Lafayette County, Mississippi

{{About|the county of Lafayette in Mississippi|other uses|Lafayette County (disambiguation){{!}}Lafayette County}}

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Lafayette County

| type = County

| official_name = County of Lafayette

| state = Mississippi

| ex image = NRHP 77000791 Lafayette County Mississippi Courthouse North Facing.JPG

| ex image cap = The north façade of the Lafayette County Courthouse

| coordinates = {{coord|34.36|-89.49|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MS_source:UScensus1990}}

| seal =

| logo = LafayetteCountyMSlogo.png

| logo size = 205px

| founded = {{Start date and age|1836|2|9|p=1|br=1}}

| founded title = Established

| named for = Marquis de Lafayette

| seat wl = Oxford

| largest city wl = Oxford

| area_total_sq_mi = 679

| area_land_sq_mi = 632

| area_water_sq_mi = 47

| area percentage = 7.0

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 55813

| pop_est_as_of =

| population_est =

| population_density_km2 = auto

| time zone = Central

| district = 1st

| website = {{URL|https://lafayettems.com/}}

}}

Lafayette County is a county in the U.S. state of Mississippi. At the 2020 census, the population was 55,813.{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Lafayette County, Mississippi|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lafayette_County,_Mississippi?g=0500000US28071|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 14, 2023}} Its county seat is Oxford.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}} The local pronunciation of the name is "la-FAY-et." The county's name honors Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero and American general who fought during the American Revolutionary War.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Government Printing Office | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n177 178]}}

The Oxford, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Lafayette County. The county is policed by the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department.

Lafayette County is often regarded as the inspiration for Yoknapatawpha County, the fictional setting of many of William Faulkner's works.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|679|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|632|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|47|sqmi}} (7.0%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928074019/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

Marshall County (north)
Union County (northeast)
Pontotoc County (southeast)
Calhoun County (south)
Yalobusha County (southwest)
Panola County (west)
Tate County (northwest)

=National protected area=

Holly Springs National Forest (part)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1840= 6531

|1850= 14069

|1860= 16125

|1870= 18802

|1880= 21671

|1890= 20553

|1900= 22110

|1910= 21883

|1920= 19243

|1930= 19978

|1940= 21257

|1950= 22798

|1960= 21355

|1970= 24181

|1980= 31030

|1990= 31826

|2000= 38744

|2010= 47351

|2020= 55813

|estyear=2023

|estimate=58467

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 5, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 6, 2014}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ms190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014}} 2010–2020{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html|title=

2020 Population and Housing State Data|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 25, 2021}}

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

|+Lafayette County Racial Composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US28071&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White

|38,766

|69.46%

Black or African American

|11,300

|20.25%

Native American

|68

|0.12%

Asian

|1,685

|3.02%

Pacific Islander

|24

|0.04%

Other/Mixed

|1,828

|3.28%

Hispanic or Latino

|2,142

|3.84%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 55,813 people, 18,721 households, and 11,111 families residing in the county.

= 2010 Census =

As of the census of 2010, there were 45,859 people. There were 21,646 housing units. The medium age was 26.8 years old. The racial makeup of the county was 71.5% white, 23.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, and 2.0% Asian. 2.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=United States Census Bureau|language=en|access-date=May 9, 2019}}

= 2000 Census =

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 38,744 people, 14,373 households, and 8,321 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|61|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 16,587 housing units at an average density of {{convert|26|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 71.85% White, 25.05% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest European ancestry groups in Lafayette county are:[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-context=adp&-qr_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_DP3YR2&-ds_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_&-tree_id=3308&-redoLog=true&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=05000US28071&-format=&-_lang=en American FactFinder] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212210048/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-context=adp&-qr_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_DP3YR2&-ds_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_&-tree_id=3308&-redoLog=true&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=05000US28071&-format=&-_lang=en |date=February 12, 2020 }}. Factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on August 17, 2013.

13.4% English
12.5% Irish
9.1% German
4.4% Scots-Irish
2.8% Scottish
1.1% Polish
1.0% Welsh

Many people in Mississippi may claim Irish ancestry because of the term "Scots-Irish", but most of the time in Mississippi this term is used for those with Ulster Scots roots rather than Irish Catholics.Census 2000 Map - Top U.S. Ancestries by County

In 2000, there were 14,373 households, out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.20% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.10% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.50% under the age of 18, 27.10% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 17.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,517, and the median income for a family was $42,910. Males had a median income of $30,964 versus $21,207 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,406. About 10.20% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 19.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

= City =

Oxford (county seat and largest municipality)

= Town =

=Census-designated places=

=Unincorporated communities=

=Ghost towns=

Politics

Unlike many counties dominated by college towns, Lafayette County tilts Republican. It last supported a Democrat for president in 1980. However, it is not as heavily Republican as other counties in north Mississippi, particularly those in the Memphis area. The Democrats have received at least 40 percent of the vote in every election since 1988, a period when much of north Mississippi swung hard to the GOP, except for 2024.

{{PresHead|place=Lafayette County, Mississippi|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 5, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,235|1,578|3,329|Mississippi}}

Law enforcement

{{Infobox law enforcement agency

| agencyname = Lafayette County Sheriff's Department

| nativename =

| nativenamea =

| nativenamer =

| commonname = Lafayette County Sheriff

| abbreviation = LCSD

| fictional =

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| motto = "Protect and Serve"

| mottotranslated =

| formed = 1836

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| employees = 26

| volunteers =

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| governingbody = Lafayette County Board of Supervisors

| governingbodyscnd =

| constitution1 =

| police = Yes

| local = Yes

| military =

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| headquarters = 711 Jackson Avenue East, Oxford, MS 38655

| hqlocmap =

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| sworntype = Deputy

| sworn = 26 (2014)

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| chief1position = Sheriff

| parentagency =

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| stationtype = District

| stations = Oxford, Mississippi

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| website = {{URL|http://lafayettems.com/us/elected-officials/sheriff/}}

| footnotes =

}}

The Lafayette County Sheriff's Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the policing and maintenance of public order of Lafayette County, Mississippi. They are also the primary law enforcement agency for all locales excluding Oxford, and work in tandem with the Oxford Police Department and The University of Mississippi's University Police Department in those jurisdictions. Responsible for maintenance and administration of its jail, the Lafayette County Detention Center in Oxford, it is also their duty to stand as guards of Lafayette County's County and Chancery Courts. In September 2018 the department employed 26 full-time deputies,{{cite web |url=http://lafayettems.com/us/elected-officials/sheriff/ |title=Sheriff |publisher=Lafayette County, Mississippi |accessdate= September 8, 2018}} in addition to other staff employed as guards for the county jail. In comparison, Oxford Police Department, which patrols a small fraction of the area done by the Sheriff's Department, employs over 75 full-time officers.

F.D. "Buddy" East was the long-time sheriff, who held the office from 1972 until his death in September 2018, having been elected to twelve terms as sheriff.{{cite news |title=Buddy Eat, long-time Lafayette County sheriff, dead at 76 |first=Donica |last=Phifer |newspaper=Oxford Eagle |date=September 8, 2018 |url=https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2018/09/08/buddy-east-long-time-lafayette-county-sheriff-dead-at-76/ |accessdate=September 8, 2018}} At the time he was the longest serving Sheriff in the history of the United States, having held the position for 46 years.{{cite news |url=http://djournal.com/oxford/news/crime/east-seeking-th-term-as-sheriff/article_b8f670b3-d8b2-52ca-bbb1-929ac4c51434.html |first=John |last=Davis |title=East seeking 12th term as sheriff |date=February 14, 2015 |newspaper=Oxford Citizen |accessdate=September 8, 2018}}{{cite news |first=Anna |last=Gibbs |date=August 28, 2018 |title=Sheriff Buddy East celebrates 46 years serving Lafayette County |newspaper=Oxford Eagle |url=https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2018/08/28/sheriff-buddy-east-celebrates-46-years-serving-lafayette-county/ |accessdate=September 8, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Apel |first1=Therese |title=Mississippi's longest-serving sheriff dies after 46 years in office |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2018/09/08/mississippis-longest-serving-sheriff-dies-after-46-years-office/1240308002/ |access-date=September 10, 2018 |newspaper=Clarion-Ledger |date=October 8, 2018}} The sheriff's son, Joey East, was concurrently the Oxford Police Department's Chief of Police.{{cite web |title=Oxford Police Department |publisher=Oxford, MS |url=http://www.oxfordms.net/departments/police-department |accessdate=September 8, 2018}}

After the November 2019 elections, Joey East became the sheriff of Lafayette County, following his father.

Education

School districts include Lafayette County School District and Oxford School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28071_lafayette/DC20SD_C28071.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721205219/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28071_lafayette/DC20SD_C28071.pdf |archive-date=July 21, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lafayette County, MS|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 21, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28071_lafayette/DC20SD_C28071_SD2MS.txt Text list]

University of Mississippi is in the county.

Northwest Mississippi Community College operates the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center.{{cite web|url=https://www.northwestms.edu/about/campuses/lafayette-yalobusha-oxford|title=Lafayette-Yalobusha|publisher=Northwest Mississippi Community College|accessdate=July 21, 2022}}

References

External links

{{Sister project links|wikt=Lafayette County|commonscat=yes|n=no|q=no|s=no|author=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no|d=no}}

; Government

{{official website}}

; General information

{{osmrelation-inline}}
{{Ballotpedia}}
[http://msgw.org/lafayette/ Lafayette County, Mississippi] at MSGenWeb
[http://purl.oclc.org/umarchives/MUM00256/ Lafayette County Records] at the University of Mississippi
{{Internet Archive author|name=Lafayette County, Mississippi}}

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Lafayette County, Mississippi

|North = Marshall County

|Northeast = Union County

|East =

|Southeast = Pontotoc County

|South = Calhoun County

|Southwest = Yalobusha County

|West = Panola County

|Northwest = Tate County

}}

Category:Mississippi counties