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Fayette County, West Virginia

 

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Fayette County, West Virginia



 
 
Fayette County is a county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of West Virginia
West Virginia

West Virginia is a U.S. state in the Appalachian, Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic States regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia on the southeast, Kentucky on the southwest, Ohio on the northwest, and Pennsylvania and Maryland on the northeast....
. As of 2000, the population was 47,579. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Fayetteville
Fayetteville, West Virginia

Fayetteville is a town in and the county seat of Fayette County, West Virginia, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,754 at the 2000 United States Census....
.

tte County was created by Act of the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly

The Virginia General Assembly is the State legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The General Assembly is a bicameralism body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members, and an upper house, the Senate of Virginia, with 40 members....
, passed February 28, 1831, from parts of Greenbrier
Greenbrier County, West Virginia

Greenbrier County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 34,453. Its county seat is Lewisburg, West Virginia....
, Kanawha
Kanawha County, West Virginia

Kanawha County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia taking its name from the Native term, Kanawha: "place of white stone". As of 2000, the population was 200,073....
, Nicholas
Nicholas County, West Virginia

Nicholas County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 26,562. Its county seat is Summersville, West Virginia....
, and Logan
Logan County, West Virginia

Logan County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 37,710. Its county seat is Logan, West Virginia....
 counties. It was named in honor of the Marquis de la Fayette, who had played a key role assisting the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , also known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and Thirteen Colonies on the North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers....
.

A substantial portion was subdivided from Fayette County to form Raleigh County
Raleigh County, West Virginia

Raleigh County, founded in 1850, is located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 79,220. Its county seat is Beckley, West Virginia....
 in 1850.






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Encyclopedia


Fayette County is a county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of West Virginia
West Virginia

West Virginia is a U.S. state in the Appalachian, Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic States regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia on the southeast, Kentucky on the southwest, Ohio on the northwest, and Pennsylvania and Maryland on the northeast....
. As of 2000, the population was 47,579. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Fayetteville
Fayetteville, West Virginia

Fayetteville is a town in and the county seat of Fayette County, West Virginia, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,754 at the 2000 United States Census....
.

History

Fayette County was created by Act of the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly

The Virginia General Assembly is the State legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The General Assembly is a bicameralism body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members, and an upper house, the Senate of Virginia, with 40 members....
, passed February 28, 1831, from parts of Greenbrier
Greenbrier County, West Virginia

Greenbrier County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 34,453. Its county seat is Lewisburg, West Virginia....
, Kanawha
Kanawha County, West Virginia

Kanawha County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia taking its name from the Native term, Kanawha: "place of white stone". As of 2000, the population was 200,073....
, Nicholas
Nicholas County, West Virginia

Nicholas County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 26,562. Its county seat is Summersville, West Virginia....
, and Logan
Logan County, West Virginia

Logan County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 37,710. Its county seat is Logan, West Virginia....
 counties. It was named in honor of the Marquis de la Fayette, who had played a key role assisting the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , also known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and Thirteen Colonies on the North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers....
.

A substantial portion was subdivided from Fayette County to form Raleigh County
Raleigh County, West Virginia

Raleigh County, founded in 1850, is located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 79,220. Its county seat is Beckley, West Virginia....
 in 1850. Fayette was one of 50 counties that broke off from the rest of Virginia and formed the new state of West Virginia during the American Civil War
American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
. In 1871, an Act of the West Virginia Legislature severed an small portion was taken to form part of Summers County
Summers County, West Virginia

Summers County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 12,999. Its county seat is Hinton, West Virginia....
.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
, the county has a total area of 668 square miles (1,731 kmē), of which, 664 square miles (1,720 kmē) of it is land and 4 square miles (11 kmē) of it (0.66%) is water.

Major highways

  • I 64
    I 77
    Interstate 64
    Interstate 64

    Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. Its western terminus is currently in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill, Virginia in Chesapeake, Virginia....
    /Interstate 77
    Interstate 77

    Interstate 77 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio....
  • Us 19
    U.S. Highway 19
  • Us 60
    U.S. Highway 60
  • Wv 16
    West Virginia Route 16
  • Wv 41
    West Virginia Route 41
  • Wv 61
    West Virginia Route 61


Adjacent counties

  • Nicholas County
    Nicholas County, West Virginia

    Nicholas County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 26,562. Its county seat is Summersville, West Virginia....
     (north)
  • Greenbrier County
    Greenbrier County, West Virginia

    Greenbrier County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 34,453. Its county seat is Lewisburg, West Virginia....
     (east)
  • Summers County
    Summers County, West Virginia

    Summers County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 12,999. Its county seat is Hinton, West Virginia....
     (southeast)
  • Raleigh County
    Raleigh County, West Virginia

    Raleigh County, founded in 1850, is located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 79,220. Its county seat is Beckley, West Virginia....
     (south)
  • Kanawha County
    Kanawha County, West Virginia

    Kanawha County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia taking its name from the Native term, Kanawha: "place of white stone". As of 2000, the population was 200,073....
     (west)


National protected area
Protected area

Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their environmental, cultural or similar value. The term protected area includes marine protected area, which refers to protected areas whose boundaries include some area of ocean....
s

  • Gauley River National Recreation Area
    Gauley River National Recreation Area

    The Gauley River National Recreation Area, located near Summersville, West Virginia, protects a 25-mile portion of the Gauley River and a 5?-mile segment of the Meadow River in southern West Virginia....
     (part)
  • New River Gorge National River
    New River Gorge National River

    The New River Gorge National River is a unit of the United States National Park Service designed to protect and maintain the New River in southern West Virginia....
     (part)


Demographics

As of the census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
 of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans....
 was 72 people per square mile (28/kmē). There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/kmē). The racial makeup of the county was 92.74% White
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 5.57% Black
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or African American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.27% Native American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.30% Asian
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.15% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or Latino
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 of any race.

There were 18,945 households out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
 living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,788, and the median income for a family was $30,243. Males had a median income of $28,554 versus $18,317 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 for the county was $13,809. About 18.20% of families and 21.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.90% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns


Incorporated cities and towns

Fayettectycourthouse Fayettevillewv


Unincorporated communities


Politics

The county had traditionally been Democratic in the Presidential election, but had been shifting Republican since at least 2000. In 2008 John McCain
John McCain

John Sidney McCain III is the senior senator United States United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican Party presidential nominee in the 2008 United States presidential election....
 became the first Republican to win the county since Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and the only president to resign the office....
 in 1972.

See also

  • Babcock State Park
    Babcock State Park

    Babcock State Park is a state park located along the New River Gorge National River on wooded in Fayette County, West Virginia, West Virginia. Located near the park headquarters, the Glade Creek Grist Mill is among the most photographed tourist sites in the state of West Virginia....
  • Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area
    Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area

    Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area is located on near Babcock State Park in Fayette County, West Virginia, West Virginia. The Beury Mountain sloping terrain is covered with mixed hardwoods and oak-hickory second growth woodlands overlooking New River Gorge....
  • Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area
    Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area

    Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area, is located near Pax, West Virginia in Fayette County, West Virginia county. Located on land that varies from wetlands to steeply forested woodlands, the Pleasant Creek WMA rises to an elevation of .Access to Plum Orchard Lake WMA is from the Mossy or Pax, West Virginia exits of I-77, then...
  • Hawks Nest State Park
    Hawks Nest State Park

    Hawks Nest State Park is located on in Fayette County, West Virginia near Ansted, West Virginia. The park's clifftop overlook along U.S. Route 60 provides a scenic vista of the New River , some 750 feet below....
  • Bridge Day
    Bridge Day

    Bridge Day is an annual one-day festival in Fayetteville, West Virginia and sponsored by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, that commemorates the 1977 completion of the New River Gorge Bridge....


External links