La Fayette, Alabama

Infobox Settlement
official_name = LaFayette, Alabama
settlement_type = City
nickname =
website = http://www.lafayetteal.com


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 22.9
area_land_km2 = 22.9
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 8.9
area_land_sq_mi = 8.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Chambers County, Alabama


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Alabama
subdivision_name2 = Chambers
population_as_of = 2000
population_total = 3,234
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_ft = 843
latd = 32 |latm = 53 |lats = 54 |latNS = N
longd = 85 |longm = 24 |longs = 2 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 257
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 36862
area_code = 334
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 01-40672
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0164071
footnotes =

LaFayette (Pronounced: "La Fet" or "La FAY Et") is a city in Chambers County, Alabama, United States, 47 miles (76 km) northwest of Columbus, Georgia. It is the county seat. Lafayette College was opened here in 1885. In 1900, 1,629 people lived here, and in 1910, 1,632 people lived here. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,234. Parts of the movie Mississippi Burning were filmed in Downtown LaFayette. The county courthouse was prominently featured.

Geography

LaFayette is located at 32°53'54.859" North, 85°24'2.822" West (32.898572, -85.400784)GR|1. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.9 square miles (22.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2007, there were 5,630 people, 1,164 households, and 778 families residing in the city. The population density was 365.4 people per square mile (141.1/km²). There were 1,305 housing units at an average density of 147.5/sq mi (56.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.29% Black or African American, 32.07% White, 0.03% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.25% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,164 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples living together, 26.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,768, and the median income for a family was $29,167. Males had a median income of $26,081 versus $20,859 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,845. About 25.1% of families and 28.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable Residents

LaFayette is the birthplace of, the late boxing legend, Joe Louis. Also, Johnson J. Hooper lived in LaFayette while writing his most famous work "The Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs". In addition, James Thomas "Cotton Tom" Heflin, after attending Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Auburn University, practiced law in LaFayette until he began his political career with his 1904 election to the United States House of Representatives.

LaFayette is the birthplace of the famous Old West Law man, and the slayer of Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett. In Pat Garrett’s will, kept at the Chambers County courthouse, there are provisions leaving his saddle and shotgun to a nephew in LaFayette.

References

External links