Lafayette, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lafayette, Tennessee
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Buildings on the courthouse square
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Location of Lafayette in Macon County, Tennessee
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Macon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.30 sq mi (13.72 km2) |
| • Land | 5.30 sq mi (13.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 958 ft (292 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,584 |
| • Density | 1,053.98/sq mi (406.92/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
37083
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| Area code(s) | 615 |
| FIPS code | 47-40160 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1290467 |
Lafayette is a city in Macon County, Tennessee, United States. It's the main town, or county seat, of Macon County. In 2020, about 5,584 people lived here.
Contents
History of Lafayette
Lafayette was started in 1843. It became the main town for the new Macon County. The city was named after the Marquis de Lafayette. He was a famous French general who helped America during the American Revolutionary War.
Geography of Lafayette
Lafayette is located near the middle of Macon County. It sits on a wide, flat area called the northern Highland Rim. The city is on a ridge where water flows in two different directions. Some streams go towards the Barren River, and others flow into the Cumberland River.
The city covers about 4.4 square miles (13.72 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Climate in Lafayette
| Climate data for Lafayette, Tennessee, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1958–2019 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 73 (23) |
79 (26) |
86 (30) |
91 (33) |
96 (36) |
108 (42) |
105 (41) |
105 (41) |
101 (38) |
95 (35) |
83 (28) |
77 (25) |
108 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 64.7 (18.2) |
69.1 (20.6) |
78.2 (25.7) |
84.6 (29.2) |
88.4 (31.3) |
93.8 (34.3) |
96.5 (35.8) |
96.2 (35.7) |
92.2 (33.4) |
83.8 (28.8) |
76.0 (24.4) |
66.6 (19.2) |
98.0 (36.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44.6 (7.0) |
49.5 (9.7) |
58.9 (14.9) |
69.5 (20.8) |
77.8 (25.4) |
85.1 (29.5) |
88.3 (31.3) |
87.9 (31.1) |
81.7 (27.6) |
71.2 (21.8) |
59.2 (15.1) |
48.5 (9.2) |
68.5 (20.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 35.7 (2.1) |
40.1 (4.5) |
48.8 (9.3) |
58.6 (14.8) |
67.1 (19.5) |
75.0 (23.9) |
78.6 (25.9) |
77.6 (25.3) |
70.9 (21.6) |
59.7 (15.4) |
48.7 (9.3) |
39.6 (4.2) |
58.4 (14.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26.7 (−2.9) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
38.6 (3.7) |
47.7 (8.7) |
56.4 (13.6) |
65.0 (18.3) |
68.8 (20.4) |
67.2 (19.6) |
60.2 (15.7) |
48.2 (9.0) |
38.1 (3.4) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
48.2 (9.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 6.1 (−14.4) |
11.9 (−11.2) |
20.5 (−6.4) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
42.1 (5.6) |
52.9 (11.6) |
58.5 (14.7) |
56.9 (13.8) |
44.5 (6.9) |
32.6 (0.3) |
23.4 (−4.8) |
11.2 (−11.6) |
1.5 (−16.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) |
−3 (−19) |
−1 (−18) |
20 (−7) |
29 (−2) |
38 (3) |
45 (7) |
45 (7) |
31 (−1) |
21 (−6) |
6 (−14) |
−13 (−25) |
−20 (−29) |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
Population of Lafayette
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 210 | — | |
| 1870 | 161 | — | |
| 1890 | 256 | — | |
| 1910 | 678 | — | |
| 1920 | 547 | −19.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,195 | — | |
| 1960 | 1,590 | 33.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,583 | 62.5% | |
| 1980 | 3,808 | 47.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,641 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 3,885 | 6.7% | |
| 2010 | 4,474 | 15.2% | |
| 2020 | 5,584 | 24.8% | |
| Sources: | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, Lafayette had about 5,584 people living in 2,086 homes. The population density was about 1,055 people per square mile. This was a growth of over 12% since 2010.
Most people in Lafayette are White (about 83%). About 12% of the population is Hispanic or Latino. Other groups like Black, Native American, and Asian people also live here.
Economy and Income
The average income for a household in Lafayette was about $35,580 per year (from 2017-2021 data). The income per person was around $19,920. About 25% of the people in Lafayette live in poverty.
2008 Tornado Event
On February 5, 2008, a powerful tornado hit Lafayette. It was an EF3 tornado, which is a very strong type. The tornado was about 3/4 of a mile wide and traveled for 21 miles. It caused a lot of damage across Macon County. Sadly, 14 people lost their lives.
Even though there were tornado sirens, they were not working at the time. Many people were not ready for the storm. The tornado damaged areas both southwest and north of the city. Former President George W. Bush visited Lafayette to see the damage. Some areas still showed signs of the tornado years later.
Economy of Lafayette
Lafayette and Macon County are mostly rural areas. Their economy mainly depends on agriculture. Macon County is a top producer of burley tobacco in Tennessee and the United States. Making hardwood lumber is also an important industry here.
There are two local banks in Lafayette. Citizens Bank was founded in 1909. Macon Bank & Trust Co. started in 1919. Both banks have several locations in the area.
Lafayette also has some manufacturing companies. The biggest ones are Fleetwood Homes and Tennplasco.
Recreation and Fun
Lafayette offers several places for outdoor activities and fun.
Parks in Lafayette
- Winding Stairs Park: This park has a 1.6-mile loop trail. It's a moderately difficult trail with a waterfall. You can find out more at winding-stairs.com.
- Key Park: Located on Church Street, this park has picnic areas and a playground. It also has a bandstand and walking tracks. The Key Park Log House is here, and the Farmer's Market often sets up shop.
- Lafayette City Park: You can find this park on Days Road. It has picnic spots, a playground, and a swimming pool. There are also volleyball and tennis courts, and a baseball field.
Golfing
- Macon County Golf Course: This is a semi-private, nine-hole golf course.
Education in Lafayette
The schools in Lafayette are managed by the Macon County Board of Education. Macon County High School is the local high school. Its sports teams are called the Tigers and Tigerettes. The high school was founded in 1927.
Public Schools
- Central Elementary School (grades 2-3)
- Fairlane Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to grade 1)
- Lafayette Elementary School (grades 4-5)
- Macon County High School (grades 9-12)
- Macon County Junior High School (grades 6-8)
Other public schools in Macon County, but outside Lafayette, include Westside Elementary (Kindergarten-grade 5) and Red Boiling Springs School (Kindergarten-grade 12).
Private Schools
- Macon Christian Academy (Pre-School to grade 12)
Transportation in Lafayette
Lafayette is located where Tennessee Routes 10 and 52 meet. Route 52 is the main road through the city. It connects to Interstate 65, which is about 35 miles away near Portland. Other state highways nearby are Tennessee State Route 261 and Tennessee State Route 262.
Sneed Boulevard is a bypass road. It connects Route 52 to the Lafayette Industrial Park, which is in the northern part of the city.
Airport
The Lafayette Municipal Airport is two miles west of downtown. It has a runway that is 5,200 feet long and 75 feet wide.
Notable people
- John Washington Butler – a state lawmaker
- Hillous Butrum – a country music guitarist
- Rita Coolidge – an American singer and songwriter
- Cal Turner Sr. – co-founder of Dollar General stores
- J. L. Turner – co-founder of Dollar General stores
- Nera White – the first woman to be included in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- Jett Williams – a country music singer
See also
In Spanish: Lafayette (Tennessee) para niños
