Lafayette
Almost 150 years ago, the first pioneers trickled into this region after a long journey across the Great Plains. Among them were newlyweds Lafayette and Mary E. Miller, who settled in 1862 on the present site of Lafayette and began farming. Mr. Miller's sudden death in 1878 left Mary with six small children to raise. She did this and more: she built a town.
Today this town of approximately 27,000 people, pronounced "law-fee-et" by the locals, boasts an exemplary parks system and an attractive downtown featuring coffee shops and boutiques. Lafayette has carefully set aside greenbelts, bikeways, parks and open lands to preserve the natural atmosphere. The city lies north of Denver, and east of Boulder and the Rocky Mountains.
Population: 26,700
Highlights: Old-Town Festival Plaza, Peach Festival, Oatmeal Festival, Waneka Lake, Coal Creek Trail, Indian Peaks Golf Course