Lafayette, Indiana (U.S.)

Last modified: 2007-08-04 by rick wyatt
Keywords: lafayette | indiana |
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• Description of the flag

See also:

• Indiana
• United States of America

Description of the flag

Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, USA, 63 miles (101 km) northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,397. The city is the county seat of Tippecanoe County. West Lafayette, just across the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on both communities. Together, Lafayette and West Lafayette form the core of the Lafayette, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area, which, as of the 2000 census, had a total population of 183,340; Lafayette is thus the 215th largest metropolitan area in the United States.

History
The area around what is now Tippecanoe County was inhabited by a tribe of Miami Indians known as the Ouiatenon or Weas. The French government established Fort Ouiatenon in 1717 across the Wabash River and three miles south of the location of present-day Lafayette. The fort became the center of trade for fur trappers, merchants and Indians. An annual reenactment and festival known as The Feast of the Hunters' Moon takes place there each fall.

Lafayette was planted by the river trader William Digby, in May 1825. The town was made county seat for the newly formed Tippecanoe County soon after in 1826. Like many small frontier towns, Lafayette was officially named for the French general, Marquis de Lafayette (September 6, 1757—May 20, 1834) who aided the American armies during the Revolutionary War. In its earliest days Lafayette was a shipping center on the Wabash River. The Wabash and Erie Canal in the 1840s further cemented Lafayette's regional prominence, which was also escalated by the arrival of the railroads in the 1850s. The Monon Railroad connected Lafayette with other sections of Indiana." 
from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafayette,_Indiana.

The flag:
"In 2006, Mayor Tony Roswarski asked the Mayor's Youth Council to design a flag for Lafayette. After months of studying Lafayette history, researching flags, learning about graphic design, and developing many flag prototypes, the Youth Council's final design was officially adopted by the City Council on April 9, 2007. The new city flag was unveiled on Thursday, June 14 (2007)at Riehle Plaza. During Thursdays concert at Riehle Plaza the city flag was hoisted for the first time. Members of the Mayors Youth Council were on hand for the ceremony.

The colors:

• Red, white, blue and gold represent our connection to the State of Indiana and to the United States of America.
• Red reminds us of blood and the sacrifice and courage of early settlers.
• White stands for the purity, peace and integrity of Lafayette as the center of government for Tippecanoe County.
• Blue is the color of water and symbolizes Lafayette’s history as a river town.
• Gold not only represents the awards bestowed upon Lafayette throughout its history, but also is the color of corn, an early crop shipped on the Wabash River by flatboats and a crop still significant to Lafayette’s economy today.

• The star, strategically placed in the canton area, a flag’s point of honor, signifies Lafayette’s historical designation as The Star City of the Wabash. The points of the star represent the many arms of citizens who continue to reach out and contribute to the success of our city.
• The strong curved blue line anchors the entire flag design and represents the Wabash River, a major influence on the founding and growth of the city.
• The triangles symbolize balance, stability, and diversity and also are tied to the mathematical symbol delta, representing change. With the two red triangles strategically placed in opposite corners of the flag, diversity and change are balanced and connected by the flowing river, symbolizing that all citizens may find their place in our city."