Fayette was first settled as Starling Plantation in 1781, and became incorporated as Fayette on February 28,1795.
The Town of Fayette in the northwestern Kennebec County, is 18 miles northwest of Augusta and 10 miles east of Livermore Falls, which lies in Androscoggin County. Fayette is rural and a seasonal resort, with Echo Lake, Lovejoy Pond, Parker Pond, David Pond and Tilton Pond, and at least eight smaller ponds within its 31.5 square miles. There are almost as many seasonal residences as year-round. Several hills on the side roads throughout town boast beautiful views of the countryside. Fayette has a town meeting/ town manager form of government.
Fayette is bordered on the north by Chesterville ( Franklin County ) and Mount Vernon ; east by Readfield ; south by Wayne ; west by East Livermore ( Androscoggin County ).
The first settler, Chase Elkins , arrived in Fayette and broke ground for cultivation in 1781. His son, Chase , was the first child born here in 1784.
There is no significant village center, and state Route 17 is the main road through town. The population is about 900. One country store is located one mile over the Readfield / Fayette town line, as is the volunteer fire department. Underwood Public Library is located near the Fayette Central School , a mile further west on Route 17. There is an active Historical Society, which is associated with the Starling Grange, 3 - 4 miles further west of the school and library. Mail is delivered from Kents Hill Post Office, in Readfield. The town office is halfway between Readfield and Livermore, on Route 17.
Judith Rossner's book Emmeline, was written about Emmeline Bachelder, a 19th century resident of Fayette. In 1989, The American Experience on PBS television produced and aired a movie by the same name, based on Ms. Rossner's book.
SENATOR COLLINS ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $270,000 IN GRANT FUNDING TO THE FAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senator Susan Collins,
Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, today announced that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded $270,750 in grant funding to the Fayette Fire Department through the "Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program," or FIRE Act.
"The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is an extremely critical source of funds for our local fire and rescue personnel," said Senator Collins. "These funds have been invaluable to fire departments throughout the nation and here in Maine. Our firefighters put their lives on the line at every call to save others and protect property, whether in a single house fire or in a widespread disaster. They need good equipment, adequate staffing, intensive training, and public support to do their job. We owe them all a debt of gratitude and we must continue to work to help ensure that they are kept as safe as possible as they protect each of us."
Since the creation of this program, Maine fire departments have been awarded more than $54 million to help purchase new, used, or refurbished vehicles, and to obtain equipment for firefighting, interoperable communications, chemical detection, and other purposes that are essential to first responders.
Funding for the Fayette Fire Department will be distributed through the Vehicle Acquisition Program, which helps local departments purchase equipment such as pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, aerials, foam units and fire boats.
Senator Collins, the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, helped create the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, and is fighting to continue it. These grants are awarded to fire departments across the United States to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, emergency medical service programs, Fire Prevention and Safety programs, and to purchase new fire equipment.
