The Pony Express Rides Throught Lafayette California: Chapter 3.

History of Lafayette California

Lafayette is one of my favorite towns in the whole world. One of the reasons I like Lafayette is that the community support for the businesses in town like Ed Stokes' Diablo Foods or Jesse Wellen's Lafayette Car Wash. The slogan "Shop Lafayette" is a key part of what makes Lafayette the great community it is.

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).

Here is a little history about this great community.

How The Pony Express Came to Town.

One of the most exciting bits of Western Laure was the Pony Express. The Pony Express route started in St. Joseph, Missouri and travel 1840 miles to Sacramento, California, where the mail was placed on a steamer to San Francisco. The entire trip would take 10 days!

Twice in 1860 and at least 18 times in 1861, the Pony Express missed the boat connection (literally). The mail had to be routed overland from Sacramento to Oakland California. The Pony Express route took the mail through Lafayette California down Mt. Diablo Blvd. The riders would stop at what is now the intersection of Moraga Road and Mt. Diablo Blvd to get a fresh horse. Yes, the mail had to be delivered by the Pony Express, rain or shine and sometimes through Lafayette.

That is how The Pony Express Came to Lafayette California.

To find more history about Lafayette California, You might like to read:

• A Little History of Lafayette California Chapter 1.
• How Lafayette California Was Named: Chapter 2.

  

  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
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