Fayette County Cooperative Extension -

Fayette County is situated in Southwestern Pennsylvania, amidst the rolling foothills of the Allegheny Mountains and the flowing waterways of the Youghiogheny and the Monongahela Rivers. A primarily rural county, Fayette encompasses an area of 790 square miles with a population of approximately 150,000 persons.

Rich in history and natural resources, Fayette County is the home of two National Parks, five National Historic Landmark Sites, and numerous Historic Landmark Sites. Pennsylvania's second most popular state park, Ohiopyle, is located in Fayette County along with hundreds of acres of state forests. Fayette is the home of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, Fallingwater, as well as the birthplace of General George C. Marshall, Nobel Peace Prize winner.

In colonial times, Fayette County served as a gateway for western expansion; the National Road traverses Fayette County. The Monongahela River, the western border of the county, served as a major transportation system connecting people to the Ohio River in Pittsburgh. Towns and villages up and down the river prospered in the commerce of transportation and trade.

As the land was settled, agriculture played the prominent role in the local economy with an ideal climate for sheep raising. As agricultural centers moved westward, local farmers had difficulty competing with the larger, mechanized farms.

Still, the populace adapted. With the Industrial Revolution came the mining of the area's rich coalfields. Subsequently, heavy manufacturing in metals and glass developed along the rivers, and the region experienced its most prosperous economic times from the mid-1800's through the mid-1900's. By 1955, nearly one-half of the region's workforce was employed in manufacturing. During that time, the Pittsburgh area's total employment was concentrated in a narrower base of industries than any other major metropolitan area in the country, except Detroit.

The resources that led to these boom times would not last forever. The vast exploitation was taking its toll on the land. By the early 1960's, steel and its associated industries began to decline in both absolute and relative terms. These events left the area with few employment opportunities and little infrastructure to encourage the development of other industries.

Despite remaining rich in coal and natural gas, modern mines rely less on labor and are not viewed as a significant source of jobs in the county. Local political and business leaders continue to call for diversification of the economic base. Much attention has been given to service (tourism) and high-tech industries as potential growth areas.

And Fayette County is well on its way toward recovery. With initiatives such as Fayette Forward, the County's strategic plan, designation as a Federal Enterprise Community, new tourism promotion materials, infrastructure investments, new business parks, and a commitment to working together for change, the community of Fayette County is positioned for greatness.

Penn State Cooperative Extension, Fayette County
Annual Reports

Fayette County Cooperative Extension
Advisory Board

County Statistics

Check out these resources.

Census 2000 from the Center for Community and Economic Development

General Census: http://cecd.aers.psu.edu/census2000

Fayette County: http://cecd.aers.psu.edu/county_profile.htm



	\| County Information you are here
County Facts Fayette County is situated in Southwestern Pennsylvania, amidst the rolling foothills of the Allegheny Mountains and the flowing waterways of the Youghiogheny and the Monongahela Rivers. A primarily rural county, Fayette encompasses an area of 790 square miles with a population of approximately 150,000 persons. Rich in history and natural resources, Fayette County is the home of two National Parks, five National Historic Landmark Sites, and numerous Historic Landmark Sites. Pennsylvania's second most popular state park, Ohiopyle, is located in Fayette County along with hundreds of acres of state forests. Fayette is the home of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, Fallingwater, as well as the birthplace of General George C. Marshall, Nobel Peace Prize winner. In colonial times, Fayette County served as a gateway for western expansion; the National Road traverses Fayette County. The Monongahela River, the western border of the county, served as a major transportation system connecting people to the Ohio River in Pittsburgh. Towns and villages up and down the river prospered in the commerce of transportation and trade. As the land was settled, agriculture played the prominent role in the local economy with an ideal climate for sheep raising. As agricultural centers moved westward, local farmers had difficulty competing with the larger, mechanized farms. Still, the populace adapted. With the Industrial Revolution came the mining of the area's rich coalfields. Subsequently, heavy manufacturing in metals and glass developed along the rivers, and the region experienced its most prosperous economic times from the mid-1800's through the mid-1900's. By 1955, nearly one-half of the region's workforce was employed in manufacturing. During that time, the Pittsburgh area's total employment was concentrated in a narrower base of industries than any other major metropolitan area in the country, except Detroit. The resources that led to these boom times would not last forever. The vast exploitation was taking its toll on the land. By the early 1960's, steel and its associated industries began to decline in both absolute and relative terms. These events left the area with few employment opportunities and little infrastructure to encourage the development of other industries. Despite remaining rich in coal and natural gas, modern mines rely less on labor and are not viewed as a significant source of jobs in the county. Local political and business leaders continue to call for diversification of the economic base. Much attention has been given to service (tourism) and high-tech industries as potential growth areas. And Fayette County is well on its way toward recovery. With initiatives such as Fayette Forward, the County's strategic plan, designation as a Federal Enterprise Community, new tourism promotion materials, infrastructure investments, new business parks, and a commitment to working together for change, the community of Fayette County is positioned for greatness. Penn State Cooperative Extension, Fayette County Annual Reports Fayette County Cooperative Extension Advisory Board County Statistics Check out these resources. Census 2000 from the Center for Community and Economic Development General Census: http://cecd.aers.psu.edu/census2000 Fayette County: http://cecd.aers.psu.edu/county_profile.htm USDA home page: http://www.usda.gov
Penn State \| College of Agricultural Sciences \| Cooperative Extension & Outreach This page last updated Friday, April 25, 2003 16:20 Copyright Information This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity University. This site is a product of Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Please e-mail us with your questions, comments or suggestions at FayetteExt@psu.edu.