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Fayetteville Wins All-America City Award For Fourth Time

Author Don Chase and Brandon Plotnick

The City of Fayetteville moved into record-breaking territory this week, as it won the All-America City Award for the fourth time, more than any other city in North Carolina.

The annual award presented by the National Civic League, was announced Monday, with Fayetteville taking honors along with nine other cities across the country. Fayetteville also won the award in 1985, 2001 and 2011. The fourth win is the most for any city in North Carolina.

You can watch the awards ceremony by clicking here. Fayetteville’s award is announced at the 1:06:00 mark in the ceremony.

“We are here today representing all the incredible programs and community organizations that make Fayetteville unique, especially the military service members and their families,” Fayetteville City Councilwoman Kathy Jensen said during the acceptance speech. “Our connection to service is what grounds us, and is why this award is so important.”

Joining Fayetteville as winners this year were two other North Carolina communities, with Charlotte and Davie County representing as well. Dallas, Tx.; Decatur, Ga.; Gonzales, Ca.; Hampton, Va.; Mesa, Az.; Mount Pleasant, SC; and San Antonio, Tx. were the other winners this year.

“The award, typically given to 10 communities each year, celebrates and recognizes neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties, tribes and regions that engage residents in innovative, inclusive and effective efforts to tackle critical challenges,” the National Civic League said on its website.

This year’s theme was “Creating Thriving Communities Through Youth Engagement.”

“The 2023 All-America City Award recognized communities that are working to improve the health and well-being of young people, with particular attention to efforts that engage young people in this work. Democracy thrives when all residents are active and engaged in the policies and decisions that shape their lives.”

According to the National Civic League, Fayetteville focused on three key areas to address this year’s theme: The Market House Repurposing Project; the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council and Fayetteville NEXT Commission; and Education, Mentorship and Empowerment Programs.

“Like most communities, in recent years, Fayetteville has wrestled with issues around public health, growth, social justice, racial equity, and the relationship between law enforcement and residents. The community has responded by relying on the power of conversation and collaboration, working toward the common good and approaching everything with the desire to succeed and improve. These qualities have earned Fayetteville the moniker of America’s ‘Can Do City.’”

 

Don Chase is living out his dreams, anchoring The Big Wake-Up with Don Chase & Sarah weekday mornings on KML. With over 35 years with Beasley Media, Don believes that the best is yet to come. The unofficial Mayor of Fayetteville radio, Don Chase writes about Fayetteville and North Carolina news, as well as entertaining perspectives on music, culture and more.

Is North Carolina the Most Fun State in the Country?

As we dip head on into summer, it’s time to think about all the fun you could be having in North Carolina with your family and friends.

But is North Carolina the spot with the most fun? Or should you be looking elsewhere for all the entertainment you can handle?

Our friends over at WalletHub.com ventured out to determine this once and for all. Their annual ranking of the Most Fun States are out, and while North Carolina is a lot of fun, it’s sadly not even in the Top 10.

“There are certain states where fun is not just an option but also a way of life,” Adam McCann said in his WalletHub piece. “These states offer such a variety of activities that everyone will be able to find something that excites them, from people who crave the outdoors and athletics to those who would rather sit down for a film.”

WalletHub ranked 26 key indicators to figure out where the entertainment was flowing most. Everything from the cost of a movie, to accessibility to national parks, or even nightclubs.

While North Carolina didn’t come in the Top 10, it did land at a comfortable 15. That’s probably a good amount of fun. After all, you don’t want to have TOO much fun this summer. We’re nestled nicely between Pennsylvania and Missouri in the rankings. And we managed to beat our neighbors to the south, as South Carolina came in at No. 19.

The Tarheel State did decently in all but one of the key rankings:

  • 8th – Restaurants per Capita
  • 19th – Movie Theaters per Capita
  • 10th – Golf Courses & Country Clubs per Capita
  • 16th – Amusement Parks per Capita
  • 29th – Performing-Arts Theaters per Capita
  • 9th – Fitness Centers per Capita

So let’s dive into the rest of the rankings, taking a look at the Top 5 most fun states, and the Bottom 5, so you know where to stay away from.

  • Top 5 Most Fun States

  • 1. California

    This makes sense. California has literally every possible kind of fun you could possibly want. Theme parks, nightlife, beaches, mountains. Like, literally everything.

  • 2. Florida

    Again, this makes sense. Florida is a massive family fun destination, with theme parks, beaches, nightlife, NASCAR, college and pro football. There’s a little bit of everything down there.

  • 3. Nevada

    VIVA! This is undoubtedly boosted by the fact that Las Vegas is the top tourism city in the country. But don’t sleep on Reno and Lake Tahoe.

  • 4. New York

    As a whole, the entire state of New York has most anything you’d want to experience for fun. It’s not quite the same as visiting California or Nevada, but there’s still plenty to do.

  • 5. Illinois

    Apparently Chicago scores REALLY well in nightlife, and look, we’re sure the whole state is plenty of fun. But this one seems weirdly high.

  • The Bottom 5 - The LEAST Fun

  • 46. Arkansas

    Well, there’s college football. And the Ozarks. And there’s… umm… We’ll get back to you on the rest.

  • 47. Rhode Island

    Our nation’s smallest state doesn’t have room for a whole lot of fun. But this kite thing looks pretty cool.

  • 48. Delaware

    Another small state, with very little room for fun stuff. It’s a lovely place, but not somewhere we think of to go for fun.

  • 49. West Virginia

    Oh bless their hearts. It is a lovely state to drive through, with natural beauty everywhere. But that’s about it.

  • 50. Mississippi

    We’ll politely disagree with this ranking, as Mississippi may not be the most entertaining place to go, but there are casinos and beaches and… well, that’s it.

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Author Don Chase and Brandon Plotnick
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