Linden offers country living close to Fort Bragg
Life moves at a slower pace in rural Linden. A patchwork of pastures and dense woods surrounds this small town north of Fayetteville. “Linden is a farming community. They have a lot of country folk,” says George White, the owner of George White Realty and a longtime resident of the area. “It’s a friendly little place. More of a relaxed atmosphere. Lots of good places to go fishing and hunting.” Less than 200 people live in the town proper, but a few thousand residents live in the surrounding area, enjoying the seclusion of the countryside. Many have lived here for generations, but White notes the community is growing rapidly as new subdivisions rise in once-undeveloped lots. “It’s a very desirable area, conveniently located between cities,” says White, who adds that Linden often attracts military families, as Fort Bragg is about 20 miles away.
A wide range of home styles on spacious lots north of Fayetteville
Single-family homes in Linden rest on winding country roads. Ranch-style homes and bungalows sit near the town center, while new construction and neo-traditional builds fill developments along Linden Road. The Castlebrooke community offers a more suburban vibe with two-story traditional homes on wide streets that end in cul-de-sacs, whereas the HOA-controlled homes surrounding Lake Teresa rest steps from the more bucolic setting along the water. “Anyone who lives in the community has access to the lake. They put fish in it at least once or twice a year,” says White, who spent time on the lake in high school. “The developer would haul in white sand. It was like being at the beach. They’d charge you for swimming, and they’d have areas where bands could play.” Most properties in Linden fall between $200,000 and $500,000 and have lots ranging from a third of an acre to several acres. The median price for a single-family home is around $345,000. Homes typically stay on the market for around 85 days, nearly twice as long as the national average. Potential buyers should note that due to the town's rural nature, properties here are not connected to municipal water lines, and thus have private wells and septic systems. The town receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score.
Outdoor recreation in and around Linden
Little River Community Park, Liden’s sole public park, sits directly east of the town center next to a cornfield. Its paved walking paths loop around tennis courts, a basketball court and a playground. In 2019, Cumberland County funded the installation of an accessible splash pad at the park, which families use to cool off during the hot North Carolina summers. A picnic shelter hosts birthday parties and private events. The Cape Fear River flows along the town’s eastern edge, and residents can access the water at Cape Fear River Trail Park in Erwin, which has a canoe launch and hiking trails dotted with scenic overlooks. Nearby, golfers can enjoy challenging rounds at Chicora Golf Club’s public 18-hole course. Thrilling off-road adventures draw visitors to the privately owned Deep Creek ATV Park, where riders take on trails featuring mud pits and hills. Hikers and horseback riders at Carvers Creek State Park, north of Fayetteville, can experience the unique habitat of the Sandhills region up close. The park's trails weave through longleaf pine forests, home to native and endangered species like the Pine Barrens tree frog.
Mailing packages in the town center and shopping along U.S. Route 401
Railroad tracks pass through Linden’s town center, which hosts the Town Hall, a post office and the community center. However, White says U.S. Route 401 is where most residents go for their shopping needs. Along with Dollar General, the highway is home to a few local boutiques. The veteran-owned Loving Stitches Quilt Shop is stocked with sewing supplies and hosts classes, while Back N The Day Antiques is filled with vintage finds. Locally grown produce and gourmet products bring shoppers from near and far to Hammonds Grandson's Produce. The farm stand, open Wednesday through Saturday, has been a fixture in the community since the 1960s. North of Interstate 295, Food Lion anchors a shopping center featuring a few restaurants, including El Burrito Mexican Restaurant, which serves traditional favorites in its rustic dining space, and Su’s Subs, a lunchtime sandwich spot. White says that residents drive about 20 miles south to Fayetteville for name-brand stores and medical care.
Long bus rides to public schools
Some students in Linden can travel nearly 15 miles to go to area public schools. Cumberland County Schools serves a majority of the community. The district, which has around 50,000 students and 86 schools, receives a B overall rating from Niche. The B-plus-rated Raleigh Road Elementary offers kindergarten and first grade. For second through fifth grades, students can move on to Long Hill Elementary, which gets an A-minus. Pine Forest Middle earns a B rating, while Pine Forest High gets a B-minus and offers career-focused academies in fields such as emergency medical science and information technology.
A small portion of Linden is zoned for Harnett County Schools. The district, with about 20,000 students and 28 schools, earns a C-plus rating. Anderson Creek Primary earns a B, while South Harnett Elementary gets a C. Western Harnett Middle and Overhills High receive B-minus ratings. Northview Baptist Academy, which Niche does not yet rate, is a private option offering kindergarten through 12th grade.
The Old Linden School still stands
Mature trees obscure the façade of the Old Linden School along McBryde Street. In operation during the early 20th century, the once regal Greek Revival-style building has sat abandoned for decades. While “no trespassing" signs warn the curious not to enter, multiple paranormal investigators have visited the school in recent years, as some believe it is haunted. While the future of the building remains unclear, White says the community values its historical significance, as many longtime residents once went to school there.
Highways facilitate commutes to Fort Bragg and Raleigh
The two-lane U.S. Route 401 is the main highway through Linden. It heads southwest to Fayetteville, less than 20 miles from the town center. Along with being the home of Fort Bragg, a major employer for the area, the city is the site of Fayetteville Regional Airport, which offers daily service to Charlotte and Atlanta. Raleigh is around a 50-mile drive via Interstate 40, or commuters can use state Routes 55 or 210 as an alternative. Interstate 95, a major north-south highway along the East Coast, is roughly 12 miles east of town.
Various houses of worship dot Linden, including several Christian churches representing denominations like Baptist and Presbyterian. In 2021, the Parkers Grove United Methodist Church building was purchased by the neo-pagan Asatru Folk Assembly, which has been identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
