Lafayette County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 542.8 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 14.8 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 142.8%. On the 2000 census form, 98.8% of the population reported only one race, with 14.4% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 9.1% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.66 persons compared to an average family size of 3.06 persons. In 2007 Public administration was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $35,661. Per capita income declined by 13.8% between 1997 and 2007 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2007) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2008)	8,013	2587	Covered Employment	1,772	2730
Growth (%) since 1990	43.7%	388	Avg wage per job	$26,768	2469
Households (2000)	2,142	2811	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	5.8%	2175
Labor Force (persons) (2008)	3,027	2743	Avg wage per job	$20,609	2733
Unemployment Rate (2008)	4.4	2242	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	3.4%	921
Per Capita Personal Income (2007)	$17,196	3091	Avg wage per job	$36,404	1765
Median Household Income (2007)	$36,855	2158	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	D	N/A
Poverty Rate (2007)	22.0	386	Avg wage per job	D	N/A
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	68.2	2,614	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	D	N/A
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	7.2	3,072	Avg wage per job	D	N/A