Introduction to Lafayette, California

Lafayette, California, in Contra Costa County, is 3 miles SW of Walnut Creek, and 10 miles NE of Oakland. Surrounded by the Oakland metro area, the city is not isolated. Lafayette is home to some 23,908 residents.

Lafayette History

The Indians of the Saclan tribe of the indigenous Bay Miwok as well some Ohlone Indians were among the first settlers in this region. In the late 1700s, Catholic missions were founded in the region. This foreign invasion led to strife and many years of discord between the Spanish and the Saclan. The area was colonized by the Spanish in 1797 after a battle between the two. The current region of Lafayette was originally a part of a land grant, Rancho Acalanes, which was bought by the American settler Elam Brown in 1848. Benjamin Shreve, the owner of a roadside hotel-general store, applied for a permit to establish a post office in the year 1857 under the name ?Centerville", however this name was already in existence; Instead he requested the name ?La Fayette?, after a French hero of the American Revolution. By 1890, the name had been modified to "Lafayette".

Lafayette and nearby Attractions

• Lafayette Branch Contra Costa County Library
• Lafayette Town Hall
• Lafayette Reservoir
• Lafayette Cemetery
• Brook Street Park

Things To Do In Lafayette

The stunning city of Lafayette has a county library, a town hall, and a cemetery which offers a great opportunity to discover the history of the area. There are three reservoirs, the Brookwood Reservoir, the Leland Reservoir, and the Lafayette Reservoir. There are also two beautiful, pristine creeks, the Lafayette Creek and the Grizzly Creek, where one can go for fishing, boating and picnicking. Visitors can also picnic with family and friends at any of the parks around the city which have shaded picnic tables, benches and drinking fountains for the benefit of the visitors. The city has 16 miles of hiking trails and is also host to the very popular Lafayette Art & Wine Festival.