Wisconsin

Lafayette

16,611
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Lafayette

Lafayette, Wisconsin, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 11,531. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,611.

Its recorded population peaked at 22,659 in 1870, and has since declined by roughly 27 percent.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Pecatonica Jun 16 1832, Battle at White Oak Springs, Battle of Pecatonica, and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,611
201016,836
200016,137
199016,076
198017,412
197017,456
196018,142
195018,137
194018,695
193018,649
192020,002
191020,075
190020,959
189020,265
188021,279
187022,659
186018,134
185011,531
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, Wisconsin.

Battle of Pecatonica Jun 16 1832
1832
Battle at White Oak Springs
1832
Battle of Pecatonica
1832
Skirmish at Gratiot's Grove
1832

Historic places in Lafayette

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lafayette, Wisconsin.

Benton Stone Water Tower
Benton
St. Augustine Church (Additional Documentation)
New Diggings
First Capitol
Belmont
Lafayette County Courthouse
Darlington
Star Theatre
Argyle
Prairie Spring Hotel
Willow Springs
Main Street Historic District
Darlington
Gratiot House
Shullsburg
Mottley Family Farmstead
Willow Springs
Water Street Commercial Historic District
Shullsburg
Browse all Wisconsinhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Wisconsin

Explore census history and historic records for more Wisconsin counties.

RockRuskSaukSawyerShawanoSheboyganSt. CroixTaylorTrempealeauVernonVilasWalworthWashburnWashingtonWaukeshaWaupacaWausharaWinnebagoWoodAdams
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Everything a full report reveals about Lafayette County, Wisconsin

This page charts the census history of Lafayette County, Wisconsin. 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, Wisconsin first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 11,531.
What is the population of Lafayette?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lafayette had a recorded population of 16,611.
When did Lafayette's population peak?
Lafayette's recorded population peaked at 22,659 in 1870.
Were any battles fought in Lafayette?
4 documented military engagements took place in Lafayette, including Battle of Pecatonica Jun 16 1832, Battle at White Oak Springs, Battle of Pecatonica.
How many historic places are in Lafayette?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lafayette, Wisconsin.
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