Lafayette County, Arkansas

Lafayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,308, making it the third-least populous county in Arkansas. The county seat is Lewisville. Lafayette County was formed on October 15, 1827, and named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War. It is a dry county; therefore, the sale of alcohol is prohibited.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 545 sqmi, of which 528 sqmi is land and 17 sqmi (3.1%) is water. It is the smallest county in Arkansas by area.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 82.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 82
 * [[Image:Arkansas 29.svg|20px]] Highway 29
 * [[Image:Arkansas 53.svg|20px]] Highway 53
 * [[Image:Arkansas 160.svg|25px]] Highway 160

Adjacent counties

 * Hempstead County (north)
 * Nevada County (northeast)
 * Columbia County (east)
 * Webster Parish, Louisiana (southeast)
 * Bossier Parish, Louisiana (south)
 * Caddo Parish, Louisiana (southwest)
 * Miller County (west)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,308 people, 2,784 households, and 1,801 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 8,559 people, 3,434 households, and 2,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 /sqmi. There were 4,560 housing units at an average density of 9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 62.08% White, 36.49% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,434 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,831, and the median income for a family was $30,720. Males had a median income of $26,492 versus $17,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,128. About 18.70% of families and 23.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 19.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Prior to 2000, Lafayette County was considered an "ancestral" Democratic county among white conservatives. Exceptions were the 1972 and 1984 landslides of Republicans Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, respectively.

Former Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas, considered a son of the South, won this county twice in his presidential runs: 1992 and 1996. Clinton's vice president, Al Gore of Tennessee, another son of the South, won the county in 2000, the most recent Democrat to do so. Most of the minority of African-American voters have been affiliated since the 1960s with the national Democratic Party, even as conservative whites here shifted to the Republican Party.

Towns

 * Bradley
 * Buckner
 * Lewisville (county seat)
 * Stamps

Townships

 * Baker (most of Stamps)
 * French
 * Hadley (Buckner, small part of Stamps)
 * La Grange (small part of Lewisville)
 * Mars Hill
 * Roane (Bradley)
 * Russell
 * Steel (most of Lewisville)
 * Walker Creek

Source:

Education
There are two school districts in the county: Lafayette County School District and the Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School District. Previously the Bradley School District was the second district; it merged into Emerson-Taylor-Bradley in 2013.