Fayette County, Texas

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Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 24,435.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is La Grange.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was created in 1837 and organized the next year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fayette County was settled by German and Czech emigrants in the mid 1830's.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county lies in the Texas German belt, a fragmented belt of German towns throughout central Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Fayette County was established in 1837 from land given by Bastrop and Colorado Counties. It is named for the Marquis de Lafayette, a French nobleman who became an American Revolutionary War hero.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

An early resident of Brazoria County and then Fayette County, Joel Walter Robison fought in the Texas Revolution and served in the Texas House of Representatives.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

More than a dozen historic properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Fayette County.

Fayette County is the location of the real Chicken Ranch, which was the basis of the musical play and feature film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (1.0%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

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Lee County (north)
Washington County (northeast)
Austin County (east)
Colorado County (southeast)
Lavaca County (south)
Gonzales County (southwest)
Caldwell County (west)
Bastrop County (northwest)

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Demographics

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**Fayette County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition**
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Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	17,271	18,038	17,041	79.21%	73.46%	69.74%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,508	1,599	1,383	6.92%	6.51%	5.66%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	61	69	50	0.28%	0.28%	0.20%
Asian alone (NH)	49	61	67	0.22%	0.25%	0.27%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	6	6	6	0.03%	0.02%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	8	25	72	0.04%	0.10%	0.29%
Mixed or multiracial (NH)	115	171	600	0.53%	0.70%	2.46%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,786	4,585	5,216	12.78%	18.67%	21.35%
Total	21,804	24,554	24,435	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, 21,804 people, 8,722 households, and 6,044 families resided in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. The 11,113 housing units averaged Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 84.58% White, 7.01% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 6.72% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. About 12.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; 34.9% were of German, 16.4% Czech, 7.6% American, and 5.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

Christianity is the number-one religion and Judaism is the second.<ref>Wilson, Reid. The second-largest religion in each state, The Washington Post, June 4, 2014.</ref>

Of the 8,722 households, 28.5% had children under 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were not families. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,526, and for a family was $43,156. Males had a median income of $29,008 versus $20,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,888. About 8.10% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Airport

The county owns Fayette Regional Air Center, in an unincorporated area west of LaGrange.

Major highways

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Media

Fayette County is home to three newspapers and two radio stations.

Newspapers

Radio

Communities

Cities

Towns

Politics

At the presidential level, from 1912 through 1964, Fayette County, as was typical of the Solid South, voted predominantly for the Democratic candidate, even in 1928 with Al Smith the Democratic nominee, unlike most Texas counties. From 1972, the county has shifted to the Republican nominee.

Education

School districts:<ref>Template:Cite map - List</ref> Template:Div col

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Most of Fayette County is assigned to Blinn Junior College District. Austin Community College is the designated community college for portions of Fayette County in Smithville ISD.<ref>Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.166. AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.168. BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..</ref>

References

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External links

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Fayette County, Texas

Contents

History