Fayette County History

Fayetteville's Historic Dorsey House

Fayette County was founded as a result of the Land Lottery Draw of 1821 with property ceded from the Creek Indian Nation. Many of the new settlers were Revolutionary War veterans and it is surmised that they were instrumental in naming the county for Marquis de LaFayette, who fought alongside General George Washington. Fayette is an original county (not created from other counties) and the 49th in Georgia.

Did you know?

• During the Civil War, cavalry activity took place in the middle of Fayette County and was an indirect part of The Battle of Atlanta.
• The city of Fayetteville was named as the county seat in 1823 and the present-day courthouse in the town square was built in 1825. It remains the oldest courthouse in Georgia and is still in municipal use.
• In the 1930's, Margaret Mitchell spent time in Fayette County researching facts for her novel, Gone With The Wind. Her great grandfather, Phillip Fitzgerald, came to Fayette County in the 1830's and the Fitzgeralds were the prototype for the O'Haras in the book. They are buried in the Fayetteville City Cemetery.
• The infamous Holliday family was from Fayette County and one of "Doc" Holliday's cousins married a Fitzgerald, making the famed old west character a "kissin' cousin" of Margaret Mitchell.
• Peachtree City was founded in 1959 and is the most successful pre-planned city in the Southeast. It is now the largest municipality in the county and is home to companies from over ten foreign countries.