of all things military back in the 60's and early 70's. I grew up in Clinton during that time and I have had reasons to visit the Fayetteville area again frequently recently. Fayetteville has come a long way in the last 35 years.
Well since you asked. Fayetteville has Bragg there. That is the obvious part. There is also a rather large population of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and prolly a few more words that end with ESE. Tallywood Square in Fayetteville is well....a HOT spot. I will splain later. After the soldiers returned from the Vietnam war. A bunch of them brought home Vietnamese wives. That's when it originally started.
We don't call it that, we call it the "armpit" of NC.:mrgreen: Been many times, for various reasons. It's just not a pretty town, some areas are particulary run down. I'm aware they are trying but they have a ways to go. I wish them luck. I like to go down there on occasion to visit "Hobby Lobby" and "Smokey Bones" has some great food.
At that time you were allowed free access to many of the military bases, 9/11 changed that dramatically. And while in your opinion an airshow is a demostration of current aviation, having worked several during my years in the USAF and attending many more, more often than not there are many more "classic aircraft" than you will find modern state of the art aircraft, and there is a reason for that. I do agree that Fayetteville has come along way over the past 15 or so years, but it still remains a Military town with a lot of the down sides that can (though not always) go hand in hand with military towns. Craig
Served at Bragg and lived in Fayetteville for in the mid 70s to mid 80s. Hay Street was the area downtown full of likker bars, hookers, pimps, robberies, drugs etc. I knew the Police Chief, Hervey Keator at the time, and went to school with one of his daughters at Campbell. They used to say the GM was desinging a special car for Fayetteville. As soon as it turned onto Hay Street, the doors automatically locked, and the windows automatically rolled up. It is just like every other military town: fast food joints, barbers, cleaners, bars, pawn shops, used car joints, and military surplus places. Come to think of it, it's like every city I ever lived in. FWIW, Smithfield and every other town and city has the same type of activity going on, just not as well known. As the Fayetteville PD and The Cumberland County SO used to mount(sorry, pun not intended) the publicity inspired "Clean up the town and arrest the hookers" events, the working girls migrated along Bragg Blvd from Fayetteville to Spring Lake and back. South of Fayetteville, near the Lumberton area, Fayetteville is called "Federal", as it's the seat of the local federal government, and the lazy tongue allowed the name to become elongated in its pronunciation. Due to the large influx of Asian wives, and soldiers who had DEROS'd back to Bragg during and shortly after the Viet Nam conflict ended, I'd always heard it as "Fayettenam".
This will not answer your question, Clif, but I need to add to what Hat6 said. I know it was a long time ago but I went to school on the base at Ft. Bragg and still remember it. Best school I have ever seen or loved. I will never forget us being stationed at Ft. Bragg. My dad taught me alot while living on base. I don't remember the town because everything we needed was right on base. Sherry
Well, its been 14 years since I have been by Little Creek. But the bars, tattoo parlors, strip clubs, that main st - Ft Bragg Blvd? Reminded me of driving by Little Creek.
I was born there but moved to JC when I was 10. We called it Fayettnam because of the high crime. We also deemed Hope Mills "Hopeless Mills" because parts of it are a little run-down. I have 2 sisters that still live in Eastover. I lived in Vander right outside of Fayetteville (probably 4 miles from the city limits) but we had a Fayetteville addy.
