LA FAYETTE, ALABAMA

'LaFayette' (Pronounced: "La Fet" or "La Fay Et") is a city in Chambers County, Alabama, 47 miles (76 km) northwest of Columbus, Ga. 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.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Notable Residents

External links

Geography

La Fayette is located at 32°53'54.859" North, 85°24'2.822" West (32.898572, -85.400784). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.9 km² (8.9 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,234 people, 1,164 households, and 778 families residing in the city. The population density was 141.1/km² (365.4/mi²). There were 1,305 housing units at an average density of 56.9/km² (147.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 32.07% White, 67.29% Black or African American, 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 infamous Old West Lawman, and 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.

External links