Lafayette, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Lafayette, California


settlement_type = City
nickname =
imagesize =
image_caption =
image_



settlement_type = City
nickname =
imagesize =
image_caption =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Lafayette in California.


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = Contra Costa
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1848
established_title2 = Founded
established_date2 = 1857
established_title3 = Incorporated
established_date3 = 1968
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Mike Anderson [http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B033B04AD-0708-4EE0-8A81-CAFB8200E9F1%7D]
leader_title1 = Senate
leader_name1 = Tom Torlakson (D)
leader_title2 = Assembly
leader_name2 = Loni Hancock (D)
leader_title3 = U. S. Congress
leader_name3 = Ellen Tauscher (D)
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 39.9
area_total_sq_mi = 15.4
area_land_km2 = 39.4
area_land_sq_mi = 15.2
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2
elevation_ft = 320
elevation_m = 97.5
population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_total = 24765
population_density_km2 = 606.8
population_density_sq_mi = 1572.9
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 37 |latm = 53 |lats = 28 |latNS = N
longd = 122 |longm = 06 |longs = 42 |longEW = W
latitude = 37°98'08" N
longitude = 122°05'52" W
website = http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 94549, 94596
area_code = 925
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-39122
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0277535
footnotes =

Lafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city's population was 23,908. It is named (in 1857) after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War. Today Lafayette is known for its pastoral rolling hills and upscale lifestyle.

Origin and early history

Before the colonization of the region by Spain, Lafayette and its vicinity were inhabited by the Saclan tribe of the indigenous Bay Miwok. Ohlone also populated some of the areas along Lafayette Creek."Draft Environmental Impact Report for the East Area Service Center", Earth Metrics Incorporated, prepared for the East Bay Municipal Utility District, May, 1989] The indigenous inhabitants' first contact with Europeans was in the late 1700s with the founding of Catholic missions in the region. These initial contacts developed into conflict, with years of armed struggle, including a battle on what is currently Lafayette soil in 1797 between the Saclan and the Spanish, and eventually resulting in the subjugation of the native population.Most of what is currently Lafayette was given as a land grant, Rancho Acalanes (the name seems to have come from the name of a native village in the area, Ahala-n), to Candelario Valencia in 1834, by the Mexican government, which then controlled the region. [http://www.lafayettehistory.org/pict02Ind.html Lafayette Historical Society: Town History] ]

American settlement started with the arrival of Elam Brown, who purchased Rancho Acalanes in 1848. The settlement continued to steadily grow due to its proximity to San Francisco.

On March 2, 1857 the LaFayette post office was established by the U.S. Postal Service. (The official document giving this exact date was supplied to the Lafayette Historical Society in 1993 by the Historical Division of the U.S. Postal Service.) Prior to 1857 the community that we have been calling "Lafayette" actually had no known name - though there are undocumented rumors that it was called Dog Town, Brown's Corner, Brown's Mill, Acalanus, and perhaps Centerville.

The name "LaFayette" came together with the community's first post office. In 1857 Benjamin Shreve, owner and manager of a roadside hotel-general store (which faced today's Lafayette Plaza), applied for a post office for the community, first requesting the name Centerville. When informed that a post office with that name already existed in California, Shreve suggested La Fayette, after the French general who became a hero of the American Revolution (probably not because his wife was a native of La Fayette, Indiana). The first LaFayette post office was established at 3535 Plaza Way and Shreve became the town's first permanent postmaster, holding the job for 30 years.

Spelling: On the original document from the U.S. Postal Service, dated 2 March 1857, the name “LaFayette” is unmistakably written as one word with a capital “F” in the middle. Yet research by Ruth Dyer, Lafayette historian, shows that the name of the post office and of the new town itself soon began to be written as two words, “La Fayette.” By 1890 it had changed to one word, "Lafayette," and so appeared in an official communication from the U.S. "Post Office Department" in Feb. 1899. Then by 1905 it was back to two words. Finally on 31 March 1932 the name of the post office was officially changed to Lafayette, which has remained unchanged to this day. Lafayette was the second oldest post office in Contra Costa County, after Martinez, the county seat. [http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={5C5F6290-CED5-462A-B902-0726444084FA}&DE={2A63C469-F7E0-4C9A-838B-74FD18892F41} City of Lafayette - History of Lafayette] ]

In the early 1860s, Lafayette was briefly the site of a station for the Pony Express.

In 1864 the place name "Lafayette" first appeared on a map of the area, titled "Bancroft's Map of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona (copyrighted 1863. Scale: 24 miles to 1 inch).

During the mid-1900s, Lafayette was transformed from an agricultural village into a commuter town, and was incorporated in 1968.

Geography

Lafayette is located at coor dms|37|53|28|N|122|6|42|W|city (37.891224, -122.111615)GR|1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.9 km² (15.4 mi²). 39.4 km² (15.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.36%) is water.

The city is part of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and has its own station on the BART public transit system. Lafayette is situated between Walnut Creek, Moraga, and Orinda, and, together with the latter two towns, is considered locally as part of "Lamorinda."

Lafayette is separated from greater Berkeley and Oakland by the Berkeley Hills (and the Caldecott Tunnel running beneath), a geographical boundary within the East Bay which also represents interesting meteorological, cultural, and political distinctions. The climate differences can be striking: during the summer, temperatures can soar beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Lafayette and its neighboring cities while the areas west of the hills and nearer to the bay remain up to 20 degrees cooler. Temperatures highs are generally from 60-75 from February through May,75-95 June through November, and 55-60 from December through January. Summer days can reach 100, though generally are in 80s and low 90s. Nights can be as low as the low 30s in Dec-March, though most of the year low temps at night are in upper 40s and 50s. The region directly east of the hills is generally known for its more suburban or rural atmosphere, and features rolling, grassy hills which highlight a more peaceful and domestic aura. In the southwestern part of Lafayette, is the Lafayette Reservoir, and Briones Regional Park extends into the northern part of Lafayette.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 23,908 people, 9,152 households, and 6,754 families residing in the city. The population density was 607.3/km² (1,572.5/mi²). There were 9,334 housing units at an average density of 237.1/km² (613.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.81% White, 0.55% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 8.23% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 3.30% from two or more races. 3.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,152 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $111,400, and the median income for a family was $120,364. Males had a median income of $90,067 versus $51,855 for females. The per capita income for the city was $54,319. About 2.1% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

The average home price was $1,284,900 in 2005.

Cross Memorial

In November 2006, area residents began placing crosses on a hill overlooking the Lafayette BART station and Highway 24 "to represent and memorialize the American soldiers who have died in the ongoing Iraqi war." [ [http://lafayettecrosses.blogspot.com/2007/01/mission-statement.html The Crosses of Lafayette: About] ] As of May 2008, there are over 4,000 crosses in place, one for each of the troops who have died in Iraq, and there is also a large sign displaying the total number of deaths. The memorial has generated public attention, media coverage and counter-protests due to its visibility from the commuter thoroughfare below. Also, since the creation of the memorial, there have been several incidences of vandalism. While some show support for the protest, other residents complain that it is disrespectful to those in uniform in Iraq and that it is an eyesore to the community. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/05/BAGUHOFHBQ1.DTL&hw=lafayette+cross&sn=020&sc=1000 San Francisco Chronicle: Grim Update to War Tally] ]

Schools

*Public
**Lafayette Elementary School
**Burton Valley Elementary
**Happy Valley Elementary School
**Springhill Elementary School
**Stanley Middle School
**Acalanes High School
**Campolindo High School
*Private
**Bentley School (Upper School Campus)
**Contra Costa Jewish Day School
**St. Perpetua School

Notable citizens

*Frankie Beverly, internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter, known primarily for his recordings with the band Maze.
*Frank DeVol, composer, arranger, TV's Happy Kyne; died in Lafayette.
*Will Forte, actor, writer, and comedian best known for being a "Saturday Night Live" player
*Don Grady, actor and musician, best known for his roles in "My Three Sons" and "The Mickey Mouse Club"Janice De Jesus. "Ex-Mouseketeer slated for Lesher performance: 'Robbie' from 'My Three Sons' will perform with lyricist Marty Panzer to benefit a nonprofit group for foster children," "Walnut Creek Journal" (CA), May 12, 2005, page 3.]
*Brad Gillis, musician, guitarist for band Nightranger
*Daniel Horowitz, a prominent attorney who was a frequent TV commentator during the Scott Peterson trial. His late wife, Pamela Vitale was murdered in 2005 by Scott Dyleski
*Eddie Money, American musician, resides in Lafayette.
*Joe Montana, former professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers.
*Brent Mydland, musician, lived in Lafayette for a time before dying in 1990.
*Glenn T. Seaborg, chemist prominent in the discovery of several transuranic elements. Element 106, Seaborgium, was named in his honor. He died in 1999
*Alexander Shulgin, chemist best known for his use and discovery of hundreds of psychoactive compounds
*Jon-Erik Beckjord - Deceased - Paranormal researcher and investigator, specialty was Bigfoot and related cryptids, such as the Yeti.
*Natalie Coughlin - an American swimmer who has represented the United States at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, and at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

ee also

*Lafayette hillside memorial

References

http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/vertical/Sites/%7BC1C49B72-3D02-4C7B-82A7-92186ABD75FF%7D/uploads/%7BA8C4FF3F-9616-4650-B80E-B0FE292B3E40%7D.PDF

External links

* [http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us/ City of Lafayette website]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/city/Lafayette/CA Lafayette schools]
* [http://www.lafayettechamber.org Lafayette Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us/burton_valley/index.html School district website]