Lafayette is a city located in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,397. The city is the county seat of Tippecanoe County. Lafayette's sister city, West Lafayette, is home to Purdue University and as a result much of the activity in the city is centered around the University, whose students make up a sizeable portion of its population. Lafayette is also the home of the Subaru Indiana Automotive plant, a producer of Subaru and Isuzu vehicles.

History

Lafayette was platted by William Digby in May,1825. Lafayette was named the county seat for the newly formed Tippecanoe County in 1826. In the early years Lafayette became a shipping center on the Wabash River. The Wabash and Erie Canal in the 1840's further cemented Lafayette's regional prominence and was escalated by the arrival of the railroads in the 1850's

Name Sake

Lafayette is officially named after the French general Marquis de Lafayette (September 6, 1757—May 20, 1834) who aided the American armies during the Revolutionary War.

Notable Residents

The City of Lafayatte has been home to several notabe citizens, including Ten-fold Olympic champion Ray Ewry, Guns n' Roses singer Axl Rose, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, and Shannon Hoon of the band Blind Melon.

Geography

Lafayette is located at 40°24'38" North, 86°52'29" West (40.410585, -86.874681)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 52.0 km² (20.1 mi²). 52.0 km² (20.1 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 56,397 people, 24,060 households, and 13,666 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,083.9/km² (2,806.5/mi²). There are 25,602 housing units at an average density of 492.0/km² (1,274.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 88.91% White, 3.22% African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 9.11% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 24,060 households out of which 27.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% are married couples living together, 10.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% are non-families. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.31 and the average family size is 2.98.

In the city the population is spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $35,859, and the median income for a family is $45,480. Males have a median income of $32,892 versus $23,049 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,217. 12.1% of the population and 8.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.8% of those under the age of 18 and 4.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Official website
• Lafayette Online
• Lafayette Journal and Courier ("Local" paper, owned by Gannett)