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Fayette County, Texas

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Fayette County
County
The current Fayette County Courthouse in La Grange was finished in 1891. The Romanesque Revival style building uses four types of native Texas stone to detail the exterior.
The current Fayette County Courthouse in La Grange was finished in 1891. The Romanesque Revival style building uses four types of native Texas stone to detail the exterior.
Map of Texas highlighting Fayette County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°52′N 96°56′W / 29.86°N 96.93°W / 29.86; -96.93
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1837
Named forMarquis de la Fayette
SeatLa Grange
Largest cityLa Grange
Area
 • Total
960 sq mi (2,500 km2)
 • Land950 sq mi (2,500 km2)
 • Water9.8 sq mi (25 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
24,435
 • Density25/sq mi (9.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district10th
Websitewww.co.fayette.tx.us

Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,435.[1] Its county seat is La Grange.[2] The county was created in 1837 and organized the next year.[3]

History

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Fayette County was established in 1837 from land given by Bastrop and Colorado Counties. It is named for the Marquis de Lafayette, a French nobleman who became an American Revolutionary War hero.[4][5]

An early resident of Brazoria County and then Fayette County, Joel Walter Robison, fought in the Texas Revolution and served in the Texas House of Representatives.[6]

More than a dozen historic properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Fayette County.

Fayette County is the location of the real Chicken Ranch, which was the basis of the musical play and feature film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 960 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 950 square miles (2,500 km2) are land and 9.8 square miles (25 km2) (1.0%) are covered by water.[7]

Adjacent counties

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Atrium in Courthouse
Back of Courthouse
Old County Jail

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,756—
186011,604208.9%
187016,86345.3%
188027,99666.0%
189031,48112.4%
190036,54216.1%
191029,796−18.5%
192029,9650.6%
193030,7082.5%
194029,246−4.8%
195024,176−17.3%
196020,384−15.7%
197017,650−13.4%
198018,8326.7%
199020,0956.7%
200021,8048.5%
201024,55412.6%
202024,435−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1850–2010[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]
Fayette County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[12] Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 17,271 18,038 17,041 79.21% 73.46% 69.74%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,508 1,599 1,383 6.92% 6.51% 5.66%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 61 69 50 0.28% 0.28% 0.20%
Asian alone (NH) 49 61 67 0.22% 0.25% 0.27%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 6 6 6 0.03% 0.02% 0.02%
Other Race alone (NH) 8 25 72 0.04% 0.10% 0.29%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 115 171 600 0.53% 0.70% 2.46%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,786 4,585 5,216 12.78% 18.67% 21.35%
Total 21,804 24,554 24,435 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[13] of 2000, 21,804 people, 8,722 households, and 6,044 families resided in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). The 11,113 housing units averaged 12 units per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.58% White, 7.01% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 6.72% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. About 12.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; 34.9% were of German, 16.4% Czech, 7.6% American, and 5.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

Christianity is the number-one religion and Judaism is the second.[14]

Of the 8,722 households, 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were not families. About 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 22.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,526, and for a family was $43,156. Males had a median income of $29,008 versus $20,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,888. About 8.10% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

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Airport

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The county owns Fayette Regional Air Center, in an unincorporated area west of LaGrange.

Major highways

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Media

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Fayette County is home to three newspapers and two radio stations.

Newspapers

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Radio

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Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Politics

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At the presidential level, from 1912 through 1964, Fayette County, as was typical of the Solid South, voted predominantly for the Democratic candidate, even in 1928 with Al Smith the Democratic nominee, unlike most Texas counties. From 1972, the county has shifted to the Republican nominee.

United States presidential election results for Fayette County, Texas[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,171 78.60% 2,661 20.56% 109 0.84%
2016 8,743 78.24% 2,144 19.19% 287 2.57%
2012 8,106 76.61% 2,315 21.88% 160 1.51%
2008 7,582 70.43% 3,014 28.00% 169 1.57%
2004 7,527 72.40% 2,803 26.96% 67 0.64%
2000 6,658 70.93% 2,542 27.08% 187 1.99%
1996 4,195 52.00% 3,119 38.66% 754 9.35%
1992 3,789 42.94% 2,923 33.13% 2,111 23.93%
1988 4,551 57.09% 3,390 42.53% 30 0.38%
1984 5,711 70.40% 2,379 29.33% 22 0.27%
1980 4,104 60.32% 2,590 38.07% 110 1.62%
1976 3,030 46.67% 3,428 52.80% 35 0.54%
1972 3,882 73.37% 1,400 26.46% 9 0.17%
1968 2,380 41.21% 1,833 31.74% 1,562 27.05%
1964 2,036 35.86% 3,630 63.94% 11 0.19%
1960 2,213 38.83% 3,462 60.75% 24 0.42%
1956 3,574 60.54% 2,282 38.65% 48 0.81%
1952 4,240 62.35% 2,557 37.60% 3 0.04%
1948 1,737 32.79% 3,106 58.63% 455 8.59%
1944 1,611 26.72% 3,156 52.34% 1,263 20.95%
1940 2,441 48.32% 2,606 51.58% 5 0.10%
1936 595 17.40% 2,820 82.46% 5 0.15%
1932 245 4.68% 4,985 95.26% 3 0.06%
1928 689 15.87% 3,647 84.01% 5 0.12%
1924 1,450 22.46% 3,851 59.66% 1,154 17.88%
1920 1,101 24.32% 932 20.59% 2,494 55.09%
1916 1,212 38.35% 1,902 60.19% 46 1.46%
1912 461 17.16% 2,011 74.84% 215 8.00%

Education

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School districts:[16]

Most of Fayette County is assigned to Blinn Junior College District. Austin Community College is the designated community college for portions of Fayette County in Smithville ISD.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fayette County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 124.
  5. ^ Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (November 8, 2011). Texas Almanac 2012–2013. Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. ISBN 9780876112571. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  6. ^ "Robison, Joel Walter". Texas State Historical Association. June 15, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  8. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fayette County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fayette County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fayette County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ Wilson, Reid. The second-largest religion in each state, The Washington Post, June 4, 2014.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  16. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Fayette County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - List
  17. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.166. AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
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29°52′N 96°56′W / 29.86°N 96.93°W / 29.86; -96.93

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