Editing Lafayette County, Arkansas

{{short description|County in Arkansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lafayette County
 | state                = Arkansas
 | type                 = [[Arkansas counties|County]]
 | ex image             = Lafayette County Courthouse, Lewisville, AR IMG 1464.JPG
 | ex image cap         = Lafayette County Courthouse, Lewisville
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1827
 | founded date         = October 15
 | named for            = [[Marquis de Lafayette]]
 | seat wl              = Lewisville
 | largest city wl      = Stamps
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 545
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 528
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 17
 | area percentage      = 3.1%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 6308
 | pop_est_footnotes    = 
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 6095 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ZIP codes            = 71826, 71827, 71845, 71860, 71861
 | area codes           = [[Area code 870|870]]
 | district             = 4th
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.lafayettecounty.arkansas.gov
}}

'''Lafayette County''' {{IPAc-en|l|ɑː|ˈ|f|eɪ|ɛ|t}} is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Arkansas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 6,308,<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Lafayette County, Arkansas|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lafayette_County,_Arkansas?g=0500000US05073|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 20, 2023}}</ref> making it the third-least populous county in Arkansas. The [[county seat]] is [[Lewisville, Arkansas|Lewisville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Lafayette County was formed on October 15, 1827, and named in honor of the [[Marquis de Lafayette]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA178 | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=178}}</ref> a French military hero of the [[American Revolutionary War]]. It is a [[dry county]]; therefore, the sale of alcohol is prohibited.<ref>{{cite web |title= Wet/Dry Status of Arkansas Counties|url= https://www.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=a092d55276a84fe38770fc32639327eb}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|545|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|528|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|17|sqmi}} (3.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_05.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 27, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the smallest county in Arkansas by area. <ref>{{cite web |date= 2010|title= Arkansas Land area in square miles, 2010 by County|url= https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/arkansas/land-area}}</ref>

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 82.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 82]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 29.svg|20px]] [[Highway 29 (Arkansas)|Highway 29]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 53.svg|20px]] [[Highway 53 (Arkansas)|Highway 53]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 160.svg|25px]] [[Highway 160 (Arkansas)|Highway 160]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Hempstead County, Arkansas|Hempstead County]] (north)
*[[Nevada County, Arkansas|Nevada County]] (northeast)
*[[Columbia County, Arkansas|Columbia County]] (east)
*[[Webster Parish, Louisiana|Webster Parish]], [[Louisiana]] (southeast)
*[[Bossier Parish, Louisiana|Bossier Parish]], [[Louisiana]] (south)
*[[Caddo Parish, Louisiana|Caddo Parish]], [[Louisiana]] (southwest)
*[[Miller County, Arkansas|Miller County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 748
|1840= 2200
|1850= 5220
|1860= 8464
|1870= 9139
|1880= 5730
|1890= 7700
|1900= 10594
|1910= 13741
|1920= 15522
|1930= 16934
|1940= 16851
|1950= 13203
|1960= 11030
|1970= 10018
|1980= 10213
|1990= 9643
|2000= 8559
|2010= 7645
|2020= 6308
|estyear=2023
|estimate=6095
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 30, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 27, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 27, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ar190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=August 27, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=August 27, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05073.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 23, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607033003/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05073.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}

[[Image:USA Lafayette County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|150px|Age pyramid Lafayette County<ref>Based on [[2000 United States census|2000 census]] data</ref>]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Lafayette County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05073&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 3,870
| 61.35%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 2,043
| 32.39%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 29
| 0.46%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 32
| 0.51%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 5
| 0.08%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 184
| 2.92%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census]],<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 8,559 people, 3,434 households, and 2,376 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|16|/sqmi|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|abbr=out}}. There were 4,560 housing units at an average density of {{convert|9|/sqmi|/km2|abbr=out}}. The racial makeup of the county was 62.08% [[Race (United States census)|White]], 36.49% [[Race (United States census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States census)|African American]], 0.37% [[Race (United States census)|Native American]], 0.22% [[Race (United States census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.20% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 0.63% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were [[Race (United States census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 3,434 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,831, and the median income for a family was $30,720. Males had a median income of $26,492 versus $17,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,128. About 18.70% of families and 23.20% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 19.30% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

=== Government ===
The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the [[Constitution of Arkansas]] and the [[Arkansas Code]]. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called ''justices of the peace'' and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Lafayette County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the ''county judge'', who serves as the [[chief operating officer]] of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quorum Courts |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/quorum-courts-6348/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Office of County Judge |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/office-of-county-judge-5720/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Lafayette County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lafayette {{!}} Association of Arkansas Counties |url=https://www.arcounties.org/counties/lafayette/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.arcounties.org}}</ref><ref name=":1">https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf</ref>
!Position
!Officeholder
!Party
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|County Judge
|Valarie Clark
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|County Clerk
|Angela Brazell
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Circuit Clerk
|Dana Phillips
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Sheriff
|Jeff Black
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Treasurer/Collector
|Michelle Perkison
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Assessor
|Billie Jo Pierson
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Coroner
|William C. "Bill" Powell
|Republican
|}
The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 5 Republicans, 3 Democrats, and 1 Independent. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Lafayette County, Arkansas, elections, 2024 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Lafayette_County,_Arkansas,_elections,_2024 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>

* District 1: Jeremy Kitchens (R)
* District 2: Linda D. Goodner (R)
* District 3: Charles H. Goodwin (R)
* District 4: Rex Lenard (R)
* District 5: LeNora Jackson (D)
* District 6: Catherine Ann Rone (D)
* District 7: Horace M. Hight (R)
* District 8: Stephanie Harris (D)
* District 9: Jimmy Brackman (I)

Additionally, the townships of Lafayette County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the [[Constitution of Arkansas]]. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is a Constable? |url=https://www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/ced-blog/posts/2022/may/what-is-a-constable.aspx |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=What is a Constable? |language=en}}</ref> The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref name=":2" />

* District 1: Braxton Ben Butler (I)

=== Politics ===
Prior to 2000, Lafayette County was considered an "ancestral" Democratic county among white conservatives. Exceptions were the [[1972 United States presidential election|1972]] and [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]] landslides of Republicans [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Ronald Reagan]], respectively.

Former Governor [[Bill Clinton]] of Arkansas, considered a son of the South, won this county twice in his presidential runs: [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]] and [[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]. Clinton's vice president, [[Al Gore]] of Tennessee, another son of the South, won the county in [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]], the most recent Democrat to do so. Most of the African-American voters have been affiliated with the national Democratic Party since the 1960s, even as conservative whites here shifted to the Republican Party.
{{PresHead|place=Lafayette County, Arkansas|source=<ref name="DL">{{cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|access-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,589|698|38|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,757|839|83|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,758|1,032|70|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,713|1,173|43|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,685|1,133|84|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,604|1,567|20|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|1,538|1,806|39|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|971|2,466|408|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,188|2,273|518|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,860|1,915|25|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,290|1,695|22|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,756|1,947|73|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,467|2,342|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,460|952|9|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|672|1,208|1,704|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,476|1,484|7|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|713|1,286|326|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|836|1,348|96|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|733|1,637|16|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|113|700|611|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|177|1,150|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|159|1,352|25|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|100|1,279|3|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|151|1,495|6|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|435|991|1|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|298|788|129|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|500|954|6|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|365|891|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|208|498|165|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|552|739|20|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|566|614|33|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|448|422|1|Arkansas}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Democratic|423|608|5|Arkansas}}

==Communities==

===Towns===
* [[Bradley, Arkansas|Bradley]]
* [[Buckner, Arkansas|Buckner]]
* [[Lewisville, Arkansas|Lewisville]] (county seat)
* [[Stamps, Arkansas|Stamps]]

===Townships===
{{Arkansas Townships About|County = Lafayette}}
<ref>{{Cite map
 |publisher   = U. S. Census Bureau
 |title       = 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Lafayette County, AR
 |url         = http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05073_lafayette/BAS11C20507300000_000.pdf
 |access-date  = August 24, 2011
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019170512/http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05073_lafayette/BAS11C20507300000_000.pdf
 |archive-date = October 19, 2012
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#L | title = Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date = May 29, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140528050635/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#L | archive-date = May 28, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

* [[Baker Township, Lafayette County, Arkansas|Baker]] (most of [[Stamps, Arkansas|Stamps]])
* [[French Township, Lafayette County, Arkansas|French]]
* [[Hadley Township, Lafayette County, Arkansas|Hadley]] ([[Buckner, Arkansas|Buckner]], small part of [[Stamps, Arkansas|Stamps]])
* [[La Grange Township, Lafayette County, Arkansas|La Grange]] (small part of [[Lewisville, Arkansas|Lewisville]])
* [[Mars Hill Township, Lafayette County, Arkansas|Mars Hill]]
* [[Roane Township, Lafayette County, Arkansas|Roane]] ([[Bradley, Arkansas|Bradley]])
* [[Russell Township, Lafayette County, Arkansas|Russell]]
* [[Steel Township, Lafayette County, Arkansas|Steel]] (most of [[Lewisville, Arkansas|Lewisville]])
* [[Walker Creek Township, Lafayette County, Arkansas|Walker Creek]]

Source:<ref name=2010-Census-PDF1 />

==Education==
There are two school districts in the county: [[Lafayette County School District (Arkansas)|Lafayette County School District]] and the [[Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05073_lafayette/DC20SD_C05073.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721212739/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05073_lafayette/DC20SD_C05073.pdf |archive-date=July 21, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lafayette County, AR|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 21, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05073_lafayette/DC20SD_C05073_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Previously the [[Bradley School District]] was the second district;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05073_lafayette/DC10SD_C05073_001.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825015839/http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05073_lafayette/DC10SD_C05073_001.pdf |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |url-status=live|title=SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Lafayette County, AR|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 21, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05073_lafayette/DC10SD_C05073_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> it merged into Emerson-Taylor-Bradley in 2013.<ref name=Stateapp>{{cite news |url=http://www.magnoliareporter.com/education/public_private_schools/article_b2c04edc-bc75-11e2-899f-0019bb2963f4.html |title=State approves Bradley school annexation by Emerson-Taylor district |newspaper=[[Magnolia Reporter]] |date=May 14, 2013|accessdate=October 19, 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[Honors and memorials to the Marquis de Lafayette]]
* [[List of counties in Arkansas]]
* [[List of lakes in Lafayette County, Arkansas]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lafayette County, Arkansas]]

==References==
{{reflist | refs=
<ref name=2010-Census-PDF1>
 {{cite web
 | url = https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-5.pdf
 | title = Summary Population and Housing Characteristics, CPH-1-5, Arkansas
 | work =
 | publisher = United States Census Bureau
 | date = September 2012
 | access-date = May 31, 2014
}} [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html 2010 Census of Population and Housing]
</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|http://www.lafayettecounty.arkansas.gov/index.php}}

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Lafayette County, Arkansas
| North     = [[Hempstead County, Arkansas|Hempstead County]]
| Northeast = [[Nevada County, Arkansas|Nevada County]]
| East      = [[Columbia County, Arkansas|Columbia County]]
| Southeast = [[Webster Parish, Louisiana]]
| South     = [[Bossier Parish, Louisiana]]
| Southwest = [[Caddo Parish, Louisiana]]
| West      = [[Miller County, Arkansas|Miller County]]
| Northwest =
}}
{{Lafayette County, Arkansas}}
{{Arkansas}}

{{coord|33|15|51|N|93|35|34|W|region:US-AR_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lafayette County, Arkansas| ]]
[[Category:1827 establishments in Arkansas Territory]]
[[Category:Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1827]]