FAIRLEA – The West Virginia State Fair is “fairly” recognized as one of the best fairs in the country, all while taking place in a town with a name that fits perfectly!
The West Virginia State Fair attracts Mountaineers from all around the state as well as from other parts of the country.
However, why is West Virginia’s State Fair hosted at Fairlea?
According to the State Fair of West Virginia website, the Greenbrier Agricultural Society began arranging an annual fair in 1854, with the first fair likely to be held at what is now known as Lewisburg.
The State Fair of West Virginia was first held in Lewisburg in 1869, after the state had been established. The next county fair was the Greenbrier Valley Industrial Exposition, which ran from 1883 to 1889 just north of Alderson before returning to Lewisburg in 1891.
On March 19, 1921, the Greenbrier Valley Fair, located between Lewisburg and Ronceverte, was incorporated, and the fair’s founders signed a deed establishing the yearly event.
The fair’s location was identified as Ronceverte in the first two Fair catalogues, as stated in the event charter, then Lewisburg-Ronceverte as the fairgrounds in 1923.
According to the State Fair of West Virginia’s website, due to the growth of the hamlet between Ronceverte and Lewisburg, as well as the establishment of a post office, the current fairgrounds became known as Fairlea.
The Greenbrier Valley Fair became the State Fair of West Virginia on March 19, 1941, when the State Legislature recognized the fair’s popularity and potential.
