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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.
Fayetteville was originally founded by Abraham Vandal, a Revolutionary War veteran and local farmer. The town was originally named Vandalia. The Fayette County Courthouse 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.
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 Country Courthouse was complete and is a remarkable example of the Romanesque Revival architectural style.
Fayetteville grew rapidly in the late 1800s 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 thanks to the popularity of white water rafting, fishing, and mountain biking and rock climbing in the region.