Lafayette County, Florida

Coordinates: 29°59′N 83°11′W / 29.99°N 83.18°W / 29.99; -83.18
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lafayette County
Lafayette County Courthouse
Lafayette County Courthouse
Map of Florida highlighting Lafayette County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°59′N 83°11′W / 29.99°N 83.18°W / 29.99; -83.18
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedDecember 23, 1853
Named forMarquis de Lafayette
SeatMayo
Largest townMayo
Area
 • Total548 sq mi (1,420 km2)
 • Land543 sq mi (1,410 km2)
 • Water4.5 sq mi (12 km2)  0.8%
Population
 • Total8,226
 • Density16/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Websitewww.lafayettecountyfl.net

Lafayette County is a county in the state of Florida. As of 2020, 8,226 people lived there.[1] It is the second least populated county in the state. Its county seat is Mayo, Florida. Lafayette County is a prohibition county, meaning alcohol is illegal there.[2]

History[change | change source]

Lafayette County was created December 23, 1856 from part of Madison County, and included at the time what is now both Lafayette and Dixie Counties. Lafayette County was named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, the French citizen who rendered assistance to the colonies during the American Revolutionary War. The Suwannee River forms the entire eastern border. The county courts first met at the home of Ariel Jones near Fayetteville. The county seat was New Troy until the court house there burned down in 1892. It was then moved to Mayo in 1893, and Mayo is currently Lafayette's only incorporated town. New Troy is now a ghost town. In 1921 the lower part of the county was carved off to create Dixie County.

Historic sites[change | change source]

Historic sites in Lafayette County include:

Land[change | change source]

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 547.92 square miles (1,419.1 km2), of which 542.84 square miles (1,405.9 km2) (or 99.07%) is land and 5.08 square miles (13.2 km2) (or 0.93%) is water.[3]

Parks[change | change source]

Parks in the county include Lafayette Blue Springs State Park and Troy Springs State Park, both accessible to the Suwannee River.

Counties nearby[change | change source]

People[change | change source]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 7,022 people, 2,142 households, and 1,591 families living in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 2,660 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.27% White, 14.37% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.30% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 9.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,142 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were not related. 22.00% of all households were made up of people living alone and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 34.00% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 148.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 157.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,651, and the median income for a family was $35,020. Males had a median income of $25,030 versus $22,007 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,087. About 12.90% of families and 17.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.

Municipalities[change | change source]

Incorporated[change | change source]

Unincorporated[change | change source]

Politics[change | change source]

Lafayette County is strongly Republican.[source?] It has voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 1984.

United States presidential election results for Lafayette County, Florida[5]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,128 85.42% 510 13.93% 24 0.66%
2016 2,809 82.35% 518 15.19% 84 2.46%
2012 2,668 78.33% 687 20.17% 51 1.50%
2008 2,679 79.33% 642 19.01% 56 1.66%
2004 2,460 73.98% 845 25.41% 20 0.60%
2000 1,670 66.67% 789 31.50% 46 1.84%
1996 1,166 50.22% 829 35.70% 327 14.08%
1992 1,039 41.15% 867 34.34% 619 24.51%
1988 1,451 66.41% 722 33.04% 12 0.55%
1984 1,513 63.71% 862 36.29% 0 0.00%
1980 795 42.67% 1,034 55.50% 34 1.83%
1976 523 31.41% 1,126 67.63% 16 0.96%
1972 1,060 85.69% 173 13.99% 4 0.32%
1968 137 9.28% 215 14.56% 1,125 76.17%
1964 648 54.32% 545 45.68% 0 0.00%
1960 297 27.25% 793 72.75% 0 0.00%
1956 187 15.07% 1,054 84.93% 0 0.00%
1952 269 21.52% 981 78.48% 0 0.00%
1948 52 4.54% 975 85.15% 118 10.31%
1944 140 14.51% 825 85.49% 0 0.00%
1940 122 10.07% 1,090 89.93% 0 0.00%
1936 80 6.87% 1,084 93.13% 0 0.00%
1932 27 2.82% 929 97.18% 0 0.00%
1928 135 23.48% 435 75.65% 5 0.87%
1924 33 8.13% 358 88.18% 15 3.69%
1920 69 9.66% 618 86.55% 27 3.78%
1916 45 4.73% 849 89.27% 57 5.99%
1912 73 11.85% 473 76.79% 70 11.36%
1908 90 13.95% 487 75.50% 68 10.54%
1904 122 28.11% 275 63.36% 37 8.53%

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "QuickFacts: Lafayette County, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  4. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-06-15.

Other websites[change | change source]

Government websites/Constitutional offices[change | change source]

Special districts[change | change source]

Judicial branch[change | change source]

29°59′N 83°11′W / 29.99°N 83.18°W / 29.99; -83.18