Fayette County was formed from parts of the Creek Indian Nation. Georgia's 49th county and its county seat, Fayetteville, were named for the Marquis de LaFayette, one of General George Washington's commanders in the Revolutionary War.

The Fayette County Courthouse in Fayetteville was built in 1825, making it the oldest courthouse in the state. Every Halloween children in the county fill the courthouse square with elaborately decorated jack-o-lanterns.

Housed in the former Margaret Mitchell Library in Fayetteville, the Fayette County Historical Society features historical collections concerning the civil war and local genealogical records.

The "world's largest courthouse bench" is located alongside the southern walkway approach to the county courthouse in Fayetteville.

The largest city in the county, Peachtree City, is a totally planned municipality, which features over 90 miles of pedestrian and golf-cart pathways connecting all parts of the city.