Cliffdale - Fayetteville, NC Area Guide

Settlers during the 1700s began developing the town as an important point of trade with the frontier. Following the establishment of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Fayetteville's reputation as a center of learning grew. Following World War II, Fayetteville's numerous employment and educational opportunities caused an exponential population growth, forcing the city to expand outwards. As formerly rural areas came under development, new neighborhoods such as Seventy-First/Cliffdale sprung up. These suburban areas played critical roles in housing the massive numbers of workers holding jobs in downtown Fayetteville. Unfortunately, Seventy-First/Cliffdale's status as a new development and lack of public venues has stunted the growth of any kind of arts scene in the community; annual events are also rare in the neighborhood. The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex in downtown Fayetteville pays tribute to the area's political and natural heritage.

Seventy-First/Cliffdale contains a variety of restaurants serving a range of culinary traditions, including Thai. Siam Express specializes in authentic pad thai and panang gai, though some of its dishes include Southern tweaks. Patrons of Siam Express also recommend the Thai House special fried rice, which pairs nicely with all of its entree options. Although Seventy-First/Cliffdale does not sit close to any ocean, Captain Jerry's Seafood Restaurant enjoys a reputation as one of Fayetteville's best seafood eateries. The restaurant distinguishes itself with fried flounder and popcorn shrimp. It also delights customers with its unique ring-shaped hush puppies. Captain Jerry's gets very busy on weekends, particularly on Sunday afternoons, which occasionally leads to extensive wait times for tables. However, the residents of Seventy-First/Cliffdale always insist the food is worth the wait. On nights out, residents of Seventy-First/Cliffdale usually leave the neighborhood. However, a handful of smaller neighborhood dive bars exist in the area. For example, many of Seventy-First/Cliffdale's revelers enjoy spending their weekend evenings at Jumpers Nite Life. This pool hall serves cheap drinks and fosters a large number of regulars. On weekends, the bar gets very crowded and is definitely one of the better nightlife destinations in the neighborhood.

Few dispute driving as the easiest means of transport around Seventy-First/Cliffdale. Several major roads and expressways service the neighborhood, most notably Highway 401 (Raeford Road). Public parking exists throughout the neighborhood and is typically free. Fayetteville's taxicabs occasionally frequent the neighborhood, most often in the commercial districts. Furthermore, Uber and a handful of other ride-sharing applications cater to Seventy-First/Cliffdale. Fayetteville's public transportation system, the FAST, services the neighborhood on Routes 10 and 18. A flat rate fare of $1.25 applies to all journeys on the FAST regardless of destination or length. Given the low traffic levels, walkers and cyclists face no significant dangers in Seventy-First/Cliffdale. However, few dedicated biking lanes exist in the neighborhood, so cyclists ought to remain alert while riding. Most major streets do contain sidewalks and shoulders.

Despite Seventy-First/Cliffdale's considerable greenery and open space, almost no land has been dedicated to parks. The sole exception to this rule is the small park adjacent to Seventy-First High School. This pleasant city park features an open walking area and trail. Students at the high school and families from around the community can often be found enjoying picnics in the lawn of the Seventy-First High School park during the warm summer months. Although no facilities exist specifically for canines, this free park encourages visitors to walk their dogs through its grounds.

The cost of living in Seventy-First/Cliffdale is lower than the average cost in Fayetteville at large. For instance, median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Seventy-First/Cliffdale is only $650 per month, almost $100 lower than the city average rental rate for a similar unit. On a less expensive note, a beer at a local pub in Seventy-First/Cliffdale costs $3. Gas prices in the neighborhood typically rate 2 percent lower than Fayetteville's city average cost and 4 percent higher than the national average cost. Public transportation costs is one of the few areas that Seventy-First/Cliffdale's average cost does not differ from the city average--FAST bus system charges a flat $1.25 fee per adult no matter which route.

Although only a small number of locally owned stores operate in Seventy-First/Cliffdale, they play an important role in the community's economy and offer residents a wide range of wares. For example, the western section of the neighborhood contains Backyard Reef. This pet store specializes in aquatic creatures, distinguishing itself with a wide variety of invertebrate and corals. The staff of Backyard Reef works with customers to create custom fish-tank setups complete with lights and decor. The neighborhood also contains a fantastic thrift store called Trade It. This high-value shop sells a variety of wares but specializes in electronics. The store encourages customers to trade in older devices for credit to be applied to something newer from their store, offering a cheap possibility to upgrade gadgets. Trade It's impressive selection makes browsing the store a great way to spend an afternoon in Seventy-First/Cliffdale. Several Food Lions and an ALDI service Seventy-First/Cliffdale's grocery needs. Furthermore, the Carolina Farmer's Market operates regularly only a few miles east of the neighborhood.