Fayetteville, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Fayetteville is a town in and the county seat
of Fayette County
, West Virginia
, United States
. The population was 2,754 at the 2000 census.
Fayetteville was listed as one of the 2006 "Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America" by Budget Travel Magazine http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2006/03/09/AR2006030901203.html.
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 who toured the US in 1824/25
.
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 County Courthouse was completed and is a remarkable example of the Romanesque Revival architectural style. The Altamont Hotel
was built the same year. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, along with the E. B. Hawkins House
. The Fayetteville Historic District
was designated in 1990.
Fayetteville grew rapidly in the late 19th century thanks mainly to the coal industry. The mining industry declined in the late 20th century. Fayetteville’s economy now is almost completely based on the tourism industry. Popular activities include white water rafting, fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing in the region. Also, the New River Gorge Bridge hosts annual celebration, "Bridge Day," which is held on the third Saturday of October.
The New River Gorge Bridge
is the longest arch bridge in the western hemisphere; its creation made traveling on 19N much easier, turning a 45-minute sojourn from one side of the gorge to the other into a roughly 45-second jaunt. The New River is the second oldest river in the world and is one of many rivers to flow north.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.6 km²), all land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 2,754 people, 1,151 households, and 766 families residing in the town. The population density
was 934.8 people per square mile (360.4/km²). There were 1,257 housing units at an average density of 426.7 per square mile (164.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.88% White, 4.58% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races
, and 0.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of the population.
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.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Fayette County
Fayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,754 at the 2000 census.
Fayetteville was listed as one of the 2006 "Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America" by Budget Travel Magazine http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2006/03/09/AR2006030901203.html.
History
Fayetteville was originally founded by Abraham Vandal, a Revolutionary War veteran and local farmer. The town was originally named Vandalia. The Fayette County CourthouseFayette County Courthouse (West Virginia)
Fayette County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located at Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia. It was built in 1894-1895, and is a 2 1/2 story, five bay wide, rectangular building with projecting wings. The basement level is built of sanstone and faced in ashlar. Above that, the walls...
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 who toured the US in 1824/25
Visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to the United States (1824-25)
From July 1824 to September 1825, the last surviving French General of the Revolutionary War, the Marquis de Lafayette, made a famous tour of the 24 states in the United States...
.
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 County Courthouse was completed and is a remarkable example of the Romanesque Revival architectural style. The Altamont Hotel
Altamont Hotel
Altamont Hotel is a historic hotel located at Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia. It was built in 1897-1898, and is a 2 1/2 story, "T"-shaped brick building on a raised basement. It features a gently sloping hipped roof and wraparound Victorian verandah. In the 1930s, it was adapted for...
was built the same year. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, along with the E. B. Hawkins House
E. B. Hawkins House
E. B. Hawkins House, also known as the Hawkins-Ballard House, is a historic mansion located at Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia. It was built in 1905-1906, and is a clapboard and shingle-sided dwelling in a modified Colonial Revival style. It features gambrel roofs and rambling...
. The Fayetteville Historic District
Fayetteville Historic District (Fayetteville, West Virginia)
Fayetteville Historic District is a national historic district located at Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia. The district encompasses 126 contributing buildings, 4 contributing sites, and 3 contributing structures. It includes the central business district and surrounding residential...
was designated in 1990.
Fayetteville grew rapidly in the late 19th century thanks mainly to the coal industry. The mining industry declined in the late 20th century. Fayetteville’s economy now is almost completely based on the tourism industry. Popular activities include white water rafting, fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing in the region. Also, the New River Gorge Bridge hosts annual celebration, "Bridge Day," which is held on the third Saturday of October.
The New River Gorge Bridge
New River Gorge Bridge
The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. With an arch long, the New River Gorge Bridge was for many years the world's longest arch bridge; it is now the third...
is the longest arch bridge in the western hemisphere; its creation made traveling on 19N much easier, turning a 45-minute sojourn from one side of the gorge to the other into a roughly 45-second jaunt. The New River is the second oldest river in the world and is one of many rivers to flow north.
Geography
Fayetteville is located at 38°3′4"N 81°6′25"W (38.051181, -81.106961).According to the United States 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 town has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.6 km²), all land.
Demographics
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. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,754 people, 1,151 households, and 766 families residing in the town. 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 934.8 people per square mile (360.4/km²). There were 1,257 housing units at an average density of 426.7 per square mile (164.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.88% White, 4.58% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of the population.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Notable residents
- Tunney HunsakerTunney HunsakerTunney Morgan Hunsaker was the police chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia in 1960 when Hunsaker was Cassius Clay's first opponent in a professional boxing bout. After the fight Hunsaker said "Clay was as fast as lightning ... I tried every trick I knew to throw at him off balance but he was just...
- Professional boxer and longtime Fayetteville police chief - Andrew Weis - Three Time West Virginia All-State Football (RB,DB,DE)
- Louis Colon - 20 year Retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant. Graduated in the class of 1984.