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Fayette 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.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded 1837
Named for Marquis de la Fayette
Seat La Grange
Largest city La Grange
Area
 • Total 960 sq mi (2,500 km2)
 • Land 950 sq mi (2,500 km2)
 • Water 9.8 sq mi (25 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 24,435
 • Density 25.45/sq mi (9.83/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 10th

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

History

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

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.

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

Fayette County is the location of the real Chicken Ranch.

Geography

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) is land and 9.8 square miles (25 km2) (1.0%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 3,756
1860 11,604 208.9%
1870 16,863 45.3%
1880 27,996 66.0%
1890 31,481 12.4%
1900 36,542 16.1%
1910 29,796 −18.5%
1920 29,965 0.6%
1930 30,708 2.5%
1940 29,246 −4.8%
1950 24,176 −17.3%
1960 20,384 −15.7%
1970 17,650 −13.4%
1980 18,832 6.7%
1990 20,095 6.7%
2000 21,804 8.5%
2010 24,554 12.6%
2020 24,435 −0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010 2020
Fayette County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 18,038 17,041 73.46% 69.74%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,599 1,383 6.51% 5.66%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 69 50 0.28% 0.20%
Asian alone (NH) 61 67 0.25% 0.27%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 6 6 0.02% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 25 72 0.10% 0.29%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 171 600 0.70% 2.46%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4,585 5,216 18.67% 21.35%
Total 24,554 24,435 100.00% 100.00%

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.

As of the census 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.

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

Airport

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

Major highways

  • I-10 (TX).svg Interstate 10
  • US 77.svg U.S. Highway 77
  • US 90.svg U.S. Highway 90
  • US 290.svg U.S. Highway 290
  • Texas 71.svg State Highway 71
  • Texas 95.svg State Highway 95
  • Texas 159.svg State Highway 159
  • Texas 237.svg State Highway 237

Media

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

Newspapers

  • Fayette County Record
  • Schulenburg Sticker
  • Flatonia Argus

Radio

  • KVLG/KBUK
  • KTIMe

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost Town

Education

School districts:

  • Fayetteville Independent School District
  • Flatonia Independent School District
  • Giddings Independent School District
  • La Grange Independent School District
  • Round Top-Carmine Independent School District
  • Schulenburg Independent School District
  • Smithville Independent School District
  • Weimar Independent School District

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.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Fayette (Texas) para niños

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