A charming downtown with a vibrant downtown square; a supportive community with an emphasis on local business - there are many reasons why Fayetteville, Tenn., calls itself "a small town with big ideas."
The city shares its name with Fayetteville, N.C., where some of the Tennessee town's earliest residents lived before moving to establish the namesake. Both are named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat and military general who fought for the U.S. during the American Revolution.
FAST FACTS
* Founded: 1809
* Population: 7,048
* Time zone: Central
* Claim to fame: Home of the "slawburger" and an annual festival in its honor
PARTY ON
* Lincoln County Fair: A staple in Lincoln County for over 100 years, some of the annual attendees have been going since they were children. Join the tradition Sept. 9-16 this year. The Marshall Tucker Band headlines opening night, and a demolition derby closes out the exciting offerings which earned the event the title of Champion Fair in Tennessee for 2010. (1010 Hedgemont Ave.; 931-433-6387 (fair week); 931-703-6621 (prior); lincolncountyfairtn.com)
* Host of Christmas Past: Each year, on the second weekend in November, downtown Fayetteville becomes a magical Christmas wonderland. The weekend-long celebration has been going on every year for more than 20 years and features a variety of musical performances, food vendors and shops. Get in the spirit this year Nov. 10-12. (208 Elk Ave.; 931-433-1234; hostofchristmaspast.com)
* Annual Slawburger Festival: This festival celebrates Fayetteville's famous slawburgers, a secret concoction of a mustard-based slaw atop a juicy burger. The daylong April festival includes live music, games, races and local vendors serving up their own takes on the slawburger. (Fayetteville Square, 112 Main Ave. S; 931-433-7006; slawburgerfestival.com)
EAT UP
* Honey's Restaurant: A part of Fayetteville since 1923, Honey's boasts a rich history, especially the role it played during World War II by providing military personnel from surrounding bases with good food and good fun. The restaurant's burgers - now called slawburgers - gained fame "truly by word of mouth," the restaurant claims on its Facebook page. (109 Market St. E; 931-433-1181)
* Cahoots Restaurant: Today, Cahoots serves sandwiches, burgers and seafood, but between the 1860s and 1970s, this unique eatery was a firehouse and jailhouse. When the restaurant opened in 1987, it converted those old jail cells into dining nooks so that families and friends could enjoy a good meal. (114 Market St. W; 931-433-1173)
GO SEE
* Lincoln Theatre: Built in the 1950s, this historic theater touts a modern movie experience with a '50's feel. It's located in the heart of downtown and screens HD and 3-D blockbuster films. (120 College St. E; 931-433-1943; lincolntheaterfayetteville.com)
* Flashback Antique Mall: If you love that feeling you get when you see something that takes you back in time, Fayetteville's antique mall is the place for you! You'll never know what you'll find among the 4,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles. (217 Main Ave. S; 931-433-3773; flashbackantiquemall.com)
HISTORY
* The first court in Fayetteville was held in the home of Bruce Garner. He was the first county clerk in the early 1800s.
* Fayetteville had an electric system long before the Tennessee Valley Authority existed.
* In 1899, Fayetteville completed its gravity water system. The unique gravitational flow system attracted the attention of visitors and engineers from as far away as New York. The system, which flowed into a large reservoir at 225,000 gallons per day, provided water for families and mills until the 1920s.
Sources: TennesseeEncyclopedia.net; U.S. Census Bureau; restaurant, event and attraction websites