[8] In 1837, the county seat of government was moved from New Haven in the Mountain Cove District to Vandalia.

Later, the town's name was 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 Confederacy.

With neighboring counties being predominantly Unionist, however, Fayetteville changed hands several times during the war and was partially destroyed during the fighting.

In 1897, the Fayette County Courthouse was completed on part of the original Vandall farm and was a remarkable example of the Romanesque Revival architectural style.

[9] Fayetteville grew rapidly in the late 19th century thanks mainly to the coal industry.

Popular activities include white water rafting, fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing in the region.

The New River Gorge Bridge is the longest arch bridge in the western hemisphere; its creation made traveling on US 19 much easier, turning a 45-minute sojourn from one side of the gorge to the other into a roughly 45-second jaunt.

[11] Located less than a mile away from Fayetteville is the New River Gorge, which attracts outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

The scenic cliffs that line the New River Gorge are popular for rock climbing.