LaFayette, Georgia


LaFayette is a city in, and the county seat of, Walker County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,702, which rose to 7,121 in 2010. It was founded as Chattooga.
LaFayette is part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

LaFayette was founded as Chattooga, in 1835, as the seat of newly formed Walker County. The county was named after the former United States senator Freeman Walker. Chattooga was renamed LaFayette in 1836 after Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, the French aristocrat who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

Geography

LaFayette is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,121 people, 2,712 households, and 1,749 families residing in the city. The population density was 871.6 people per square mile. There were 2,926 housing units at an average density of 361.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 88.6% White, 7.5% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.
There were 2,712 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,093, and the median income for a family was $29,387. Males had a median income of $27,528 versus $20,906 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,318. About 16.0% of families and 27.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people