Laporte, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laporte, Colorado
Census Designated Place
Laporte, looking west along U.S. Route 287.
Location of the Laporte CDP in Larimer County, Colorado.
Laporte, Colorado Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Larimer County
Settled	1844
Government
• Type	unincorporated town
Area
• Total	6.224 sq mi (16.120 km2)
• Land	6.116 sq mi (15.841 km2)
• Water	0.108 sq mi (0.279 km2)
Elevation	5,105 ft (1,556 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,409
• Density	387.05/sq mi (149.44/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP Code	80535
Area code(s)	970
GNIS feature	Laporte CDP

Laporte is a small community in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. It is known as an unincorporated town, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. It's also a census-designated place (CDP), which is an area the U.S. Census Bureau defines for gathering population data. Laporte is part of the larger Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2020, about 2,409 people lived in Laporte.

History of Laporte

Laporte was first settled by French-Canadian fur trappers and mountain men. They built cabins along the Cache la Poudre River as early as 1828. This makes it the oldest settlement in Larimer County. The area was a key entry point to the mountains north of the South Platte River.

Early Settlers and the River's Name

Legend says that early fur traders hid supplies, including gunpowder, in a secret spot along the river. This "cache" (pronounced cash) is how the Cache la Poudre River got its name. In 1844, Antoine Janis became a permanent settler here. Many trappers, some with Native American wives, made Laporte their home. The town's name, la porte, means "the door" in French. It was seen as the "door" to the mountains.

Growth and the Overland Trail

In 1849, famous trapper Kit Carson camped here with his group. By 1860, a town company was formed, first called "Colona." Many log homes were built. In 1861, the territorial legislature made Laporte the county seat (the main town for county government).

In 1862, Colona changed its name to "LaPorte." It became a main stop for the Mountain Division of the Overland Trail Stage Route. The first post office opened, and a stagecoach stop was built. Travelers could get a meal and rest here. A trip from Denver to LaPorte by stagecoach cost $20.00.

Bridges and Businesses

The first bridge over the Cache la Poudre River was a toll bridge. Wagons and stagecoaches used it daily, especially during the rush to California. In 1864, a big flood washed the bridge away. A ferry was used for several years until a new bridge was built.

Laporte quickly became a busy center for supplies. It had four saloons, a brewery, a butcher shop, two blacksmith shops, a general store, and a hotel. The general store was very successful, sometimes making $1,000 a day. Laporte was the most important settlement north of Denver.

Camp Collins and Fort Collins

In 1862, the U.S. Army set up Camp Collins near Laporte. This camp protected the stagecoach line from attacks by Native Americans. The Laporte Townsite Company also claimed about 1,280 acres (5.2 km2) for the town.

During the 1864 flood, Camp Collins was flooded, and soldiers had to move to higher ground. Later that year, the army decided to move the camp. They relocated it about 6 miles (9.7 km) downriver, creating what would become Fort Collins.

Geography

Laporte is located near the Cache la Poudre River. It sits northwest of Fort Collins, close to where the river leaves the Rocky Mountains foothills. U.S. Route 287 runs along the northern edge of Laporte. This road goes southeast 6 miles (9.7 km) to Fort Collins and northwest 58 miles (93 km) to Laramie, Wyoming.

The Laporte CDP covers an area of about 6.22 square miles (16.120 km2). A small part of this, about 0.11 square miles (0.279 km2), is water.

Population Information

The United States Census Bureau first defined Laporte as a CDP for the United States Census 2000. Here's how the population has changed:

Laporte in Fiction

In some books by L. Neil Smith, Laporte is a very different place. In his "North American Confederacy" series, starting with The Probability Broach, Laporte is a huge city. It covers about half of Larimer County and has over two million people. In this alternate history, the city of Denver doesn't even exist!

See also

In Spanish: Laporte (Colorado) para niños