About Fayette County
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 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.
Fayette County was created by Act of the Virginia General Assembly, passed February 28, 1831, from parts of Greenbrier, Kanawha, Nicholas, and Logan 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.
A substantial portion was subdivided from Fayette County to form Raleigh County 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. In 1871, an Act of the West Virginia Legislature severed an small portion was taken to form part of Summers County.
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As of the census3 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 (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, 5.57% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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 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 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.
- Interstate 64/Interstate 77
- U.S. Highway 19
- U.S. Highway 60
- West Virginia Route 16
- West Virginia Route 41
- West Virginia Route 61
- Nicholas County (north)
- Greenbrier County (east)
- Summers County (southeast)
- Raleigh County (south)
- Kanawha County (west)
State Parks & Wildlife Management Areas
- Babcock State Park
- Hawks Nest State Park
- Beaury Mountain Wildlife Management Area
- Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area
National protected areas
- Gauley River National Recreation Area (part)
- New River Gorge National River (part)
[Information based upon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayette_County,_West_Virginia, April 29, 20009.]