Lafayette County, Missouri

{{short description|County in Missouri, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Lafayette County | state = Missouri | seal = | founded year = 1820 | founded date = November 16 | seat wl = Lexington | largest city wl = Odessa | area_total_sq_mi = 639 | area_land_sq_mi = 628 | area_water_sq_mi = 11 | area percentage = 1.6 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 32984 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 33531 {{increase}} | population_density_sq_mi = auto | time zone = Central | footnotes = | web = www.lafayettecountymo.com | named for = Marquis de La Fayette | ex image = Lafayette County Courthouse, Lexington, Missouri.jpg | ex image cap = Lafayette County Courthouse in Lexington | district = 4th }}

'''Lafayette County''' is a county in the western portion of Missouri, part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.marc.org/Data-Economy/Metrodataline/General-Information/Statistical-Areas | title=Population Data and Maps | MARC | access-date=October 11, 2019 | archive-date=September 16, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916081942/http://www.marc.org/Data-Economy/Metrodataline/General-Information/Statistical-Areas | url-status=dead }}</ref> As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,984.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lafayette County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lafayette_County,_Missouri?g=050XX00US29107|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 13, 2023}}</ref> Its county seat is Lexington.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was organized November 16, 1820, from Cooper County and originally named Lillard County for James Lillard of Tennessee, who served in the first state constitutional convention and first state legislature.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disappearing Missouri Names |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/861825/missouri_toponyms/|newspaper=The Kansas City Star|date=March 19, 1911|page=15|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = August 15, 2014 }} {{Open access}}</ref> It was renamed Lafayette County on February 16, 1825, in honor of Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de La Fayette, who was then visiting the United States.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n80 183]}}</ref>

==History== Lafayette County was settled primarily from migrants from the Upper Southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. They brought enslaved people and slaveholding traditions and started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco.

Peter Youree (1843-1914) was born here to merchant P. E. Youree and the former M. M. Zimmerman. As a young man, he enlisted in the Confederate forces from here, and gained the rank of captain during the American Civil War. Afterward, he settled in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he married, became a successful merchant and banker, and served on the Caddo Parish Police Jury.

As a result of the migration from the South, this part of Missouri, and neighboring counties, became known as Little Dixie. In 1860 enslaved people made up 25 percent or more of the county's population, and the county was strongly pro-Confederate during the American Civil War.<ref>T. J. Stiles, ''Jesse James: The Last Rebel of the Civil War'', New York: Vintage Books, 2003, pp. 10-11</ref>

But immigrants from Germany, as well as German Americans from St. Louis, began arriving shortly before the war, with many more to come afterwards. Many of the Germans were sympathetic to the Union and opposed slavery. They eventually made up a large part of the populations of Concordia, Emma, Wellington, Napoleon, Higginsville, Mayview, and Lexington.

After the war, there were racial tensions as whites worked to dominate the freedmen. Following Reconstruction, whites lynched two blacks in the decades around the turn of the century.

Sunday May 4, 1919, Lafayette County Sheriff Joseph C. Talbott was killed while transporting car thieves to jail. Also killed were Deputy Sheriff John McDonald and Deputy Constable James Stapleton. On May 29, 1919, Lafayette County held a special election to replace Sheriff Talbott. Sheriff Talbott's wife, Minnie Mae Talbott, won the special election becoming the first woman elected to the office of Sheriff in the United States. Minnie Mae Talbott was sworn into office on June 8, 1919. Minnie Mae Talbott was elected by an all-male electorate. Women would not gain the right to vote until August 1920, with ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

===21st century===

In November 2013, Leland Ray Kolkmeyer pleaded guilty, in federal court, of a fraud scheme in which he embezzled more than $1.5 million from Wellington-Napoleon Fire Protection District and Special Road District while serving as their treasurer.<ref>[http://www.kansascity.com/2013/11/22/4643124/public-servant-steals-15-million.html "Public servant steals $1.5 million from two tiny towns in Missouri"]; ''The Kansas City Star''; November 22, 2013</ref><ref>[http://fox4kc.com/2013/11/22/treasurer-admits-to-embezzling-over-1-million-from-small-towns-funds/ "Treasurer admits to embezzling over $1 million from small towns’ funds:]; Fox4KC; November 22, 2013.</ref><ref>[https://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2013/kolkmeyer.ple.html Treasurer for road district and fire district pleads guilty to embezzling $1.5 million; justice.gov; November 20, 2013.]</ref>

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|639|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|628|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|11|sqmi}} (1.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913002155/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|archive-date=September 13, 2014}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties=== *Ray County (northwest) *Carroll County (northeast) *Saline County (east) *Johnson County (south) *Jackson County (west) *Pettis County (southeast)

===Major highways=== *20px Interstate 70 *20px U.S. Route 24 *20px U.S. Route 40 *20px U.S. Route 65 *20px Route 13 *20px Route 20 *20px Route 23 *20px Route 131 *20px Route 213 *20px Route 224

===National protected area=== *Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (part)

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1830= 2912 |1840= 6815 |1850= 13690 |1860= 20098 |1870= 22623 |1880= 25710 |1890= 30184 |1900= 31679 |1910= 30154 |1920= 30006 |1930= 29259 |1940= 27856 |1950= 25272 |1960= 25274 |1970= 26626 |1980= 29925 |1990= 31107 |2000= 32960 |2010= 33381 |2020= 32984 |estyear=2025 |estimate=33531 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> 1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> 1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29107.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607042213/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29107.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> | align = right }}

===2020 census=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Lafayette County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1980/volume-1/missouri/1980a_moabc-02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|pages=20–25}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin |website=United States Census Bureau|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-27.pdf|access-date=|pages=13–63}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lafayette County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US29107&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lafayette County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US29107&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lafayette County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US29107&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |28,798 |29,831 |31,290 |31,002 |style='background: #ffffe6; |29,256 |96.23% |95.90% |94.93% |92.87% |style='background: #ffffe6; |88.70% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |848 |873 |745 |726 |style='background: #ffffe6; |671 |2.83% |2.81% |2.26% |2.17% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.03% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |47 |103 |78 |131 |style='background: #ffffe6; |138 |0.16% |0.33% |0.24% |0.39% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.42% |- |Asian alone (NH) |57 |66 |80 |125 |style='background: #ffffe6; |115 |0.19% |0.21% |0.24% |0.37% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |9 |45 |style='background: #ffffe6; |12 |x |x |0.03% |0.13% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04% |- |Other race alone (NH) |40 |15 |26 |20 |style='background: #ffffe6; |58 |0.13% |0.05% |0.08% |0.06% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |346 |592 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,687 |x |x |1.05% |1.77% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.11% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |135 |219 |386 |740 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,047 |0.45% |0.70% |1.17% |2.22% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.17% |- |'''Total''' |'''29,925''' |'''31,107''' |'''32,960''' |'''33,381''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''32,984 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 32,984 and a median age of 41.7 years, with 23.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 19.3% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A107&in=state%3A29|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 17, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 89.8% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 6.1% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.2% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A107&in=state%3A29|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 17, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

30.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 69.3% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A107&in=state%3A29|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 17, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 12,864 households in the county, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/> There were 14,065 housing units, of which 8.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.2% were owner-occupied and 28.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census===

As of the 2000 census, there were 32,960 people, 12,569 households, and 9,099 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|52|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 13,707 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.52% White, 2.27% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Approximately 1.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.3% were of German, 17.5% American, 9.9% English and 9.7% Irish ancestry.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

There were 12,569 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,235, and the median income for a family was $45,717. Males had a median income of $31,972 versus $22,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,493. About 6.90% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those ages 65 or over.

==Education== School districts which cover any part of the county, no matter how slight, include:<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29107_lafayette/DC20SD_C29107.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lafayette County, MO|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|date=January 12, 2021|access-date=2025-06-15}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29107_lafayette/DC20SD_C29107_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> {{div col}} * Concordia R-II School District * Lafayette County C-1 School District * Lexington R-V School District * Oak Grove R-VI School District (has schools in another county) * Odessa R-VII School District * Richmond R-XVI School District * Santa Fe R-X School District * Wellington-Napoleon R-IX School District {{div col end}}

===Public schools=== *Concordia R-II School District – Concordia **Concordia Elementary School (PK-06) **Concordia High School (07-12) *Lafayette County C-1 School District – Higginsville **Grandview Elementary School (PK-05) **Lafayette County Middle School (06-08) **Lafayette County High School (09-12) *Lexington R-V School District – Lexington **Leslie Bell Elementary School (PK-04) **Lexington Middle School (05-08) **Lexington High School (09-12) *Odessa R-VII School District – Odessa **McQuerry Elementary School (K-02) **Odessa Upper Elementary School (03-05) **Odessa Middle School (06-08) **Odessa High School (09-12) *Santa Fe R-X School District – Alma **Santa Fe Elementary School (K-06) **Santa Fe High School (07-12) *Wellington-Napoleon R-IX School District – Wellington **Wellington-Napoleon Elementary School (PK-06) **Wellington-Napoleon High School (07-12)

===Private schools=== *Trinity Lutheran School – Alma (K-09) – Lutheran *Holy Cross Lutheran School – Emma (PK-08) – Lutheran *Immanuel Lutheran School – Higginsville (K-09) – Lutheran *Victory Christian Fellowship School – Waverly (K-12) – Nondenominational Christian *St. Paul Lutheran High School – Concordia (09-12) – Lutheran *St. Paul's Lutheran School – Concordia (K-8) – Lutheran

===Public libraries=== *Robertson Memorial Library<ref>{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = Robertson Memorial Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20342 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}</ref> *Trails Regional Library<ref>{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = Trails Regional Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20259 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}</ref>

===Colleges and universities=== Metropolitan Community College has the school districts in this county in its service area, but not its in-district taxation area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mcckc.edu/maps/docs/MCC_Service_Area_District_Map.pdf|title=MCC SERVICE AREAS|publisher=Metropolitan Community College|access-date=2025-06-15}}</ref>

==Politics== ===Local=== The Republican Party mostly controls politics at the local level in Lafayette County. Republicans hold all but three of the elected positions in the county.

{{Missouri county elected officials | name =Lafayette County, Missouri | assessor =Chip Langman | assessorparty =Democratic | circuitclerk =Deana Aversman | circuitclerkparty =Republican | countyclerk =Linda Niendick | countyclerkparty =Republican | presiding =Harold Hoflander | presidingparty =Republican | district1 =Craig Williams | district1party =Republican | district2 =Tracy Dyer | district2party =Republican | collector =Lori Fiegenbaum | collectorparty =Democratic | coroner =David Pulliam | coronerparty =Republican | prosecutor =Kristen Ellis Hilbrenner | prosecutorparty =Democratic | administrator =Barb Copenhaver | administratorparty=Republican | recorder =JoAnn Swartz | recorderparty =Republican | sheriff =Kerrick Alumbaugh | sheriffparty =Republican | surveyor =Mark Nolte | surveyorparty =Republican | treasurer =Jennifer Jellum | treasurerparty =Republican }}

===State=== {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;" |+ Past Gubernatorial Elections Results |- bgcolor=lightgrey ! Year ! Republican ! Democratic ! Third Parties |- |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2024 |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''73.38%''' ''12,571'' |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|25.01% ''4,285'' |align="center" |1.60% ''275'' |- |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2020 |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''71.85%''' ''12,238'' |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|26.13% ''4,451'' |align="center" |2.02% ''244'' |- |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2016 |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''57.85%''' ''9,167'' |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|38.47% ''6,097'' |align="center" |3.68% ''583'' |- |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|2012 |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|47.91% ''7,537'' |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''49.31%''' ''7,758'' |align="center" |2.78% ''438'' |- |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|2008 |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|42.70% ''7,022'' |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''55.09%''' ''9,060'' |align="center" |2.21% ''364'' |- |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2004 |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''52.97%''' ''8,541'' |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|45.59% ''7,351'' |align="center" |1.43% ''231'' |- |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|2000 |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''50.32%''' ''7,276'' |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|47.94% ''6,932'' |align="center" |1.74% ''251'' |- |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|1996 |align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|34.00% ''4,450'' |align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''63.05%''' ''8,252'' |align="center" |2.94% ''385'' |}

Lafayette County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, both of which are held by Republicans.

*District 33 — Donna Pfautsch (R-Harrisonville). Consists of the community of Oak Grove. {{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 33 — Lafayette County (2016)}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate='''Donna Pfautsch'''|votes='''12,115'''|percentage='''72.86%'''|change='''-2.81'''}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Chase Linder|votes=5,127|percentage=29.74%|change=+19.03}} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 33 — Lafayette County (2014)}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate='''Donna Pfautsch'''|votes='''6,434'''|percentage='''71.9%'''|change='''+10.96'''}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Syed Asif|votes=1,458|percentage=16.3%|change=-27.18}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Matt Stephens|votes=1,052|percentage=11.8%|change=+16.22}} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 33 — Lafayette County (2012)}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate='''Donna Pfautsch'''|votes='''10,193'''|percentage='''63.7%'''|change=}} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Ron Harvey|votes=5,814|percentage=36.3%|change=}} {{Election box end}} *District 53 – Glen Kolkmeyer (R-Odessa). Consists of almost all of the county. {{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Lafayette County (2016)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = '''Glen Kolkmeyer''' |votes = '''13,719''' |percentage = '''100.00%''' |change = '''+38.93''' }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Lafayette County (2014)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = '''Glen Kolkmeyer''' |votes = '''5,818''' |percentage = '''61.07%''' |change = '''+2.43''' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Henry Grubb |votes = 3,709 |percentage = 38.93% |change = -2.43 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 53 — Lafayette County (2012)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = '''Glen Kolkmeyer''' |votes = '''9,095''' |percentage = '''58.64%''' |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Holmes Osborne |votes = 6,416 |percentage = 41.36% |change = }} {{Election box end}}

All of Lafayette County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg). {{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 21 — Lafayette County (2016)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = '''Denny Hoskins''' |votes = '''9,738''' |percentage = '''63.36%''' |change = '''+1.36''' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = ElGene Ver Dught |votes = 4,864 |percentage = 31.65% |change = -2.80 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Bill Wayne |votes = 768 |percentage = 5.00% |change = -1.45 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 21 — Lafayette County (2012)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = '''David Pearce''' |votes = '''9,547''' |percentage = '''62.00%''' |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = ElGene Ver Dught |votes = 5,305 |percentage = 34.45% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Steven Hedrick |votes = 547 |percentage = 3.55% |change = }} {{Election box end}}

===Federal=== {{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Lafayette County (2016)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = '''Roy Blunt''' |votes = '''8,812''' |percentage = '''55.55%''' |change = '''+12.89''' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Jason Kander |votes = 6,150 |percentage = 38.77% |change = -10.49 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Jonathan Dine |votes = 436 |percentage = 2.75% |change = -5.33 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Green Party (United States) |candidate = Johnathan McFarland |votes = 167 |percentage = 1.05% |change = +1.05 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Constitution Party (United States) |candidate = Fred Ryman |votes = 299 |percentage = 1.88% |change = +1.88 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Lafayette County (2012)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Todd Akin |votes = 6,663 |percentage = 42.66% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Claire McCaskill''' |votes = '''7,695''' |percentage = '''49.26%''' |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Jonathan Dine |votes = 1,262 |percentage = 8.08% |change = }} {{Election box end}}

All of Lafayette County is included in Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) in the U.S. House of Representatives. {{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Lafayette County (2016)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Emanuel Cleaver II''' |votes = '''5,744''' |percentage = '''36.50%''' |change = '''+3.58''' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Jacob Turk |votes = 9,505 |percentage = 60.39% |change = -3.58 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Roy Welborn |votes = 490 |percentage = 3.11% |change = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Lafayette County (2014)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Emanuel Cleaver II''' |votes = '''3,153''' |percentage = '''32.92%''' |change = '''-6.74''' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Jacob Turk |votes = 6,128 |percentage = 63.97% |change = +6.90 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Roy Welborn |votes = 298 |percentage = 3.11% |change = -0.16 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 5th Congressional District — Lafayette County (2012)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Emanuel Cleaver II''' |votes = '''6,202''' |percentage = '''39.66%''' |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Jacob Turk |votes = 8,925 |percentage = 57.07% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Randy Langkraehr |votes = 511 |percentage = 3.27% |change = }} {{Election box end}} {{PresHead|place=Lafayette County, Missouri|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 25, 2018}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1888|Democratic|2,819|3,865|146|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1892|Democratic|2,833|3,922|270|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1896|Democratic|3,375|4,463|63|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1900|Democratic|3,311|4,217|101|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1904|Democratic|3,531|3,583|119|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1908|Democratic|3,771|3,865|128|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|2,367|3,650|1,442|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|4,049|4,073|126|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|7,471|6,169|94|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,517|5,877|529|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|7,687|5,939|32|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|5,670|7,906|37|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1936|Republican|7,535|7,275|51|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1940|Republican|8,802|6,913|29|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|7,951|5,603|7|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,634|5,988|20|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,805|6,020|32|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|8,133|6,081|0|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|8,011|5,555|0|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,493|7,400|0|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|6,840|4,859|1,105|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|9,187|4,063|0|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1976|Republican|6,823|6,410|72|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,271|5,792|405|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,581|4,848|0|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|6,825|5,654|35|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|4,651|5,213|3,603|Missouri}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|5,489|6,118|1,596|Missouri}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|7,849|6,343|328|Missouri}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|9,656|6,412|114|Missouri}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|9,442|6,902|256|Missouri}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|9,803|5,655|408|Missouri}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|10,988|4,053|934|Missouri}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|12,273|4,472|351|Missouri}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|12,720|4,294|234|Missouri}} {{PresFoot}}

==Communities==

===Cities and towns=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} *Alma *Aullville *Bates City *Blackburn (part) *Concordia *Corder *Dover *Emma (part) *Higginsville *Lake Lafayette *Lexington (county seat) *Mayview *Napoleon *Oak Grove (part) *Odessa *Waverly *Wellington {{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities=== {{Div col|colwidth=10em|rules=yes}} * Chapel Hill * Ernestville * Greenton * Hodge * Myrick * Page City * Tabeau * Waterloo {{div col end}}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== * [http://www.lafayettecountymo.com Lafayette County Website] * [http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Lafayette County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816173126/http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm |date=August 16, 2011 }} from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

{{Geographic location |Centre = Lafayette County, Missouri |North = |Northeast = Carroll County |East = Saline County |Southeast = Pettis County |South = Johnson County |Southwest = |West = Jackson County |Northwest = Ray County }}

{{Coord|39.06|-93.78|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Lafayette County, Missouri Category:1820 establishments in Missouri Territory Category:Kansas City metropolitan area Category:Little Dixie (Missouri) Category:Missouri counties on the Missouri River Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1820