Lafayette County, Wisconsin
County in Wisconsin, United States

County in Wisconsin
Lafayette County, Wisconsin
County
Lafayette County Courthouse in 1982
Lafayette County Courthouse in 1982
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Lafayette County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Coordinates: 42°40′N 90°08′W / 42.66°N 90.14°W / 42.66; -90.14
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1846
Named afterMarquis de Lafayette
SeatDarlington
Largest cityDarlington
Area
 • Total
635 sq mi (1,640 km2)
 • Land634 sq mi (1,640 km2)
 • Water1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
16,611
 • Estimate 
(2024)[2]
17,306 Increase
 • Density27.3/sq mi (10.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.lafayette.wi.gov

Lafayette County, sometimes spelled La Fayette County, is a 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 census, the population was 16,611.[1] Its county seat is Darlington.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

The courthouse scenes from the 2009 film Public Enemies were filmed at the Lafayette County Courthouse in Darlington.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 635 square miles (1,640 km2), of which 634 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Buses

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
185011,531—
186018,13457.3%
187022,65925.0%
188021,279−6.1%
189020,265−4.8%
190020,9593.4%
191020,075−4.2%
192020,002−0.4%
193018,649−6.8%
194018,6950.2%
195018,137−3.0%
196018,1420.0%
197017,456−3.8%
198017,412−0.3%
199016,076−7.7%
200016,1370.4%
201016,8364.3%
202016,611−1.3%
2024 (est.)17,3064.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[1] 2024[2]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,611.[12] The population density was 26.2 people per square mile (10.1 people/km2). There were 7,156 housing units at an average density of 11.3 units per square mile (4.4 units/km2).[13] <0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[14]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.7% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.7% from some other race, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.6% of the population.[12]

The median age was 40.9 years, 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 18.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.5 males age 18 and over.[13]

There were 6,618 households, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.4% were married-couple households, 19.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]

Of those housing units, 7.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.3% were owner-occupied and 22.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.[13]

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Lafayette County

As of the 2000 census,[15] there were 16,137 people, 6,211 households, and 4,378 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10 people/km2). There were 6,674 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.03% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.8% were of German, 17.5% Norwegian, 13.6% Irish, 11.9% English, 6.8% Swiss and 6.0% 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 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.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Politics

United States presidential election results for Lafayette County, Wisconsin[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1892 2,366 47.87% 2,286 46.25% 291 5.89%
1896 2,919 54.74% 2,236 41.94% 177 3.32%
1900 2,852 55.83% 2,100 41.11% 156 3.05%
1904 2,875 58.19% 1,928 39.02% 138 2.79%
1908 2,832 55.96% 2,100 41.49% 129 2.55%
1912 1,747 39.14% 1,852 41.50% 864 19.36%
1916 2,544 54.07% 2,059 43.76% 102 2.17%
1920 4,893 76.11% 1,357 21.11% 179 2.78%
1924 2,671 34.69% 1,265 16.43% 3,763 48.88%
1928 5,134 58.53% 3,585 40.87% 52 0.59%
1932 3,246 39.52% 4,886 59.49% 81 0.99%
1936 3,801 41.11% 4,976 53.81% 470 5.08%
1940 5,059 53.71% 4,315 45.81% 45 0.48%
1944 4,421 54.27% 3,696 45.37% 30 0.37%
1948 3,288 46.28% 3,740 52.65% 76 1.07%
1952 5,731 66.23% 2,905 33.57% 17 0.20%
1956 4,733 59.33% 3,212 40.26% 33 0.41%
1960 4,715 56.60% 3,607 43.30% 8 0.10%
1964 3,194 41.64% 4,471 58.28% 6 0.08%
1968 4,084 55.10% 2,853 38.49% 475 6.41%
1972 4,898 62.91% 2,804 36.01% 84 1.08%
1976 4,131 50.48% 3,839 46.91% 213 2.60%
1980 4,421 51.46% 3,598 41.88% 572 6.66%
1984 4,584 60.43% 2,961 39.03% 41 0.54%
1988 3,665 50.69% 3,521 48.70% 44 0.61%
1992 2,582 32.85% 3,143 39.99% 2,134 27.15%
1996 2,172 33.62% 3,261 50.48% 1,027 15.90%
2000 3,336 45.93% 3,710 51.08% 217 2.99%
2004 3,929 46.84% 4,402 52.48% 57 0.68%
2008 2,984 38.10% 4,732 60.43% 115 1.47%
2012 3,314 41.68% 4,536 57.04% 102 1.28%
2016 3,977 51.91% 3,288 42.91% 397 5.18%
2020 4,821 56.35% 3,647 42.63% 87 1.02%
2024 5,256 59.51% 3,469 39.28% 107 1.21%

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

References

  1. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census: Lafayette County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Jay County, Indiana". Census.gov.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 178.
  5. ^ "County Typology Codes - Descriptions and Maps". USDA. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  12. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  13. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

Further reading

  • 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.
  • History of La Fayette County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1881.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lafayette County, Wisconsin.
  • Lafayette County government website
  • Lafayette County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
  • Lafayette Development Corporation Archived August 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine

42°40′N 90°08′W / 42.66°N 90.14°W / 42.66; -90.14

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