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Fayette County

Fayette County was established on February 28, 1831, and named for the Marquis de Lafayette, the French general who aided the American Revolution. Located in south‑central West Virginia, the county became a major center of coal mining and railroad development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The New River Gorge—now a national park—runs through the county and historically supported timber, mining, and transportation industries. Fayetteville, the county seat, grew around these economic activities. The iconic New River Gorge Bridge, completed in 1977, symbolizes the county’s shift toward tourism and outdoor recreation.

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