Fayette County, Virginia facts for kids
Fayette County, Virginia isn't a place you'll find on a map today! That's because it was a name used for an area that later became parts of two different states: Fayette County, Kentucky and Fayette County, West Virginia. This can be a bit confusing, but it's a cool example of how states and their borders have changed over time in the United States.
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What Was Fayette County, Virginia?
Back in the late 1700s, the state of Virginia was much larger than it is now. It included land that is now the state of Kentucky and also the land that became West Virginia. As people moved west, new counties were created to help govern these growing areas.
One of these new counties was named Fayette County. It was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1780. The county was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero who helped the American colonists win their independence during the American Revolutionary War. He was a very popular figure, and many places in the U.S. are named after him.
Fayette County, Kentucky: A New State is Born
The original Fayette County, Virginia, was located in what is now central Kentucky. As more and more people settled in this western part of Virginia, they started to feel that their needs were different from those living closer to the state capital. They wanted to form their own state.
After several years of discussions and meetings, the people in this region finally got their wish. In 1792, Kentucky officially became the 15th state in the United States. When Kentucky became a state, Fayette County, Virginia, became Fayette County, Kentucky. It's still a very important county in Kentucky today, with its main city being Lexington.
Fayette County, West Virginia: A Civil War Split
The other "Fayette County, Virginia" refers to a different area that was also part of the original Virginia. This area was located in the mountainous western part of the state.
During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Virginia was deeply divided. The western counties had different views from the eastern part of the state, especially about slavery and joining the Confederacy. These western counties decided to form their own state.
In 1863, during the war, West Virginia officially separated from Virginia and became its own state. When this happened, a county that had been formed in 1831 and named Fayette County, Virginia, became Fayette County, West Virginia. This county is known for its beautiful mountains, rivers, and outdoor activities like whitewater rafting.
So, when you hear "Fayette County, Virginia," it's a historical reference to two different places that were once part of the original Virginia, but are now important counties in two separate states!
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