Lafayette County is a county in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 47,351. Its county seat is Oxford. 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.
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 , of which is land and (7.0%) is water.
Major highways
25px U.S. Route 278
20px Mississippi Highway 6
20px Mississippi Highway 7
20px Mississippi Highway 9W
20px Mississippi Highway 30
20px Mississippi Highway 334
20px Mississippi Highway 331
20px 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
2020 census
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
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 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:
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.
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
Harmontown
Census-designated places
Paris
Tula
University
Unincorporated communities
Denmark
Harmontown
Springdale
Yocona
Ghost towns
Dogtown
Orwood
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 garnered at least 40 percent of the vote in every election since 1988, a period when much of north Mississippi swung hard to the GOP.
Sheriff F. D. “Buddy" East died in office in September 2018. He had been elected to office twelve times, starting in 1972 and was the state's longest-serving sheriff and at the time of his death the longest-serving sheriff in the nation.
