How Lafayette California Was Named: Chapter 2.

History of Lafayette California

Lafayette is one of my favorite towns in the whole world. I really enjoy how the town rallies around local events. Some of Lafayette's annual events are:

• A Taste of Lafayette (May 20th 2008)
  


• Lafayette Criterium Bike Race (held July 13th in 2008)
  


• Lafayette Art and Wine (The 3rd Weekend in September). This event draws over 100,000 people.
  


• Lafayette Reservoir Run (The Last Sunday in October)

Lafayette is located in Contra Costa County which is a little northwest of San Francisco. Lafayette is a still a quaint community with that small town feel. Even so, Lafayette has grown into one of the top income per capita towns in the US as reported by CNN (#21). But, here is a little history about how this community came into existance.

How Lafayette was Named.

Benjamin Shreve came West to make is fortune with the California Gold Rush. After failing to make his fortune, he decided to settle in Lafayette, California. Benjamin built and ran Lafayette's first school.

In 1857 Benjamin Shreve became Lafayette's postmaster. As postmaster, Benjamin decided the town needed a permanent name. Up to this point, the town had been called Dog Town, Brown's Corner, Brown's Mill, Acalanus, and Centerville. Benjamin wanted the name Centerville, but it was rejected because there was another Centerville in the state. Benjamin's second choice was La Fayette which became the name of this small community. In 1932 the name was changed to today's spelling, "Lafayette".

That is how Lafayette California was Named.

To find more history about Lafayette California, You might like to read:
Lafayette California was Named After General Marquis-de Lafayette
A Little History of Lafayette California Chapter 1.

You can find AJ Nisen on Active Rain at Contra Costa California Mortgages. Call AJ to talk about your Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Free Credit Report or visit AJ's website to use his mortgage calculator.

Alan 'AJ' Nisen
Mortgage Loan Officer
Board Member on the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
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