Lafayette, city in Macon County, Tennessee, United States of America
Lafayette is the county seat of Macon County, Tennessee, located on the Highland Rim plateau. The town developed around Town Spring, a natural water source, and now serves as a local hub with shops, parks, government buildings, and community spaces.
Lafayette was founded in 1842 when Macon County was officially established and received formal town status in 1899. The city survived three courthouse fires, with the last one in 1934 destroying valuable historical records, and recovered from a major tornado that struck in 2008.
Lafayette was named after Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who fought in the American Revolution. The name reflects the town's connection to the early ideals of American independence.
Lafayette is easily accessible by car via main roads connecting downtown to nearby areas and highways. A small public airport serves the area for private planes, and most visitors find walking through town or driving the best ways to explore.
Marquis de Lafayette was not the town's first choice for a name, but was selected to avoid confusion with other communities having similar names. The original settler John B. Johnston and his wife would have called it Johnstonville.
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