Court Street, downtown (©2004 A.E. Crane, courtesy of byways.org)

Fayetteville was listed as one of the 2006 "Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America" by Budget Travel Magazinehttp://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2006/03/09/AR2006030901203.html.

Geography

Fayetteville is located at (38.051181, -81.106961).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.6 km² (3.0 mi²), all land.

Demographics

Fayette County courthouse

There were 1,151 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,043, and the median income for a family was $44,444. Males had a median income of $35,603 versus $20,909 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,710. About 9.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.

It is one of the most notorious speed traps in Fayette County, and second in southern West Virginia, next to Summersville, WV.

History

Fayetteville was originally founded by Abraham Vandal, a Revolutionary War veteran and local farmer. The town was originally named Vandalia. The Fayette County Courthouse is located on part of the original Vandal farm. The town?s name was later (prior to 1837) changed to Fayetteville after the Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette.

During the Civil War, the majority of the people in Fayetteville were in sympathy with the Southern cause. Fayetteville changed hands several times during the war and was partially destroyed during the fighting.

In 1897 the Fayette Country Courthouse was complete and is a remarkable example of the Romanesque Revival architectural style.

Fayettevile grew rapidly in the late 1800s thanks mainly to the coal industry. The mining industry declined in the late 20th century. Fayetteville?s economy now is partially based on the tourism industry thanks to the popularity of white water rafting, fishing, and mountain biking in the region.

Noted people

• Tunney Hunsaker - Not from here, but was the police chief of the town when he was Cassius Clay's first professional boxing opponent. Also the state's youngest police chief.

References

External links

nl:Fayetteville (West Virginia) pt:Fayetteville (Virgínia Ocidental) vo:Fayetteville (West Virginia)

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