city, seat (1784) of Fayette county, southwestern Pennsylvania, U.S. It lies along Redstone Creek, among the rugged foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. Settled in 1768 and laid out (1776) by Henry Beeson, a Quaker, it was first known as Beeson's Town. Its location on the old Cumberland (National) Road (Cumberland Road) was an important factor in its early development.

It is now a trade and marketing centre with light industries. Fort Necessity National Battlefield, 11 miles (18 km) southeast, is the site of the opening battle (1754) of the French and Indian War. George C. Marshall (Marshall, George Catlett), World War II general and secretary of state and of defense, was born in Uniontown. The Fayette campus of Pennsylvania State University (Penn State Fayette) was founded in 1934. The house Fallingwater, one of Frank Lloyd Wright (Wright, Frank Lloyd)'s architectural masterpieces, is in nearby Mill Run. Inc. borough, 1796; city, 1916. Pop. (1990) 12,034; (2000) 12,422.