rural areas to larger markets and economic opportunities. But during the Civil War, the roads were not maintained and fell apart. The roadbeds continued to be used, even with a rough top, and the roadbeds were the basis for later transportation development. References External links North Carolina History Project : Plank Roads North Carolina Archaeology : Fayetteville Plank Road Cumberland County at 250 Years : 1830-1854 : Rail plan splinters into planks Cumberland County History Sites : Plank Road Randolph County History Sites : Plank Road Visit Historic Bethania, Western Terminus of the F&W Plank Road Bibliography Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. Annual Report of the President and Directors Made to the Stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Fayetteville [N.C.]: The Co, 1850. Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. Charter and Bye-Laws, of the Fayetteville & Western Plank Road Company, Incorporated by the General Assembly of North Carolina, 1848-9. Fayetteville [N.C.]: E.J. Hale, 1849. The text of the Charter and by-laws are available online at: https://books.google.com/books?id=2F_PLxx_9csC&dq=%22Fayetteville%20and%20Western%20Plank%20Road%22&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q=%22Fayetteville%20and%20Western%20Plank%20Road%22&f=false Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. Proceedings of the ... Annual Meeting of the Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. Fayetteville, N.C.: Printed by Edward J. Hale, 1900. Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. Fourth Annual Report. Fayetteville: Edward J. Hale & Son, 1853. Report of the president and directors of the F. and W. plank road company, made to the stockholders at the annual meeting, April 14th and 15th, 1853. Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. The Fifth Annual Report of the President and Directors of the Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company to the Stockholders, April 13, 1854. Raleigh [N.C.]: W.W. Holden, Printer to the State, 1855. Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. Report of the President and Directors of the Fayetteville and Western Plank-Road Company, to April 1st., 1856. [Raleigh]: Holden & Wilson, 1856. Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. Report of the Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. 1850. Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company. Second and Third Annual Reports of the President and Directors of the F. and W. Plank Road Company,: Made to the Stockholders at the Annual Meetings, April 10, 1851, and April 8, 1852. Fayetteville, [N.C.]: Printed by Edward J. Hale & Son, 1852. Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company, and E. J. Hale. Proceedings of the Second Annual Meeting of the Fayetteville and Western Plank Road Company,: Held in Fayetteville, N.C., on Thursday and Friday,