Wednesday, August 13, 2003
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Wednesday, August 13, 2003 |
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Fayette across America, Part 3 By MICHAEL
BOYLAN Are you ready for the next part of the virtual journey? So far we have traveled to Fayette Counties in Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Today, we will go from Texas to Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana. It is a really long drive from Fayette County, Texas, to Fayette County, Iowa. You could break it up with stops in Kansas, Oklahoma or Nebraska, if you are so inclined. Take I-35 N for 400 miles then I-335 N for another 50 to I-470 E. From there, you will drive on I-70 E to I-635 N, which you will take to I-29 N/US 71 N back on to I-35 N for 300 miles to US-18 and then you're there. Now, remember, these directions are from MapQuest, so you may be able to ride I-35 North the whole way. If you really want to take this trip, I suggest you get OnStar so you don't get lost along the way. Anyway, here we are in Fayette County, Iowa. The county was organized in 1837 and is named after the Marquis de Lafayette. It is made up of the cities and towns of Clermont, Fayette, Maynard, Oelwein, Waduca, Waucoma, and West Union, which is the county seat. According to the 2000 census, there are 22,008 people in the county, spread out over 731 square miles. If you head up there now you can take your chances in the Maize Maze and take in the Old Fashioned Picnic on the Montauk Grounds this weekend. One could also hike around Echo Valley State park or swim or boat in the Volga or Little Volga Rivers. Other attractions throughout the year include Railroad Days, the Fayette County Fair, Fayette County Fall Foliage Days, poking around the Montauk State Historic Site, the Hub City Heritage Railway, the Fayette County Historical museum or the area where David Lynch filmed his G-rated film "The Straight Story" in 1999. When you're done in Iowa, it is time to take the trip to Fayette County, Illinois. Take US-18 to US-18/US-52 and stay right on US-52 for 33 miles before you merge on to US-61 S for 66 miles before taking I-80 E toward Chicago. From there you will take I-74 E for 87 miles, IL-121 S for 21,802 people. The county seat is Vandalia which also used to be the state capitol. The area is best known for being where Abraham Lincoln started his political career. If you wanted to, you could find a tree stump, stand a top it and start a debate with passersby on why slavery should be abolished. They may look at you funny, but you'll be re-enacting a famous moment in this country's history. Fayette County, Illinois is made up of the cities of Vandalia and Saint Elmo - I'm not sure if there was a fire there or not. It is also made up of several villages including Brownstown, Farina, Ramsey and Saint Peter. For fun, you can visit Ramsey Lake State Park, the Carlyle Lake Wildlife Management Area or the Vandalia Statehouse. Every July, Brownstown hosts the Fayette County Fair. After Illinois, it's time to go to the state with the biggest Fayette County of them all, Kentucky. Take I-64 W for 51 miles to I-65 towards Nashville/Indiana. From there take I-64E toward Louisville for 253 miles and then you're there. Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky. Horse capital of the World. There is a ton of stuff to do in and around Lexington, whether it's taking in some horse racing or a University of Kentucky basketball game. One can also walk the campus of Transylvania University and not be afraid of vampires. Fayette County, Kentucky, was formed in 1780 and houses 260,512 people in 284.52 square miles. Lexington is the second largest city in Kentucky and in 1974 Lexington consolidated the city and county governments into one system. There are 96 parks in Fayette County, Kentucky, sprawling over 4,000 acres. Because of the high number of parks, it seems there is always something going on. A sampling of some recent events include Ballet Under the Stars, Fiesta Latina, Kite Fest, various arts festivals, May Fest and Poolapalooza. Another thing that Fayette County has is a Horse Parade, much like the Cow Parade that Atlanta currently has. There are also several museums, including an Aviation Museum, a Children's Museum and a Toy and Train Museum. Recently, Lexington has housed a WWII Bomber exhibition and the 18 and Under World Series. After a few days in Lexington, it is time to head to Fayette County, Indiana. Take I-64 W 51 miles to I-65. From there you will go on I-71 S to I-65 N 50 miles to US-50 W and then you're there. Fayette County, Indiana was established in 1819. It is made up of the cities Fayette and Connersville and the townships of Columbia, Fairview, Harrison, Jackson, Jennings, Orange, Posey and Waterloo. There are 25,588 people in Fayette County, Indiana, which is not in the metro area of any city. Every summer there is a "Party on the Square" in Connersville, as well as the Fayette County free fair, movies in the park, and a tractor pull at the end of each August. Visitors can also check out some covered bridges, the Whitewater Valley Railroad, the Fabulous Fifties Museum and the campus of Indiana University East-Connersville. Fayette County, Indiana appears to be a relaxed, rural area. It may not have a ton of tourist attractions, but as Fayette counties go, it might be worth a visit. Next week, the final installment of the Fayette County virtual road trip. We will visit Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Tennessee.
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