Fayette County, Missouri

Fayette County, organized in 1821, is named for the Marquis de Lafayette, Gilbert du Montier, who helped the colonists defeat the British in the Revolutionary War. The 22,000 present-day residents of Fayette County are spread among its cities, which include Bingham, Brownstown, Farina, Hagarstown, Loogootee, Ramsey, Saint Elmo, Saint Peter, Shobonier and Vandalia.

The National Road, also known as the Cumberland Trail, is the first byway heading west across the United States, and runs from Cumberland, MD, through Wheeling, WV, Columbus, OH, Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Ind., then through Vandalia on its journey west. Vandalia is the Fayette County seat, located about 70 miles northeast of St Louis.

Vandalia actually was the first capital of Illinois, from 1819 to 1839. The Vandalia Statehouse was constructed in 1836 in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the seat of state government from being moved to Springfield. President Abraham Lincoln served as a state representative at the Vandalia Statehouse, the oldest existing capitol in the state.

To further commemorate Lincoln's impact on Vandalia, a park is being constructed across the street from the statehouse. The focal point of Lincoln Park will be a life-sized stature of the former president, sitting on a bench reading a newspaper. Other sites for Vandalia visitors: the Old State Cemetery, the Fayette County Museum, the Little Brick House and the 18-foot Madonna of the Trail statue, one of the 12 statues scattered across the United States. It was erected in 1928 by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to mark national trails created and used in this country's early years. The Vandalia monument marks the terminus of the National Road.

For outdoor enthusiasts, there's Vandalia Lake for water sports, and several golf courses. Nearby outdoor recreation includes Carlyle Lake, the Stephen A. Forbes State Park, and the Vandalia Country Club.

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