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Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the
2020 census, the county had a population of 55,813. The median age was 30.2 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.1 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 70.4%
White, 20.4%
Black or African American, 0.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.0%
Asian, <0.1%
Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 4.4% from
two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.8% of the population. There were 22,362 households in the county, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.1% were married-couple households, 25.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
2000 Census As of the
census of 2000, there were 38,744 people, 14,373 households, and 8,321 families residing in the county. The
population density was . There were 16,587 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 71.85%
White, 25.05%
Black or
African American, 0.16%
Native American, 1.67%
Asian, 0.01%
Pacific Islander, 0.42% from
other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. The largest European ancestry groups in Lafayette county are: • 13.4%
English • 12.5%
Irish • 9.1%
German • 4.4%
Scots-Irish • 2.8%
Scottish • 1.1%
Polish • 1.0%
Welsh Many people in Mississippi may claim Irish ancestry because of the term "Scots-Irish", but most of the time in Mississippi this term is used for those with
Ulster Scots roots rather than
Irish Catholics. In 2000, there were 14,373 households, out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.20% were
married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.10% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97. In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.50% under the age of 18, 27.10% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 17.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males. The median income for a household in the county was $28,517, and the median income for a family was $42,910. Males had a median income of $30,964 versus $21,207 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $16,406. About 10.20% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 19.40% of those age 65 or over. ==Communities==