Overview

The Greater Lafayette community consists of Lafayette, mainly a commercial and shopping hub, and West Lafayette, home of Purdue University. Lafayette, located in the Wabash Valley, was founded in 1825 and quickly became a manufacturing, merchandising, and transportation center. William Digby purchased the land and named it after Marquis de Lafayette, a hero of the French Revolution. West Lafayette, originally founded as Chauncey in 1860, changed its name in 1888. Education became an important component of the Greater Lafayette community in 1869 when Purdue University was founded, although it was not until 1874 that doors to the University were opened and classes begun. From 46 students on a 100-acre farm, Purdue's West Lafayette campus has grown to some 38,000 students and is now the lifeblood of the city. Along with its many retail stores and vast industrial facilities, Lafayette boasts the historical Tippecanoe battlefield, a 96-acre park with trails, picnic areas, and a museum. Whether you're visiting the area for work or pleasure, you'll find that friendly Midwesterners truly understand the meaning of hospitality.

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