County: Boulder

Lafayette was founded in 1888 by Mary Miller. She and her husband, Lafayette Miller, had moved to the area to farm land acquired via the Homestead Act in 1871. In 1874 the Millers moved to Boulder. Lafayette Miller ran a butcher shop and was a town trustee. Lafayette Miller died in 1878. Mary Miller moved back to the farm with their six small children. In 1884 coal was discovered in the Miller farm. In 1887 John Simpson sank the first shaft which began the coal mining era. In 1888 Mary Miller designated 150 acres of the farm for the town of Lafayette which she named after her late husband. In July of 1888 a second mine, the Cannon went into operation and the first houses were built. On January 6, 1890,[2] the town of Lafayette was incorporated.

Proximity to other towns: Located 8.9 miles from Westminster, 3.3 miles from Louisville, 4.3 miles from Erie, 5 miles from Broomfield, 6 miles from Superior, 8.3 miles from Niwot.

Population: 24,211

Elevation: 5,236 feet