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Lafayette County, Arkansas facts for kids

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Lafayette County
County of Lafayette
Lafayette County Courthouse, Lewisville
Lafayette County Courthouse, Lewisville
Map of Arkansas highlighting Lafayette County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Arkansas
Founded October 15, 1827
Named for Marquis de Lafayette
Seat Lewisville
Largest town Stamps
Area
 • Total 545 sq mi (1,410 km2)
 • Land 528 sq mi (1,370 km2)
 • Water 17 sq mi (40 km2)  3.1%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 7,645
 • Estimate 
(2019)
6,624
 • Density 14.028/sq mi (5.416/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
71826, 71827, 71845, 71860, 71861
Area code 870
Congressional district 4th

Lafayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,645, making it the third-least populous county in Arkansas. The county seat is Lewisville. Lafayette County was formed on October 15, 1827, and named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War. It is a dry county; therefore, the sale of alcohol is prohibited.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 545 square miles (1,410 km2), of which 528 square miles (1,370 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (3.1%) is water. It is the smallest county in Arkansas by area.

Major highways

  • US 82.svg U.S. Highway 82
  • Arkansas 29.svg Highway 29
  • Arkansas 53.svg Highway 53
  • Arkansas 160.svg Highway 160

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 748
1840 2,200 194.1%
1850 5,220 137.3%
1860 8,464 62.1%
1870 9,139 8.0%
1880 5,730 −37.3%
1890 7,700 34.4%
1900 10,594 37.6%
1910 13,741 29.7%
1920 15,522 13.0%
1930 16,934 9.1%
1940 16,851 −0.5%
1950 13,203 −21.6%
1960 11,030 −16.5%
1970 10,018 −9.2%
1980 10,213 1.9%
1990 9,643 −5.6%
2000 8,559 −11.2%
2010 7,645 −10.7%
2019 (est.) 6,624 −13.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2016
USA Lafayette County, Arkansas age pyramid
Age pyramid Lafayette County

2020 census

Lafayette County racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 3,870 61.35%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,043 32.39%
Native American 29 0.46%
Asian 32 0.51%
Pacific Islander 5 0.08%
Other/Mixed 184 2.92%
Hispanic or Latino 145 2.3%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,308 people, 2,784 households, and 1,801 families residing in the county.

Government

Prior to 2000, Lafayette County was considered an "ancestral" Democratic county, with exceptions for the 1972 and 1984 landslides of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, respectively. Former Governor Bill Clinton won this county twice in his presidential runs: 1992 and 1996. Clinton's vice president, Al Gore, won the county in 2000, the most recent Democrat to do so.

Over the past few election cycles Lafayette County, like all of the traditionally secessionist Upland South, has turned sharply rightward and away from a more socially liberal Democratic Party than the one Clinton led. Donald Trump won 61% of the vote in 2016 over former Arkansas First Lady and U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton, owing both to the strength of Trump in rural America and the decline of the Clinton brand in their home state.

Presidential elections results
Lafayette County, Arkansas
vote by party in presidential elections
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 61.47% 1,758 36.08% 1,032 2.44% 70
2012 58.48% 1,713 40.05% 1,173 1.47% 43
2008 58.06% 1,685 39.04% 1,133 2.89% 84
2004 50.27% 1,604 49.11% 1,567 0.63% 20
2000 45.46% 1,538 53.38% 1,806 1.15% 39
1996 25.25% 971 64.14% 2,466 10.61% 408
1992 29.86% 1,188 57.12% 2,273 13.02% 518
1988 48.95% 1,860 50.39% 1,915 0.66% 25
1984 57.15% 2,290 42.30% 1,695 0.55% 22
1980 46.50% 1,756 51.56% 1,947 1.93% 73
1976 38.51% 1,467 61.49% 2,342
1972 71.91% 2,460 27.83% 952 0.26% 9
1968 18.75% 672 33.71% 1,208 47.54% 1,704
1964 49.75% 1,476 50.02% 1,484 0.24% 7
1960 30.67% 713 55.31% 1,286 14.02% 326
1956 36.67% 836 59.12% 1,348 4.21% 96
1952 30.72% 733 68.61% 1,637 0.67% 16
1948 7.94% 113 49.16% 700 42.91% 611
1944 13.34% 177 86.66% 1,150 0.00% 0
1940 10.35% 159 88.02% 1,352 1.63% 25
1936 7.24% 100 92.55% 1,279 0.22% 3
1932 9.14% 151 90.50% 1,495 0.36% 6
1928 30.48% 435 69.45% 991 0.07% 1
1924 24.53% 298 64.86% 788 10.62% 129
1920 34.25% 500 65.34% 954 0.41% 6
1916 29.06% 365 70.94% 891 0.00% 0
1912 23.88% 208 57.18% 498 18.95% 165
1908 42.11% 552 56.37% 739 1.53% 20
1904 46.66% 566 50.62% 614 2.72% 33
1900 51.44% 448 48.45% 422 0.11% 1
1896 40.83% 423 58.69% 608 0.48% 5

Communities

Towns

Townships

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Lafayette County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Lafayette (Arkansas) para niños

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