# Fayette County, Texas

Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,435. Its county seat is La Grange. The county was created in 1837 and organized the next year.

## History

Fayette County was established in 1837 from land given by Bastrop and Colorado Counties. It is named for the Marquis de Lafayette, a French nobleman who became an American Revolutionary War hero.
An early resident of Brazoria County and then Fayette County, Joel Walter Robison, fought in the Texas Revolution and served in the Texas House of Representatives.
More than a dozen historic properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Fayette County.
Fayette County is the location of the real Chicken Ranch, which was the basis of the musical play and feature film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 960 square miles (2,500 km$^2$), of which 950 square miles (2,500 km$^2$) are land and 9.8 square miles (25 km$^2$) (1.0%) are covered by water.

### Adjacent counties

* Lee County (north)
* Washington County (northeast)
* Austin County (east)
* Colorado County (southeast)
* Lavaca County (south)
* Gonzales County (southwest)
* Caldwell County (west)
* Bastrop County (northwest)

## Demographics

Fayette County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition 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 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 17,271 | 18,038 | 17,041 | 79.21% | 73.46% | 69.74% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,508 | 1,599 | 1,383 | 6.92% | 6.51% | 5.66% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 61 | 69 | 50 | 0.28% | 0.28% | 0.20% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 49 | 61 | 67 | 0.22% | 0.25% | 0.27% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 8 | 25 | 72 | 0.04% | 0.10% | 0.29% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 115 | 171 | 600 | 0.53% | 0.70% | 2.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,786 | 4,585 | 5,216 | 12.78% | 18.67% | 21.35% |
| Total | 21,804 | 24,554 | 24,435 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2000, 21,804 people, 8,722 households, and 6,044 families resided in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km$^2$). The 11,113 housing units averaged 12 units per square mile (4.6/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 84.58% White, 7.01% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 6.72% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. About 12.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; 34.9% were of German, 16.4% Czech, 7.6% American, and 5.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
Christianity is the number-one religion and Judaism is the second.
Of the 8,722 households, 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were not families. About 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was distributed as 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 22.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,526, and for a family was $43,156. Males had a median income of $29,008 versus $20,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,888. About 8.10% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation
### Airport

The county owns Fayette Regional Air Center, in an unincorporated area west of LaGrange.

### Major highways

* Interstate 10
* U.S. Highway 77
* U.S. Highway 90
* U.S. Highway 290
* State Highway 71
* State Highway 95
* State Highway 159
* State Highway 237

## Media

Fayette County is home to three newspapers and two radio stations.

### Newspapers

* Fayette County Record
* Schulenburg Sticker
* Flatonia Argus

### Radio

* KVLG/KBUK
* KTIMe

## Communities
### Cities

* Carmine
* Ellinger
* Fayetteville
* La Grange (county seat)
* Schulenburg

### Towns

* Flatonia
* Round Top

### Census-designated place

* Plum

### Unincorporated communities

* Ammannsville
* Cistern
* Dubina
* Engle
* Freyburg
* High Hill
* Holman
* Hostyn
* Kirtley
* Ledbetter
* Muldoon
* Mullins Prairie
* Nechanitz
* O'Quinn
* Oldenburg
* Park
* Praha
* Rabbs Prairie
* Rek Hill
* Roznov
* Rutersville
* Swiss Alp
* Waldeck
* Walhalla
* Warda
* Warrenton
* West Point
* Willow Springs
* Winchester
* Winedale

### Ghost towns

* Biegel
* Black Jack Springs
* Bluff
* Gay Hill
* Haw Creek
* Stella

## Politics

At the presidential level, from 1912 through 1964, Fayette County, as was typical of the Solid South, voted predominantly for the Democratic candidate, even in 1928 with Al Smith the Democratic nominee, unlike most Texas counties. From 1972, the county has shifted to the Republican nominee.
United States presidential election results for Fayette County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 10,699 | 80.09% | 2,515 | 18.83% | 145 | 1.09% |
| 2020 | 10,171 | 78.36% | 2,661 | 20.50% | 148 | 1.14% |
| 2016 | 8,743 | 78.24% | 2,144 | 19.19% | 287 | 2.57% |
| 2012 | 8,106 | 76.61% | 2,315 | 21.88% | 160 | 1.51% |
| 2008 | 7,582 | 70.43% | 3,014 | 28.00% | 169 | 1.57% |
| 2004 | 7,527 | 72.40% | 2,803 | 26.96% | 67 | 0.64% |
| 2000 | 6,658 | 70.93% | 2,542 | 27.08% | 187 | 1.99% |
| 1996 | 4,195 | 52.00% | 3,119 | 38.66% | 754 | 9.35% |
| 1992 | 3,789 | 42.94% | 2,923 | 33.13% | 2,111 | 23.93% |
| 1988 | 4,551 | 57.09% | 3,390 | 42.53% | 30 | 0.38% |
| 1984 | 5,711 | 70.40% | 2,379 | 29.33% | 22 | 0.27% |
| 1980 | 4,104 | 60.32% | 2,590 | 38.07% | 110 | 1.62% |
| 1976 | 3,030 | 46.67% | 3,428 | 52.80% | 35 | 0.54% |
| 1972 | 3,882 | 73.37% | 1,400 | 26.46% | 9 | 0.17% |
| 1968 | 2,380 | 41.21% | 1,833 | 31.74% | 1,562 | 27.05% |
| 1964 | 2,036 | 35.86% | 3,630 | 63.94% | 11 | 0.19% |
| 1960 | 2,213 | 38.83% | 3,462 | 60.75% | 24 | 0.42% |
| 1956 | 3,574 | 60.54% | 2,282 | 38.65% | 48 | 0.81% |
| 1952 | 4,240 | 62.35% | 2,557 | 37.60% | 3 | 0.04% |
| 1948 | 1,737 | 32.79% | 3,106 | 58.63% | 455 | 8.59% |
| 1944 | 1,611 | 26.72% | 3,156 | 52.34% | 1,263 | 20.95% |
| 1940 | 2,441 | 48.32% | 2,606 | 51.58% | 5 | 0.10% |
| 1936 | 595 | 17.40% | 2,820 | 82.46% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1932 | 245 | 4.68% | 4,985 | 95.26% | 3 | 0.06% |
| 1928 | 689 | 15.87% | 3,647 | 84.01% | 5 | 0.12% |
| 1924 | 1,450 | 22.46% | 3,851 | 59.66% | 1,154 | 17.88% |
| 1920 | 1,101 | 24.32% | 932 | 20.59% | 2,494 | 55.09% |
| 1916 | 1,212 | 38.35% | 1,902 | 60.19% | 46 | 1.46% |
| 1912 | 461 | 17.16% | 2,011 | 74.84% | 215 | 8.00% |

## Education

School districts:
* Fayetteville Independent School District
* Flatonia Independent School District
* Giddings Independent School District
* La Grange Independent School District
* Round Top-Carmine Independent School District
* Schulenburg Independent School District
* Smithville Independent School District
* Weimar Independent School District
Most of Fayette County is assigned to Blinn Junior College District. Austin Community College is the designated community college for portions of Fayette County in Smithville ISD.