Fayette County, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fayette County
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Fayette County courthouse in Fayetteville
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Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
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 West Virginia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  West Virginia |
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| Founded | February 28, 1831 | ||
| Named for | Marquis de la Fayette | ||
| Seat | Fayetteville | ||
| Largest city | Oak Hill | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 668 sq mi (1,730 km2) | ||
| • Land | 662 sq mi (1,710 km2) | ||
| • Water | 6.8 sq mi (18 km2) 1.0%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 40,488 | ||
| • Estimate
(2021)
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39,927  |
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| • Density | 60.61/sq mi (23.402/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 1st | ||
Fayette County is a county located in the state of West Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, about 40,488 people lived there. The main town, also called its county seat, is Fayetteville. Fayette County is part of the Beckley, West Virginia area in the southern part of the state.
Contents
History of Fayette County
Fayette County was created in February 1831. It was formed from parts of several other counties in Virginia. The county was named after the Marquis de la Fayette. He was a French hero who helped the American army during the American Revolutionary War.
Fayette County was one of 50 counties that Virginia lost. This happened when West Virginia became a new state in 1863. This was during the American Civil War. Later, in 1850, a large part of Fayette County was used to create Raleigh County. In 1871, a small part was also used to form Summers County.
In 1863, counties in West Virginia were divided into areas called townships. This was to help local governments. Fayette County first had four townships. Later, more were added. These townships were changed into "magisterial districts" in 1872. Today, Fayette County has three main districts: New Haven, Plateau, and Valley.
A sad event happened in Fayette County in March 1900. A mine explosion at Red Ash killed 46 miners. In the early 1900s, Fayette County also made history. It elected some of the first African American lawmakers to the state legislature.
Geography of Fayette County
Fayette County covers a total area of about 668 square miles. Most of this area, 662 square miles, is land. The remaining 6.8 square miles is water. Plum Orchard Lake is in the county. It is the second largest lake in West Virginia.
Main Roads in Fayette County
- Interstate 64
- Interstate 77
- U.S. Route 19
- U.S. Route 60
- West Virginia Route 16
- West Virginia Route 39
- West Virginia Route 41
- West Virginia Route 61
- West Virginia Route 612
Neighboring Counties
- Nicholas County (north)
- Greenbrier County (east)
- Summers County (southeast)
- Raleigh County (south)
- Kanawha County (west)
Protected Natural Areas
People in Fayette County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 3,924 | — | |
| 1850 | 3,955 | 0.8% | |
| 1860 | 5,997 | 51.6% | |
| 1870 | 6,647 | 10.8% | |
| 1880 | 11,560 | 73.9% | |
| 1890 | 20,542 | 77.7% | |
| 1900 | 31,987 | 55.7% | |
| 1910 | 51,903 | 62.3% | |
| 1920 | 60,377 | 16.3% | |
| 1930 | 72,050 | 19.3% | |
| 1940 | 80,628 | 11.9% | |
| 1950 | 82,443 | 2.3% | |
| 1960 | 61,731 | −25.1% | |
| 1970 | 49,332 | −20.1% | |
| 1980 | 57,863 | 17.3% | |
| 1990 | 47,952 | −17.1% | |
| 2000 | 47,579 | −0.8% | |
| 2010 | 46,039 | −3.2% | |
| 2020 | 40,488 | −12.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 39,927 | −13.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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In 2010, there were 46,039 people living in Fayette County. Most people were white (93.5%). About 4.6% were black or African American. The average age was 43 years old. The average income for a household was about $31,912.
Economy of Fayette County
Fayette County has a long history of coal mining. This industry still provides many jobs. There is also a large lumber mill near Mount Hope. A metal alloy plant is located in Alloy. The Mount Olive Correctional Complex, which is West Virginia's only maximum security state prison, is also in the county.
In recent years, the economy has changed. A lot of money is now spent on outdoor activities and tourism. People come to the area for adventures and to see the beautiful nature.
Notable People from Fayette County
- George Cafego, a famous football player
- DJ Cheese, the first world champion DJ
- Walt Craddock, a former professional baseball player
- Bob Elkins, an actor
- Randy Gilkey, a singer and songwriter
- Tunney Hunsaker, a professional boxer and police chief
- Julia Neale Jackson, mother of Stonewall Jackson
- Harley M. Kilgore, a former U.S. Senator
- Jason Kincaid, a professional wrestler
- John McClung, a musician
- Charlie McCoy, a musician and singer
- MacGillivray Milne, a former governor
- Tom Pridemore, a former NFL football player
- Timothy Truman, a writer, artist, and musician
- Lonnie Warwick, a professional football player
Communities in Fayette County
Cities
- Montgomery (part)
- Mount Hope
- Oak Hill
- Smithers (part)
Towns
- Ansted
- Fayetteville (county seat)
- Gauley Bridge
- Meadow Bridge
- Pax
- Thurmond
Magisterial Districts
- New Haven
- Plateau
- Valley
Census-Designated Places
Unincorporated Communities
- Agnew
- Alloy
- Alta
- Beckwith
- Boonesborough
- Brooklyn
- Brown
- Cannelton
- Caperton
- Carlisle
- Chimney Corner
- Clifftop
- Columbia
- Corliss
- Danese
- Dempsey
- Dothan
- Eagle
- Edmond
- Elkridge
- Fayette
- Greenstown
- Hamilton
- Harvey
- Hilton Village
- Hopewell
- Jodie
- Kanawha Falls
- Kingston
- Landisburg
- Lansing
- Layland
- Lochgelly
- Lookout
- McDunn
- Mahan
- Marvel
- Maywood
- Montgomery Heights
- Mossy
- Nallen
- North Page
- Nuttall
- Nuttalburg
- Oak Ridge
- Ramsey
- Red Star
- Robson
- Russellville
- Sanger
- Smithers
- Toney Creek
- Victor
- Whipple
- Winona
- Wriston
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Fayette (Virginia Occidental) para niños
