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Indiana
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Star City
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US-IN-Lafayettepng
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280
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1825
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1854
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Tippecanoe County
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Tony Roswarski
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52 km&2 ( 201 mi&2)
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2000
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56,397
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182,821
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EST
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-5
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40410585
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wwwcitylafayetteinus/homehtm
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is a city located in
Tippecanoe County, Indiana , 74 miles (119 km) northwest of
Indianapolis . Population in
1900 , 18,116; in
1910 , 20,081; in
1920 , 22,486; and in
1940 , 28,798 people. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,397. The city is the
County Seat of
Tippecanoe County .
West Lafayette , just across the
Wabash River , is home to
Purdue University , which has a large impact on both communities.
Lafayette is located at 40°24'38" North, 86°52'29" West (40.410585, -86.874681).
According to the
United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 52.0
Km&2 (20.1
Mi&2 ). 52.0 km&
2 (20.1 mi&
2) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
The area around what is now Tippecanoe County was inhabited by a tribe of
Miami Indians known as the Ouiatenon or
Wea s. The French government established
Fort Ouiatenon in 1717 across the
Wabash River and three miles south of the location of present-day Lafayette. The fort became the center of trade for fur trappers, merchants and Indians. An annual
Reenactment and festival known as
The Feast Of The Hunters' Moon takes place there each fall.
Lafayette was
Platted by the river trader William Digby, in May,
1825 . The town was made county seat for the newly formed
Tippecanoe County soon after in 1826. Like many small frontier towns, Lafayette was officially named for the French general,
Marquis De Lafayette (September 6, 1757—May 20, 1834) who aided the American armies during the Revolutionary War.
In its earliest days Lafayette was 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.
Modern history owes a fair debt to Robert Kriebel, a reporter since retired from the
Lafayette Journal and Courier newspaper. By way of his books and columns the curious are provided a convenient, accessible, and even colorful way to grasp the events around and preceding him. ''Old Lafayette'' in two volumes is highly recommended. For further reading, the curious might look into some other notable historians of Lafayette appearing below. These were compiled by Kriebel for his "short list" as provided in the Lafayette Bank & Trust's ''The Best of Lafayette'' (2000):
Sandford C. Cox, Richard P. DeHart, Sallie Sample, Sarah M. Crockett, Thomas B. Helm, Jesse Henderson Levering, Paul K. Mavity, Logan Esarey, and Herbery H. Heimlich.
As of the
Census of 2000, there were 56,397 people, 24,060 households, and 13,666 families residing in the city. The
Population Density was 1,083.9/km&
2 (2,806.5/mi&
2). There were 25,602 housing units at an average density of 492.0/km&
2 (1,274.1/mi&
2). The racial makeup of the city was 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 were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 24,060 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were
Married Couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,859, and the median income for a family was $45,480. Males had a median income of $32,892 versus $23,049 for females. The
Per Capita Income for the city was $19,217. 12.1% of the population and 8.0% of families were below the
Poverty Line . 15.8% of those under the age of 18 and 4.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Like most of Indiana, Lafayette has been dominated by the agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation industries.
Public education in the Lafayette area is provided by the
Lafayette School Corporation . The district consists of the following schools:
Jefferson
Tecumseh
Sunnyside
Amelia Earhart
Edgelea
George R Durgan
Glen Acres
Linnwood
Miami
Murdock
Oakland
Thomas Miller
Vinton
In the surrounding area can be found other good schools including independent, county, and the West Lafayette school systems. Some competition exists within their given proximity. Lafayette's school system has built a reputation for good extracurricular programs, especially its band program. West Lafayette and the Catholic School Systems are known for their high test scores. Many county schools are newer and thus have not had opportunity to display their excellence.
Much of the economy of the city of Lafayette and the surrounding area is centered around the academic and industrial activities of
Purdue University . The university and its associated businesses employ the largest portion of the Lafayette workforce. However, private industry and commerce independent of the university also thrive in the community. Some notable examples include:
