Lafayette County, Mississippi

This article is about the county of Lafayette in Mississippi. For other uses, see Lafayette County.

Lafayette County
County
County of Lafayette
The north façade of the Lafayette County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°22′N89°29′W / 34.36°N 89.49°W / 34.36; -89.49
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Established	February 9, 1836 (188 years ago) (1836-02-09)
Named for	Marquis de Lafayette
Seat	Oxford
Largest city	Oxford
Area
• Total	679 sq mi (1,760 km2)
• Land	632 sq mi (1,640 km2)
• Water	47 sq mi (120 km2)  7.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	55,813
• Density	82/sq mi (32/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	lafayettems.com

Lafayette County is a county in the U.S. state of Mississippi. At the 2020 census, the population was 55,813. ^[1] Its county seat is Oxford. ^[2] 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. ^[3]

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 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 315
• Mississippi Highway 331
• Mississippi Highway 334

cr 249

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.	Note	%±
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%
2020	55,813		17.9%
2023 (est.)	58,467	[5]	4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010–2020 [10]

2020 census

Lafayette County Racial Composition ^[11]

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 ^[12]

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.

2000 Census

As of the census ^[13] 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 people/km²). There were 16,587 housing units at an average density of 26 units per square mile (10 units/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: ^[14]

• 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. ^[15]

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

• Abbeville
• Taylor

Census-designated places

• Paris
• Tula
• University

Unincorporated communities

• Denmark
• Harmontown
• Springdale
• Yocona

Ghost towns

• Dogtown
• Orwood
• Riverside

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.

United States presidential election results for Lafayette County, Mississippi ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	12,949	55.28%	10,070	42.99%	404	1.72%
2016	10,872	55.35%	7,969	40.57%	802	4.08%
2012	11,075	56.78%	8,091	41.48%	339	1.74%
2008	10,278	55.68%	7,997	43.32%	185	1.00%
2004	9,004	58.46%	6,218	40.37%	179	1.16%
2000	7,081	55.85%	5,139	40.53%	458	3.61%
1996	4,753	47.18%	4,646	46.12%	675	6.70%
1992	5,251	46.07%	5,224	45.84%	922	8.09%
1988	5,841	59.29%	3,967	40.27%	44	0.45%
1984	6,006	62.05%	3,646	37.67%	28	0.29%
1980	4,366	45.62%	4,887	51.06%	318	3.32%
1976	3,735	44.73%	4,375	52.39%	241	2.89%
1972	5,391	76.89%	1,545	22.04%	75	1.07%
1968	1,235	20.11%	1,578	25.69%	3,329	54.20%
1964	3,202	81.64%	720	18.36%	0	0.00%
1960	705	24.13%	1,308	44.76%	909	31.11%
1956	575	21.29%	1,968	72.86%	158	5.85%
1952	868	26.86%	2,363	73.14%	0	0.00%
1948	48	2.42%	744	37.58%	1,188	60.00%
1944	87	3.89%	2,148	96.11%	0	0.00%
1940	65	2.88%	2,188	97.03%	2	0.09%
1936	26	1.54%	1,652	98.16%	5	0.30%
1932	26	1.40%	1,831	98.39%	4	0.21%
1928	131	7.35%	1,652	92.65%	0	0.00%
1924	89	4.51%	1,848	93.62%	37	1.87%
1920	321	26.62%	873	72.39%	12	1.00%
1916	47	3.29%	1,370	95.80%	13	0.91%
1912	28	2.63%	973	91.28%	65	6.10%

Law enforcement

Lafayette County Sheriff's Department
Common name	Lafayette County Sheriff
Abbreviation	LCSD
Motto	"Protect and Serve"
Agency overview
Formed	1836
Employees	26
Jurisdictional structure
Governing body	Lafayette County Board of Supervisors
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	711 Jackson Avenue East, Oxford, MS 38655
Deputys	26 (2014)
Facilities
Districts	Oxford, Mississippi
Website
lafayettems.com/us/elected-officials/sheriff/

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, ^[17] 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. ^[18] At the time he was the longest serving Sheriff in the history of the United States, having held the position for 46 years. ^{[19] [20] [21]} The sheriff's son, Joey East, was concurrently the Oxford Police Department's Chief of Police. ^[22] 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. ^[23]

University of Mississippi is in the county.

Northwest Mississippi Community College operates the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center. ^[24]

See also

• List of places named for the Marquis de Lafayette
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lafayette County, Mississippi

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Lafayette County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 14, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp.  178.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
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. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
10. "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
12. Bureau, U. S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 9, 2019.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. American FactFinder Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today . Factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on August 17, 2013.
15. Census 2000 Map - Top U.S. Ancestries by County
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
17. "Sheriff". Lafayette County, Mississippi. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
18. Phifer, Donica (September 8, 2018). "Buddy Eat, long-time Lafayette County sheriff, dead at 76". Oxford Eagle. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
19. Davis, John (February 14, 2015). "East seeking 12th term as sheriff". Oxford Citizen. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
20. Gibbs, Anna (August 28, 2018). "Sheriff Buddy East celebrates 46 years serving Lafayette County". Oxford Eagle. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
21. Apel, Therese (October 8, 2018). "Mississippi's longest-serving sheriff dies after 46 years in office". Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
22. "Oxford Police Department". Oxford, MS. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
23. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lafayette County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022. - Text list
24. "Lafayette-Yalobusha". Northwest Mississippi Community College . Retrieved July 21, 2022.

External links

Government

• Official website

General information

• Geographic data related to Lafayette County, Mississippi at OpenStreetMap
• Lafayette County, Mississippi at Ballotpedia
• Lafayette County, Mississippi at MSGenWeb
• Lafayette County Records at the University of Mississippi
• Works by or about Lafayette County, Mississippi at Internet Archive