Missouri

Lafayette

32,984
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Lafayette

Lafayette, Missouri, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 2,912. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 32,984.

Its recorded population peaked at 33,381 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 1 percent.

On the ground today, 16 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Siege of Lexington (1861) – Hemp Bale Advance, Battle of Lexington (Missouri 1861), Battle of Lexington 1861, and 32 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202032,984
201033,381
200032,960
199031,107
198029,925
197026,626
196025,274
195025,272
194027,856
193029,259
192030,006
191030,154
190031,679
189030,184
188025,710
187022,623
186020,098
185013,690
18406,815
18302,912
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Lafayette

Military engagements that took place in Lafayette, Missouri.

Siege of Lexington (1861) – Hemp Bale Advance
1861
Battle of Lexington (Missouri 1861)
1861
Battle of Lexington 1861
1861
Siege of Lexington (First Battle)
1861
First Battle of Lexington (Missouri)
1861
Battle of Lexington (Hemp Bales)
1861
Sni-a-bar Creek Skirmish
1862
Tabo Creek Skirmish
1862
Waverly Skirmish
1862
Skirmish at Lexington (1862 guerrilla)
1862
Shelby's Iron Brigade Raid
1863
Missouri River Raid near Waverly (Lafayette County)
1863
Lexington Second Battle (Price's Raid)
1864
Battle of Lexington Missouri (Second)
1864
Second Battle of Lexington (Missouri)
1864
Price's Missouri Raid — Lexington MO
1864

Historic places in Lafayette

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lafayette, Missouri.

Graves, Alexander and Elizabeth Aull, House
Lexington
Shelby, Thomas, House
Lexington
Wentworth Military Academy
Lexington
Hicklin Hearthstone
Lexington
Highland Avenue Historic District
Lexington
Commercial Community Historic District
Lexington
Waddell House
Lexington
Confederate Chapel, Cemetery and Cottage
Higginsville
Old Neighborhoods Historic District
Lexington
Lafayette County Courthouse
Lexington
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Lexington
Browse all Missourihistoric sites ›

Other counties in Missouri

Explore census history and historic records for more Missouri counties.

BartonBatesBentonBollingerBooneBuchananButlerCaldwellCallawayCamdenCape GirardeauCarrollCarterCassCedarCharitonChristianClarkClayClinton
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Everything a full report reveals about Lafayette County, Missouri

This page charts the census history of Lafayette County, Missouri. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Lafayette

When does Lafayette first appear in the US census?
Lafayette, Missouri first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 2,912.
What is the population of Lafayette?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lafayette had a recorded population of 32,984.
When did Lafayette's population peak?
Lafayette's recorded population peaked at 33,381 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Lafayette?
16 documented military engagements took place in Lafayette, including Siege of Lexington (1861) – Hemp Bale Advance, Battle of Lexington (Missouri 1861), Battle of Lexington 1861.
How many historic places are in Lafayette?
32 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lafayette, Missouri.
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