FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A last-ditch appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court will not stop the city of Fayetteville from growing. A controversial annexation plan went into effect overnight, adding thousands to the population.

The annexation, which was the biggest in the history of Fayetteville, included 40 neighborhoods and more than 43,000 Cumberland County residents. Many have fiercely opposed it.

"The question was asked, 'Why are we so adamant in this fight?' The answer is you might visualize us hanging in a well by our fingertips. It's a life-or-death or do-or-die situation," resident Bill Crisp said.

The annexation means added city services, but it also comes with higher property taxes.

"We believe that this annexation was wrong and if something's wrong, you fight it with everything you've got as long as you've got until the very end," resident Walter Murphy said.

Despite public protests and lawsuits, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the city. Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case.