Formed December 23, 1853 (30th county)
Lafayette County (8,225), Mayo (1,052)
The working clock tower stands out for the Lafayette County courthouse. It was built in 1909 in Classical Revival style. Edward Columbus Hosford is the architect. An addition was added in 1967 and the building was remodeled in 2003. There was also an 1892 structure in Mayo. Fayetteville (1856), New Troy (1857), and Mayo (1893) have all been the county seat. It is located on a square surrounded by Main, Fletcher, Bloxham, and Monroe streets. United States Highway 27 is Main Street in the town. The grounds have veteran memorials and a small gazebo. French soldier Marquis de Lafayette is the namesake of the county. Confederate officer James Micajah Mayo provided the name for the county seat. The county was created on December 23, 1853 from Madison County as the 30th county.
The area of the county is 543 square miles. It is 55 out of 67 counties in the state. It ranks 66 out of 67 in population in the state. It has a density of 15.1 persons per square mile making it 66 out of 67 in the state. Lafayette County has 12.8% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 27 crosses east to west from Suwannee County to Taylor County.
Lafayette County government consists of a manager, sheriff, and appraiser (executive). It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.) Seven Circuit Court Judges serve Lafayette, Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor counties and a County Court Judge, clerk, and county attorney serve Lafayette County (judicial.) The county is located in the north part of Florida southeast of Tallahassee, Florida and west of Gainesville, Florida. The Suwannee River forms the north and east borders. The center of the county is 2 miles South of Mayo. The county is surrounded clockwise by Suwannee, Gilchrist, Dixie, Taylor, and Madison counties. The county is shaped like an overstuffed chair. Mayo is located in the northern third of the county. Mayo is the county seat and the largest city and only incorporated city in the county. It is 12.8% of the county population. The county seat is pronounced MAE-YOE.
Mayo
