Lafayette County, Florida

County in Florida, United States

County in Florida

Lafayette County

County

Lafayette County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of 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
Founded| December 23, 1853
Named after| Marquis de Lafayette
Seat| Mayo
Largest town| Mayo
Area

• Total

| 548 sq mi (1,420 km2)
• Land| 543 sq mi (1,410 km2)
• Water| 4.5 sq mi (12 km2)  0.8%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 8,226

• Estimate

(2023)

| 8,078
• Density| 15/sq mi (5.8/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts| 2nd, 3rd
Website| www.lafayettecountyfl.net

Lafayette County is a county located in the north central portion of the state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,226,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Florida. The county seat is Mayo.[2] Lafayette County is a prohibition or partially dry county, allowing retail sales of beer.

## History

[edit]

Lafayette County was created on December 23, 1856, from part of Madison County on the same day as Taylor County was also split off from Madison County. At the time it comprised all the area of present-day Lafayette and Dixie counties. The county was named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, the French general who rendered assistance to the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War.[3] The famed Suwannee River forms the entire eastern boundary. The county courts first met at the home of Ariel Jones near Fayetteville. The county seat was New Troy until the court house burned down on New Year's Eve, 1892. It was moved to Mayo in 1893, and Mayo is currently Lafayette's only incorporated town. The moving of the courthouse was the end for New Troy. The Gainesville Sun states that houses were dismantled for their timber and bricks, hardwoods replaced the fields, steamboat traffic ended in 1899, and the ferry closed in 1917. In 1921 the lower part of the county was removed to create Dixie County.

### Historic sites

[edit]

Historic sites in Lafayette County include:

* The Hal W. Adams Bridge built in 1947 across the Suwannee River 3 mi (4.8 km) north of Mayo. It was Florida's first suspension bridge.
* The (second) Old Lafayette County Courthouse, built in 1893–1894, now an inn.
* The current Lafayette County Courthouse built in 1908.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 548 square miles (1,420 km2), of which 543 square miles (1,410 km2) is land and 4.5 square miles (12 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Suwannee County \- east
* Gilchrist County \- southeast
* Dixie County \- south
* Taylor County \- west
* Madison County \- northwest

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 2,068| | —
1870| 1,783| | −13.8%
1880| 2,441| | 36.9%
1890| 3,686| | 51.0%
1900| 4,987| | 35.3%
1910| 6,710| | 34.5%
1920| 6,242| | −7.0%
1930| 4,361| | −30.1%
1940| 4,405| | 1.0%
1950| 3,440| | −21.9%
1960| 2,889| | −16.0%
1970| 2,892| | 0.1%
1980| 4,035| | 39.5%
1990| 5,578| | 38.2%
2000| 7,022| | 25.9%
2010| 8,870| | 26.3%
2020| 8,226| | −7.3%
2023 (est.)| 8,078| [5]| −1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[1]
Lafayette County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a] Race  | Pop 2010[12] | Pop 2020[13] | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|

White (NH)  | 6,266  | 6,074  | 70.64%  | 73.84%
Black or African American (NH)  | 1,396  | 1,024  | 15.74%  | 12.45%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)  | 20  | 16  | 0.23%  | 0.19%
Asian (NH)  | 13  | 10  | 0.15%  | 0.12%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 2  | 1  | 0.02%  | 0.01%
Some Other Race (NH)  | 7  | 18  | 0.08%  | 0.22%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)  | 90  | 145  | 1.01%  | 1.76%
Hispanic or Latino | 1,076  | 938  | 12.13%  | 11.4%
Total | 8,870 | 8,226 | 100.00% | 100.00%

### 2020 census

[edit]

The 2020 United States census counted 8,226 people, 2,727 households, and 1,891 families in Lafayette County, Florida.[14][15] The population density was 15.1 per square mile (5.8/km2). There were 3,284 housing units at an average density of 6.0 per square mile (2.3/km2).[15][16] The racial makeup was 77.35% (6,363) white or European American (73.84% non-Hispanic white), 12.7% (1,045) black or African-American, 0.29% (24) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.12% (10) Asian, 0.07% (6) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 5.13% (422) from other races, and 4.33% (356) from two or more races.[17] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 11.4% (938) of the population.[18]

Of the 2,727 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18; 53.4% were married couples living together; 22.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 25.4% of households consisted of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15] The average household size was 3.1 and the average family size was 3.8.[19] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 8.7% of the population.[20]

17.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 72.8 males.[15] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 67.7 males.[15]

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $51,734 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,662). The median family income was $53,625 (+/- $15,651).[21] Males had a median income of $37,939 (+/- $8,513) versus $25,085 (+/- $8,177) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $35,009 (+/- $11,623).[22] Approximately, 16.7% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under the age of 18 and 19.5% of those ages 65 or over.[23][24]

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 7,022 people, 2,142 households and 1,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km2). There were 2,660 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (1.9/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. In terms of ancestry, 41.1% were English, 8.0% were Irish, 7.1% were American, and 5.3% were German.

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 non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, 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.

## Politics

[edit]

A very rural and landlocked county, Lafayette historically supported the Democratic Party. It has voted Republican for decades now, and recently by wide margins.

United States presidential election results for Lafayette County, Florida[26] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 3,296  | 87.50% | 441  | 11.71%  | 30  | 0.80%
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%

## Parks

[edit]

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

## Library

[edit]

The Lafayette County Public Library is part of the Three Rivers Regional Library System, which also serves Gilchrist, Dixie, and Taylor counties.

## Communities

[edit]

### Town

[edit]

* Mayo

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Day

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Airline
* Alton
* Buckville
* Cooks Hammock
* Hatchbend
* Midway

## See also

[edit]

* Dry counties

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ 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 can be of any race.[10][11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
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. p. 178.
4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
10. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
11. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
14. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
15. ^ a b c d e "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
16. ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
17. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
18. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P2: Hispanic or Latino, And Not Hispanic or Latino by Race". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
19. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1101: Households and Families". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
20. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: Educational Attainment". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
21. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: Median Income in the Past 12 Months (In 2020 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
22. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: Earnings in the Past 12 Months (In 2020 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
23. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
24. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months of Families". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
25. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 15, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lafayette County, Florida.

### Government links/Constitutional offices

[edit]

* Lafayette County Board of County Commissioners
* Lafayette County Supervisor of Elections
* Lafayette County Property Appraiser
* Lafayette County Sheriff's Office
* Lafayette County Tax Collector

#### Special districts

[edit]

* Lafayette County Schools
* Suwannee River Water Management District

#### Judicial branch

[edit]

* Lafayette County Clerk of Courts
* Public Defender, 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor Counties
* Office of the State Attorney, 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida
* Circuit and County Court for the 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Lafayette County, Florida

| Madison County |  |

|
|

|  |
Taylor County |

Lafayette County, Florida

| Suwannee County
|  |
| Dixie County | Gilchrist County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Lafayette County, Florida, United States

County seat: Mayo

Town|

* Mayo

CDP|

* Day

Unincorporated
community|

* Alton

Ghost town|

* Troy

* Florida portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Geography of Florida

Natural features|

* Beaches
* Caves
* Everglades (drainage and development)
* Keys
* Lakes
* Lake Okeechobee
* Reef
* Rivers
* Sinkholes
* Springs
* Straits
* Swamps

Regions|

* Big Bend
* region
* coast
* Central Florida
* Emerald Coast
* Everglades
* First Coast
* Forgotten Coast
* Gold Coast
* Halifax area
* Heartland
* Keys
* Nature Coast
* North central Florida
* North Florida
* Panhandle
* South Florida
* Southwest Florida
* Space Coast
* Suncoast
* Tampa Bay Area
* Treasure Coast

Metro areas|

* Cape Coral–Fort Myers
* Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
* Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach
* Gainesville
* Homosassa Springs
* Jacksonville
* Lakeland–Winter Haven
* Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
* Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island
* North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton
* Ocala
* Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
* Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
* Panama City
* Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent
* Port St. Lucie
* Punta Gorda
* Sebastian-Vero Beach
* Sebring
* Tallahassee
* Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
* The Villages

Largest cities|

* Jacksonville
* Miami
* Tampa
* Orlando
* St. Petersburg
* Hialeah
* Port St. Lucie
* Tallahassee
* Cape Coral
* Fort Lauderdale
* Pembroke Pines
* Hollywood
* Gainesville
* Miramar
* Coral Springs
* Palm Bay
* West Palm Beach
* Clearwater
* Lakeland
* Pompano Beach
* Miami Gardens
* Davie

Counties|

* Alachua
* Baker
* Bay
* Bradford
* Brevard
* Broward
* Calhoun
* Charlotte
* Citrus
* Clay
* Collier
* Columbia
* DeSoto
* Dixie
* Duval
* Escambia
* Flagler
* Franklin
* Gadsden
* Gilchrist
* Glades
* Gulf
* Hamilton
* Hardee
* Hendry
* Hernando
* Highlands
* Hillsborough
* Holmes
* Indian River
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Lafayette
* Lake
* Lee
* Leon
* Levy
* Liberty
* Madison
* Manatee
* Marion
* Martin
* Miami‑Dade
* Monroe
* Mosquito (former county)
* Nassau
* Okaloosa
* Okeechobee
* Orange
* Osceola
* Palm Beach
* Pasco
* Pinellas
* Polk
* Putnam
* Santa Rosa
* Sarasota
* Seminole
* St. Johns
* St. Lucie
* Sumter
* Suwannee
* Taylor
* Union
* Volusia
* Wakulla
* Walton
* Washington

Other|

* State forests
* State parks
* Wakulla Volcano

* v
* t
* e

North Florida

Regions of Florida

Topics|

* Climate
* Geography
* Culture
* Economy
* Transportation
* Partition proposals
* Pork Chop Gang
* Laura Street

Map of North Florida

Counties|

* Alachua
* Baker
* Bay
* Bradford
* Calhoun
* Clay
* Columbia
* Dixie
* Duval
* Escambia
* Flagler
* Franklin
* Gadsden
* Gilchrist
* Gulf
* Hamilton
* Holmes
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Lafayette
* Leon
* Levy
* Liberty
* Madison
* Marion
* Nassau
* Okaloosa
* Putnam
* Santa Rosa
* St. Johns
* Suwannee
* Taylor
* Union
* Wakulla
* Walton
* Washington

Major cities|

* Jacksonville
* Tallahassee
* Gainesville

Cities and towns
50k–100k|

* Ocala
* Palm Coast
* Pensacola

Cities and towns
10k–40k|

* Atlantic Beach
* Callaway
* Crestview
* Destin
* Fernandina Beach
* Fort Walton Beach
* Jacksonville Beach
* Lake City
* Lynn Haven
* Niceville
* Palatka
* Panama City Beach
* St. Augustine
* Panama City

Metro areas|

* Fort Walton Beach–Crestview–Destin
* Gainesville
* Jacksonville
* Ocala
* Palm Coast
* Panama City–Lynn Haven–Panama City Beach
* Pensacola–Ferry Pass–Brent
* Tallahassee

Regions|

* Big Bend
* Emerald Coast
* First Coast
* Florida panhandle
* Forgotten Coast
* Halifax area
* Nature Coast
* North Central Florida
* Northeast Florida

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

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template