[2] It was named after the Marquis de la Fayette, French hero of the American Revolutionary War.

Fayette is the home of Upper Iowa University, a small private college.

It is located just a few miles south of Volga River State Recreation Area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.48 square miles (3.83 km2), all land.

There were 444 housing units at an average density of 296.5 per square mile (114.5/km2).

There were 485 housing units at an average density of 327.7 per square mile (126.5/km2).

37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 446 housing units at an average density of 298.8 per square mile (115.4/km2).

35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

That one in turn merged into the North Fayette Valley district on July 1, 2018.