General Info
Originally home to Indian tribes and once part of Iowa County, Lafayette County was settled in 1824 as settlers were attracted to the ample lead deposits for mining. It was organized in 1848 with Darlington as the county seat and the county was named in honor of Marquis de Lafayette, Revolutionary War hero. Early industry was dominated by dairy farming and mining. By 1900 its population had reached 20,959 and as the mining industry began to slow, development began to slow. Today Lafayette County is home to approximately 15,737 residents.
