Lafayette County, Mississippi

Lafayette County, Mississippi
Lafayette County courthouse in Oxford
Location in the state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1836
Named for	Marquis de Lafayette
Seat	Oxford
Largest city	Oxford
Area
• Total	679 sq mi (1,759 km^2)
• Land	632 sq mi (1,637 km^2)
• Water	47 sq mi (122 km^2), 7.0%
Population (est.)
• (2014)	52,930
• Density	62/sq mi (24/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.lafayettecoms.com

Lafayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 47,351.^[1] Its county seat is Oxford.^[2] The local pronunciation of the name is "la-FAY-et". The county is named to honor Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero and American general who fought during the American Revolutionary War.^[3]

The Oxford, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Lafayette County.

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

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 679 square miles (1,760 km²), of which 632 square miles (1,640 km²) is land and 47 square miles (120 km²) (7.0%) is water.^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Route 278
• Mississippi Highway 6
• Mississippi Highway 7
• Mississippi Highway 9W
• Mississippi Highway 30
• Mississippi Highway 334
• Mississippi Highway 331
• Mississippi Highway 315

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

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	6,531		—
1850	14,069		115.4%
1860	16,125		14.6%
1870	18,802		16.6%
1880	21,671		15.3%
1890	20,553		−5.2%
1900	22,110		7.6%
1910	21,883		−1.0%
1920	19,243		−12.1%
1930	19,978		3.8%
1940	21,257		6.4%
1950	22,798		7.2%
1960	21,355		−6.3%
1970	24,181		13.2%
1980	31,030		28.3%
1990	31,826		2.6%
2000	38,744		21.7%
2010	47,351		22.2%
Est. 2015	53,154	[5]	12.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 38,744 people, 14,373 households, and 8,321 families residing in the county. The population density was 61 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 16,587 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). 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:^[11]

• 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 Scottish roots, rather than Irish.^[12]

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)

Town

• Abbeville
• Taylor

Census-designated place

• University

Unincorporated communities

• Denmark
• Harmontown
• Paris
• Springdale
• Tula
• Yocona

Ghost town

• Dogtown
• Orwood

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lafayette County, Mississippi
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p. 178.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved March 26, 2016.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
10. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
11. American FactFinder. Factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2013-08-17.
12. Census 2000 Map - Top U.S. Ancestries by County

External links

• Lafayette County Records (MUM00256) owned by the University of Mississippi, Archives and Special Collections.

Coordinates: 34°22′N 89°29′W / 34.36°N 89.49°W