It is well known that the U.S. has the most advanced military in the world. It has some of the fastest naval ships and military helicopters along with well-trained and well-equipped troops, not to mention a 2025 budget of $1.39 trillion. The country has 750 to 800 military bases worldwide for training and housing its troops, including many in North Carolina. While some know the state for its scenic views and historical heritage, others recognize it for its importance to U.S. military history and strategy. Among North Carolina’s military installations are the Marine Corps facilities Air Station Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune, Pope Army Airfield, Fort Liberty, and Seymour Johnson Air Force base.
The primary reason North Carolina has so many military bases is that it offers one of the most favorable climates in North America, providing more training days for the country’s troops year round. Furthermore, its location on the Atlantic Ocean benefits bases like Camp Lejuene that focus on training troops in water-based warfare. Let’s briefly explore some of the state’s most important military bases to better understand why it has one of the largest military presences in the U.S. today.
Some NC Military Outposts Date Back To The Civil War
North Carolina has historically been a military hub, contributing to the development of U.S. offensive and defensive forces since the American Revolution. As the country grew throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the state continued to support the country’s military. It has provided numerous tracts of land for military bases, with different bases adapting to the varied terrain in the state.
In the 19th century, dozens of military camps sprouted up throughout North Carolina, most serving as installations for Confederate forces. Many of these camps operated throughout the Civil War, including Canal, Beauregard, Cobb, Daniel, Floyd, Hill, and Lamb. Some provided housing and training facilities for troops, while others served as temporary strongholds meant to protect particular areas of interest. Camp Beauregard, established in 1861 in Ridgeway, Warren County, stands as the first Confederate cavalry training ground in the state. These camps showcased North Carolina’s strengths as a premier location for military bases, and over time, more permanent installations were established in some places. Among these is Fort Liberty, which is currently one of the largest and most prominent military bases in the country.
Fort Bragg Is More Than 100 Years Old
Fort Liberty was established in 1918. The camp covers 172,000 acres, with over 50,000 troops served by 1,400 miles of roads and 23 miles of railroad tracks. In its early years, the fort was known as Camp Bragg, and was named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg. It was even briefly abandoned after World War I before being converted into a permanent army installation a couple of weeks later. In 1922, the base’s name was changed from Camp Bragg to Fort Bragg, and by the summer of 1941 it had the largest army population in all of America with an astonishing 67,000 soldiers…