Lafayette County, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lafayette County
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| County of Lafayette | ||
The north façade of the Lafayette County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
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 Mississippi's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Mississippi |
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| Established | February 9, 1836 | |
| Named for | Marquis de Lafayette | |
| Seat | Oxford | |
| Largest city | Oxford | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 679 sq mi (1,760 km2) | |
| • Land | 632 sq mi (1,640 km2) | |
| • Water | 47 sq mi (120 km2) 7.0% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 55,813 | |
| • Density | 82.20/sq mi (31.737/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
Lafayette County is a county in the U.S. state of Mississippi. At the 2020 census, the population was 55,813. 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.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 679 square miles (1,760 km2), of which 632 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 47 square miles (120 km2) (7.0%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Route 278
Mississippi Highway 6
Mississippi Highway 7
Mississippi Highway 9W
Mississippi Highway 30
Mississippi Highway 315
Mississippi Highway 331
Mississippi Highway 334
cr 249
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
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 6,531 | — | |
| 1850 | 14,069 | 115.4% | |
| 1860 | 16,125 | 14.6% | |
| 1870 | 18,802 | 16.6% | |
| 1880 | 21,671 | 15.3% | |
| 1890 | 20,553 | −5.2% | |
| 1900 | 22,110 | 7.6% | |
| 1910 | 21,883 | −1.0% | |
| 1920 | 19,243 | −12.1% | |
| 1930 | 19,978 | 3.8% | |
| 1940 | 21,257 | 6.4% | |
| 1950 | 22,798 | 7.2% | |
| 1960 | 21,355 | −6.3% | |
| 1970 | 24,181 | 13.2% | |
| 1980 | 31,030 | 28.3% | |
| 1990 | 31,826 | 2.6% | |
| 2000 | 38,744 | 21.7% | |
| 2010 | 47,351 | 22.2% | |
| 2020 | 55,813 | 17.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 58,467 | 23.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 38,766 | 69.46% |
| Black or African American | 11,300 | 20.25% |
| Native American | 68 | 0.12% |
| Asian | 1,685 | 3.02% |
| Pacific Islander | 24 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,828 | 3.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,142 | 3.84% |
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.
Communities
City
- Oxford (county seat and largest municipality)
Town
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Denmark
- Harmontown
- Springdale
- Yocona
Ghost towns
Law enforcement
| Lafayette County Sheriff's Department | |
|---|---|
| Common name | Lafayette County Sheriff |
| Abbreviation | LCSD |
| Motto | "Protect and Serve" |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1836 |
| Employees | 26 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Governing body | Lafayette County Board of Supervisors |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 711 Jackson Avenue East, Oxford, MS 38655 |
| Deputys | 26 (2014) |
| Facilities | |
| Districts | Oxford, Mississippi |
The Lafayette County Sheriff's Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the policing and maintenance of public order of Lafayette County, Mississippi. They are also the primary law enforcement agency for all locales excluding Oxford, and work in tandem with the Oxford Police Department and The University of Mississippi's University Police Department in those jurisdictions. Responsible for maintenance and administration of its jail, the Lafayette County Detention Center in Oxford, it is also their duty to stand as guards of Lafayette County's County and Chancery Courts. In September 2018 the department employed 26 full-time deputies, in addition to other staff employed as guards for the county jail. In comparison, Oxford Police Department, which patrols a small fraction of the area done by the Sheriff's Department, employs over 75 full-time officers.
F.D. "Buddy" East was the long-time sheriff, who held the office from 1972 until his death in September 2018, having been elected to twelve terms as sheriff. At the time he was the longest serving Sheriff in the history of the United States, having held the position for 46 years. The sheriff's son, Joey East, was concurrently the Oxford Police Department's Chief of Police. After the November 2019 elections, Joey East became the sheriff of Lafayette County, following his father.
Education
School districts include Lafayette County School District and Oxford School District.
University of Mississippi is in the county.
Northwest Mississippi Community College operates the Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lafayette (Misisipi) para niños
