Lafayette County, Wisconsin

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 635 sqmi, of which 634 sqmi is land and 1.0 sqmi (0.2%) is water.

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 - west
• Iowa County - north
• Green County - east
• Stephenson County, Illinois - southeast
• Jo Daviess County, Illinois - south

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 2024

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,611. The population density was 26.2 /mi2. There were 7,156 housing units at an average density of 11.3 /mi2.

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,

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.

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.

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%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 16,137 people, 6,211 households, and 4,378 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 /mi2. There were 6,674 housing units at an average density of 10 /mi2. 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

• Cuba City (mostly in Grant County)
• Darlington (county seat)
• Shullsburg

Villages

• Argyle
• Belmont
• Benton
• Blanchardville (partly in Iowa County)
• Gratiot
• Hazel Green (mostly in Grant County)
• South Wayne

Towns

• Argyle
• Belmont
• Benton
• Blanchard
• Darlington
• Elk Grove
• Fayette
• Gratiot
• Kendall
• Lamont
• Monticello
• New Diggings
• Seymour
• Shullsburg
• Wayne
• White Oak Springs
• Willow Springs
• Wiota

Census-designated places

• Wiota
• Woodford

Other unincorporated communities

• Avon
• Calamine
• Elk Grove
• Etna
• Fayette
• Five Corners
• Ipswich
• Jenkinsville
• Lamont
• Leadmine
• Leslie
• Meekers Grove
• New Diggings
• Red Rock
• Riverside
• Seymour Corners
• Slateford
• Strawbridge
• Truman
• White Oak
• Yellowstone

Politics

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.

References

References

1. "2020 Decennial Census: Lafayette County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau.
2. "Jay County, Indiana".
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". [[United States Government Publishing Office.
5. "County Typology Codes - Descriptions and Maps". USDA.
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".