Lafayette County, Missouri

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Template:Infobox U.S. county

Lafayette County is a county in the western portion of Missouri, part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,984.[2] Its county seat is Lexington.[3] The county was organized November 16, 1820, from Cooper County and originally named Lillard County for James Lillard of Tennessee, who served in the first state constitutional convention and first state legislature.[4] It was renamed Lafayette County on February 16, 1825, in honor of Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de La Fayette, who was then visiting the United States.[5]

History

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Lafayette County was settled primarily from migrants from the Upper Southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. They brought enslaved people and slaveholding traditions and started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco.

Peter Youree (1843-1914) was born here to merchant P. E. Youree and the former M. M. Zimmerman. As a young man, he enlisted in the Confederate forces from here, and gained the rank of captain during the American Civil War. Afterward, he settled in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he married, became a successful merchant and banker, and served on the Caddo Parish Police Jury.

As a result of the migration from the South, this part of Missouri, and neighboring counties, became known as Little Dixie. In 1860 enslaved people made up 25 percent or more of the county's population, and the county was strongly pro-Confederate during the American Civil War.[6]

But immigrants from Germany, as well as German Americans from St. Louis, began arriving shortly before the war, with many more to come afterwards. Many of the Germans were sympathetic to the Union and opposed slavery. They eventually made up a large part of the populations of Concordia, Emma, Wellington, Napoleon, Higginsville, Mayview, and Lexington.

After the war, there were racial tensions as whites worked to dominate the freedmen. Following Reconstruction, whites lynched two blacks in the decades around the turn of the century.

Sunday May 4, 1919, Lafayette County Sheriff Joseph C. Talbott was killed while transporting car thieves to jail. Also killed were Deputy Sheriff John McDonald and Deputy Constable James Stapleton. On May 29, 1919, Lafayette County held a special election to replace Sheriff Talbott. Sheriff Talbott's wife, Minnie Mae Talbott, won the special election becoming the first woman elected to the office of Sheriff in the United States. Minnie Mae Talbott was sworn into office on June 8, 1919. Minnie Mae Talbott was elected by an all-male electorate. Women would not gain the right to vote until August 1920, with ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

21st century

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In November 2013, Leland Ray Kolkmeyer pleaded guilty, in federal court, of a fraud scheme in which he embezzled more than $1.5 million from Wellington-Napoleon Fire Protection District and Special Road District while serving as their treasurer.[7][8][9]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 639 square miles (1,660 km2), of which 628 square miles (1,630 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.6%) is water.[10]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2020 census

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Lafayette County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[11] Pop 1990[12] Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 28,798 29,831 31,290 31,002 29,256 96.23% 95.90% 94.93% 92.87% 88.70%
Black or African American alone (NH) 848 873 745 726 671 2.83% 2.81% 2.26% 2.17% 2.03%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 47 103 78 131 138 0.16% 0.33% 0.24% 0.39% 0.42%
Asian alone (NH) 57 66 80 125 115 0.19% 0.21% 0.24% 0.37% 0.35%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [16] x [17] 9 45 12 x x 0.03% 0.13% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 40 15 26 20 58 0.13% 0.05% 0.08% 0.06% 0.18%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [18] x [19] 346 592 1,687 x x 1.05% 1.77% 5.11%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 135 219 386 740 1,047 0.45% 0.70% 1.17% 2.22% 3.17%
Total 29,925 31,107 32,960 33,381 32,984 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 32,984 and a median age of 41.7 years, with 23.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 19.3% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.[20]

The racial makeup of the county was 89.8% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 6.1% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.2% of the population.[21]

30.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 69.3% lived in rural areas.[22]

There were 12,864 households in the county, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20] There were 14,065 housing units, of which 8.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.2% were owner-occupied and 28.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.[20]

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 32,960 people, 12,569 households, and 9,099 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 13,707 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.52% White, 2.27% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Approximately 1.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.3% were of German, 17.5% American, 9.9% English and 9.7% Irish ancestry.[23]

There were 12,569 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,235, and the median income for a family was $45,717. Males had a median income of $31,972 versus $22,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,493. About 6.90% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those ages 65 or over.

Education

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School districts which cover any part of the county, no matter how slight, include:[24]

Public schools

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  • Concordia R-II School District – Concordia
    • Concordia Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Concordia High School (07-12)
  • Lafayette County C-1 School District – Higginsville
    • Grandview Elementary School (PK-05)
    • Lafayette County Middle School (06-08)
    • Lafayette County High School (09-12)
  • Lexington R-V School District – Lexington
    • Leslie Bell Elementary School (PK-04)
    • Lexington Middle School (05-08)
    • Lexington High School (09-12)
  • Odessa R-VII School District – Odessa
    • McQuerry Elementary School (K-02)
    • Odessa Upper Elementary School (03-05)
    • Odessa Middle School (06-08)
    • Odessa High School (09-12)
  • Santa Fe R-X School District – Alma
    • Santa Fe Elementary School (K-06)
    • Santa Fe High School (07-12)
  • Wellington-Napoleon R-IX School District – Wellington
    • Wellington-Napoleon Elementary School (PK-06)
    • Wellington-Napoleon High School (07-12)

Private schools

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Public libraries

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  • Robertson Memorial Library[25]
  • Trails Regional Library[26]

Colleges and universities

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Metropolitan Community College has the school districts in this county in its service area, but not its in-district taxation area.[27]

Politics

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Local

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The Republican Party mostly controls politics at the local level in Lafayette County. Republicans hold all but three of the elected positions in the county.

Template:Missouri county elected officials

State

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Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2024 73.38% 12,571 25.01% 4,285 1.60% 275
2020 71.85% 12,238 26.13% 4,451 2.02% 244
2016 57.85% 9,167 38.47% 6,097 3.68% 583
2012 47.91% 7,537 49.31% 7,758 2.78% 438
2008 42.70% 7,022 55.09% 9,060 2.21% 364
2004 52.97% 8,541 45.59% 7,351 1.43% 231
2000 50.32% 7,276 47.94% 6,932 1.74% 251
1996 34.00% 4,450 63.05% 8,252 2.94% 385

Lafayette County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, both of which are held by Republicans.

  • District 33 — Donna Pfautsch (R-Harrisonville). Consists of the community of Oak Grove.

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  • District 53 – Glen Kolkmeyer (R-Odessa). Consists of almost all of the county.

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All of Lafayette County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg). Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

Federal

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All of Lafayette County is included in Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end

United States presidential election results for Lafayette County, Missouri[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1888 2,819 41.27% 3,865 56.59% 146 2.14%
1892 2,833 40.33% 3,922 55.83% 270 3.84%
1896 3,375 42.72% 4,463 56.49% 63 0.80%
1900 3,311 43.40% 4,217 55.28% 101 1.32%
1904 3,531 48.82% 3,583 49.54% 119 1.65%
1908 3,771 48.57% 3,865 49.78% 128 1.65%
1912 2,367 31.73% 3,650 48.93% 1,442 19.33%
1916 4,049 49.09% 4,073 49.38% 126 1.53%
1920 7,471 54.40% 6,169 44.92% 94 0.68%
1924 6,517 50.43% 5,877 45.48% 529 4.09%
1928 7,687 56.28% 5,939 43.48% 32 0.23%
1932 5,670 41.65% 7,906 58.08% 37 0.27%
1936 7,535 50.70% 7,275 48.95% 51 0.34%
1940 8,802 55.91% 6,913 43.91% 29 0.18%
1944 7,951 58.63% 5,603 41.32% 7 0.05%
1948 6,634 52.48% 5,988 47.37% 20 0.16%
1952 8,805 59.26% 6,020 40.52% 32 0.22%
1956 8,133 57.22% 6,081 42.78% 0 0.00%
1960 8,011 59.05% 5,555 40.95% 0 0.00%
1964 5,493 42.60% 7,400 57.40% 0 0.00%
1968 6,840 53.42% 4,859 37.95% 1,105 8.63%
1972 9,187 69.34% 4,063 30.66% 0 0.00%
1976 6,823 51.28% 6,410 48.18% 72 0.54%
1980 7,271 53.99% 5,792 43.01% 405 3.01%
1984 8,581 63.90% 4,848 36.10% 0 0.00%
1988 6,825 54.54% 5,654 45.18% 35 0.28%
1992 4,651 34.54% 5,213 38.71% 3,603 26.75%
1996 5,489 41.57% 6,118 46.34% 1,596 12.09%
2000 7,849 54.06% 6,343 43.68% 328 2.26%
2004 9,656 59.67% 6,412 39.62% 114 0.70%
2008 9,442 56.88% 6,902 41.58% 256 1.54%
2012 9,803 61.79% 5,655 35.64% 408 2.57%
2016 10,988 68.78% 4,053 25.37% 934 5.85%
2020 12,273 71.79% 4,472 26.16% 351 2.05%
2024 12,720 73.75% 4,294 24.90% 234 1.36%
2016 1 33.33% 1 33.33% 1 33.33%


Communities

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Cities and towns

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Unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Population Data and Maps | MARC". Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Lafayette County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Disappearing Missouri Names". The Kansas City Star. March 19, 1911. p. 15. Retrieved August 15, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 183.
  6. ↑ T. J. Stiles, Jesse James: The Last Rebel of the Civil War, New York: Vintage Books, 2003, pp. 10-11
  7. ↑ "Public servant steals $1.5 million from two tiny towns in Missouri"; The Kansas City Star; November 22, 2013
  8. ↑ "Treasurer admits to embezzling over $1 million from small towns’ funds:; Fox4KC; November 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ Treasurer for road district and fire district pleads guilty to embezzling $1.5 million; justice.gov; November 20, 2013.
  10. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. pp. 20–25.
  12. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. pp. 13–63.
  13. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lafayette County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lafayette County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lafayette County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  17. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  18. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  19. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  21. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  22. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  23. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  24. ↑ Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lafayette County, MO (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 2025. - Text list
  25. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Robertson Memorial Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  26. ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Trails Regional Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  27. ↑ "MCC SERVICE AREAS" (PDF). Metropolitan Community College. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  28. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
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Template:Geographic location

Template:Kansas City MSA Template:Lafayette County, Missouri Template:Missouri

Coordinates: 39°04′N 93°47′W / 39.06°N 93.78°W / 39.06; -93.78

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