Lafe, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Lafe is a town in Greene County, Arkansas
on Crowley's Ridge
. The population was 385 at the 2000 census.
and was seeking new opportunities in an unsettled area. Toelken began cutting railroad ties for the railroad in order to save enough money to purchase land and send for his family
When Mr. Toelken was settled he began advertising in a Minneapolis, Minnesota
German newspaper seeking other German Lutherans to come to the area. Several families responded to this advertisement and an assortment of German immigrant families followed him from Franklin County, Missouri
.
On 9 December 1889 an application was made to the US Postal Service for the establishment of a post office for "Newberry, Arkansas", so named due to a sawmill operator of the same name who had set up in the area. The name "Newberry" was denied by the Postal Service so the postmaster combined the names of his daughters and reapplied with the name "Loulyma" which was accepted. Mail arrived addressed to "Loulyma" and freight arrived addressed to "Newberry". In 1901 a new postmaster named Lafayette Mueller took over and sought to settle the name permanently by resubmitting a new name. Townspeople elected to name the town "Lafe" in honor of the new postmaster and the name was officially changed on 21 May 1902.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²), all land.
of 2000, there were 385 people, 137 households, and 110 families residing in the town. The population density
was 71.1/km² (184.1/mi²). There were 153 housing units at an average density of 28.3/km² (73.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.09% White
, 2.34% Native American
, and 8.57% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 137 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,938, and the median income for a family was $32,125. Males had a median income of $25,313 versus $16,667 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,234. About 15.0% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
on Crowley's Ridge
Crowley's Ridge
Crowley's Ridge is an unusual geological formation that rises 250 to above the alluvial plain of the Mississippi embayment in a line from southeastern Missouri to the Mississippi River near Helena, Arkansas. It is the most prominent feature in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain between Cape...
. The population was 385 at the 2000 census.
History
The first settler of Lafe was Mr. Herman Toelken, a German immigrant who had been living in New Haven, MissouriNew Haven, Missouri
New Haven is a city in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,867 at the 2000 census. The city was founded in 1856. It was originally called Miller's Landing after Philip Miller, an early settler....
and was seeking new opportunities in an unsettled area. Toelken began cutting railroad ties for the railroad in order to save enough money to purchase land and send for his family
When Mr. Toelken was settled he began advertising in a Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
German newspaper seeking other German Lutherans to come to the area. Several families responded to this advertisement and an assortment of German immigrant families followed him from Franklin County, Missouri
Franklin County, Missouri
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri on the south side of the Missouri River. Franklin County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and contains many of the St. Louis exurbs. Census 2010 put the population at 101,492; making it the 10th most populous county in Missouri....
.
On 9 December 1889 an application was made to the US Postal Service for the establishment of a post office for "Newberry, Arkansas", so named due to a sawmill operator of the same name who had set up in the area. The name "Newberry" was denied by the Postal Service so the postmaster combined the names of his daughters and reapplied with the name "Loulyma" which was accepted. Mail arrived addressed to "Loulyma" and freight arrived addressed to "Newberry". In 1901 a new postmaster named Lafayette Mueller took over and sought to settle the name permanently by resubmitting a new name. Townspeople elected to name the town "Lafe" in honor of the new postmaster and the name was officially changed on 21 May 1902.
Geography
Lafe is located at 36°12′18"N 90°30′25"W (36.204987, -90.507041).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 385 people, 137 households, and 110 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 71.1/km² (184.1/mi²). There were 153 housing units at an average density of 28.3/km² (73.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.09% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.34% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 8.57% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 137 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,938, and the median income for a family was $32,125. Males had a median income of $25,313 versus $16,667 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $12,234. About 15.0% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.