Editing Lafayette County, Wisconsin

{{Short description|County in Wisconsin, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lafayette County
 | state                = Wisconsin
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1846
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Darlington
 | largest city wl      = Darlington
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 635
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 634
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.0
 | area percentage      = 0.2%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 16611
 | population_density_sq_mi = 27.3
 | population_footnotes = <ref name="2020-census-55065" />
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 17306 {{gain}}
 | pop_est_footnotes    = <ref name=qf>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/jaycountyindiana/PST045223|title=Jay County, Indiana|website=Census.gov|access-date= }}</ref>
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.co.lafayette.wi.gov
 | named for            = [[Marquis de Lafayette]]
 | district             = 2nd
 | ex image             = LafayetteCC.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Lafayette County Courthouse (Wisconsin)|Lafayette County Courthouse]] in 1982
}}

'''Lafayette County''', sometimes spelled '''La Fayette County''', is a [[county (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]]. It was part of the [[Wisconsin Territory]] at the time of its founding. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 16,611.<ref name="2020-census-55065" /> Its [[county seat]] is [[Darlington, Wisconsin|Darlington]].<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> The county was named in honor of the [[Marquis de Lafayette]], the French general who rendered assistance to the [[Continental Army]] in the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|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=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n177 178]}}</ref> The county is considered a high-farming concentration county by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, meaning at least 20 percent of its earnings came from agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/county-typology-codes/descriptions-and-maps |access-date=April 16, 2025 |title=County Typology Codes - Descriptions and Maps |publisher=USDA}}</ref>

The courthouse scenes from the 2009 film [[Public Enemies (2009 film)|Public Enemies]] were filmed at the [[Lafayette County Courthouse (Wisconsin)|Lafayette County Courthouse]] in Darlington.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|635|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|634|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.0|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_55.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 5, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 151.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 151]]
* [[Image:WIS 11.svg|20px]] [[Highway 11 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[Image:WIS 23.svg|20px]] [[Highway 23 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[Image:WIS 78.svg|20px]] [[Highway 78 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[Image:WIS 81.svg|20px]] [[Highway 81 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[Image:WIS 126.svg|20px]] [[Highway 126 (Wisconsin)]]

===Buses===

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Grant County, Wisconsin|Grant County]] - west
* [[Iowa County, Wisconsin|Iowa County]] - north
* [[Green County, Wisconsin|Green County]] - east
* [[Stephenson County, Illinois]] - southeast
* [[Jo Daviess County, Illinois]] - south

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 11531
|1860= 18134
|1870= 22659
|1880= 21279
|1890= 20265
|1900= 20959
|1910= 20075
|1920= 20002
|1930= 18649
|1940= 18695
|1950= 18137
|1960= 18142
|1970= 17456
|1980= 17412
|1990= 16076
|2000= 16137
|2010= 16836
|2020 = 16611
|estyear=2024
|estimate=17306
|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 5, 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 5, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.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 5, 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://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |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 5, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55065.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 21, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606160746/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55065.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020-census-55065"/> 2024<ref name=qf/>
}} 

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-55065">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Lafayette County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US55065&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 11, 2022}}</ref> the population was 16,611. The [[population density]] was {{convert|26.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 7,156 housing units at an average density of {{convert|11.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 91.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.7% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 3.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 6.6% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===2000 census===
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Lafayette County, Wisconsin age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|2000 Census Age Pyramid for Lafayette County]]}}
As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 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 16,137 people, 6,211 households, and 4,378 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|26|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 6,674 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 99.03% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.22% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.14% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.35% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 33.8% were of [[German people|German]], 17.5% [[norwegian people|Norwegian]], 13.6% [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.9% [[English people|English]], 6.8% [[swiss people|Swiss]] and 6.0% [[United States|American]] ancestry.

There were 6,211 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.
{{clear left}}

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Cuba City, Wisconsin|Cuba City]] (mostly in [[Grant County, Wisconsin|Grant County]])
* [[Darlington, Wisconsin|Darlington]] (county seat)
* [[Shullsburg, Wisconsin|Shullsburg]]

===Villages===
{{div col}}
* [[Argyle, Wisconsin|Argyle]]
* [[Belmont, Wisconsin|Belmont]]
* [[Benton, Wisconsin|Benton]]
* [[Blanchardville, Wisconsin|Blanchardville]] (partly in [[Iowa County, Wisconsin|Iowa County]])
* [[Gratiot, Wisconsin|Gratiot]]
* [[Hazel Green, Wisconsin|Hazel Green]] (mostly in [[Grant County, Wisconsin|Grant County]])
* [[South Wayne, Wisconsin|South Wayne]]
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Argyle (town), Wisconsin|Argyle]]
* [[Belmont (town), Wisconsin|Belmont]]
* [[Benton (town), Wisconsin|Benton]]
* [[Blanchard, Wisconsin|Blanchard]]
* [[Darlington (town), Wisconsin|Darlington]]
* [[Elk Grove, Wisconsin|Elk Grove]]
* [[Fayette, Wisconsin|Fayette]]
* [[Gratiot (town), Wisconsin|Gratiot]]
* [[Kendall, Lafayette County, Wisconsin|Kendall]]
* [[Lamont, Wisconsin|Lamont]]
* [[Monticello, Lafayette County, Wisconsin|Monticello]]
* [[New Diggings, Wisconsin|New Diggings]]
* [[Seymour, Lafayette County, Wisconsin|Seymour]]
* [[Shullsburg (town), Wisconsin|Shullsburg]]
* [[Wayne, Lafayette County, Wisconsin|Wayne]]
* [[White Oak Springs, Wisconsin|White Oak Springs]]
* [[Willow Springs, Wisconsin|Willow Springs]]
* [[Wiota, Wisconsin|Wiota]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Wiota (community), Wisconsin|Wiota]]
* [[Woodford, Wisconsin|Woodford]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Avon, Lafayette County, Wisconsin|Avon]]
* [[Calamine, Wisconsin|Calamine]]
* [[Elk Grove (community), Wisconsin|Elk Grove]]
* [[Etna, Wisconsin|Etna]]
* [[Fayette (community), Wisconsin|Fayette]]
* [[Five Corners, Lafayette County, Wisconsin|Five Corners]]
* [[Ipswich, Wisconsin|Ipswich]]
* [[Jenkinsville, Wisconsin|Jenkinsville]]
* [[Lamont (community), Wisconsin|Lamont]]
* [[Lead Mine, Wisconsin|Leadmine]]
* [[Leslie, Wisconsin|Leslie]]
* [[Meekers Grove, Wisconsin|Meekers Grove]]
* [[New Diggings (community), Wisconsin|New Diggings]]
* [[Red Rock, Wisconsin|Red Rock]]
* [[Riverside, Lafayette County, Wisconsin|Riverside]]
* [[Seymour Corners, Wisconsin|Seymour Corners]]
* [[Slateford, Wisconsin|Slateford]]
* [[Strawbridge, Wisconsin|Strawbridge]]
* [[Truman, Wisconsin|Truman]]
* [[White Oak, Wisconsin|White Oak]]
* [[Yellowstone, Wisconsin|Yellowstone]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Lafayette County, Wisconsin|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,256|3,469|107|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,821|3,647|87|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,977|3,288|397|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|3,314|4,536|102|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|2,984|4,732|115|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|3,929|4,402|57|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|3,336|3,710|217|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,172|3,261|1,027|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,582|3,143|2,134|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,665|3,521|44|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,584|2,961|41|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,421|3,598|572|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,131|3,839|213|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,898|2,804|84|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,084|2,853|475|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,194|4,471|6|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,715|3,607|8|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,733|3,212|33|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,731|2,905|17|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,288|3,740|76|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,421|3,696|30|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,059|4,315|45|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,801|4,976|470|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,246|4,886|81|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,134|3,585|52|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive (Wisconsin)|2,671|1,265|3,763|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,893|1,357|179|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,544|2,059|102|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,747|1,852|864|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,832|2,100|129|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,875|1,928|138|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,852|2,100|156|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,919|2,236|177|Wisconsin}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|2,366|2,286|291|Wisconsin}}
Lafayette County has been a reliably Republican county at the federal level for most of its existence. Starting in 1992 however, it voted for the Democratic presidential nominees six elections in a row before shifting back to the GOP in 2016.

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lafayette County, Wisconsin]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* [https://archive.org/details/WisconsinBio ''Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette, Wisconsin, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families.''] Chicago: J. H. Beers and Co., 1901.
* ''[http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wch/id/8995 History of La Fayette County, Wisconsin]''. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1881.

==External links==
{{commons category|Lafayette County, Wisconsin}}
* [http://www.co.lafayette.wi.gov/ Lafayette County government website]
* [http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/lafayette.pdf Lafayette County map] from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
* [http://www.lafayettecounty.org/ Lafayette Development Corporation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818050741/http://www.lafayettecounty.org/ |date=August 18, 2012 }}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lafayette County, Wisconsin
|North     = [[Iowa County, Wisconsin|Iowa County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Green County, Wisconsin|Green County]]
|Southeast = [[Stephenson County, Illinois]]
|South     = [[Jo Daviess County, Illinois]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Grant County, Wisconsin|Grant County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Lafayette County, Wisconsin}}
{{Wisconsin}}

{{coord|42.66|-90.14|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WI_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lafayette County, Wisconsin| ]]
[[Category:1846 establishments in Wisconsin Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1846]]