About Fayette County
Vision Statement Mission Statement
Statement of Organizational Values History
VISION STATEMENT
We envision a local level of government that remains open and easily accessible to all citizens and does so in a manner that generates trust and confidence among taxpayers, employees, and elected officials.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of Fayette County Government is to provide critical services to protect and enhance the health, safety and welfare of its citizens in a manner that is efficient, fiscally and environmentally responsible, and which perpetuates a quality lifestyle for future generations.
STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
The programs and services provided by Fayette County Government are responsive to and prioritized in accordance with community expectations and legislative mandates, while simultaneously ensuring the health, safety and welfare of citizens.
All County Government services are grounded in respect and concern for citizens.
The County strives always to work for the benefit of all citizens and consistently takes our citizens interests and needs into consideration when making decisions.
Cooperation, trust and teamwork are hallmarks of our service delivery values.
Our Organization embodies a culture that values open communication, effective community relationships and excellence in all endeavors.
We are committed to excellence, we value our employees and their abilities, and we are committed to ensuring their safety and security through effective staffing and competitive compensation.
We seek always to improve our services through innovation, integrity, and competence.
History of Fayette County
Fayette County, established in 1821 through Georgia’s Land Lottery, is one of the state’s original counties. Formed from land ceded by the Creek Nation, it was named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, a Revolutionary War hero who fought alongside George Washington.
Originally extending to present-day Atlanta and Jonesboro, parts of Fayette later contributed to the formation of Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, and Spalding counties. Fayetteville became the county seat in 1823, and its historic courthouse, built in 1825, is the oldest in Georgia still in use.
For much of its history, Fayetteville was the county’s only city. Today, the incorporated municipalities include Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone, Brooks, and Woolsey. Peachtree City, created in 1959, stands out as the Southeast’s only successful pre-planned city, home to many international businesses and symbolized by a fountain gifted by Japanese companies.
Fayette County also played a role in the Civil War, with cavalry activity and supply trains burned near Fayetteville during the Atlanta Campaign. In the 1930s, author Margaret Mitchell researched her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Gone with the Wind here, drawing inspiration from her great-grandfather Phillip Fitzgerald, a local resident whose family helped inspire the fictional O’Haras. Notably, Mitchell was distantly connected to famed Old West figure “Doc” Holliday, whose family also hailed from Fayette.
Rich in history and community spirit, Fayette County continues to honor its past while embracing growth. Since 1972, the Fayette County Historical Society has preserved local heritage, meeting regularly to share and celebrate the stories that shaped the county.