TOWN SPOTLIGHT
Lafayette BY LINDSEY GETZ
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olding the honor of being the first town in the U.S. to be named after Marquis de LaFayette, the famous Frenchman who helped win the American Revolution, Lafayette, incorporated in 1845, has maintained its rural charm even as new business and industrial evolution make its mark on the town. “We are very careful to maintain the appeal of the old while still allowing the ‘new’ in,” said Kevin O’Leary, a longtime resident, member of the Lafayette Township Committee, Land Use Board, and Open Space Advisory Committee, and last year’s mayor. “If you drive through Lafayette, you’ll still see many active farms and a lot of open space, but we’re evolving.” O’Leary said the town is situated in the center of Sussex County with rolling hills and ridgelines. Historic farmhouses are scattered throughout with a larger assortment of newer colonial and custombuilt homes. Ordinances, including the Ridgeline Viewshed Protection overlay zone, help maintain the town’s rural charm. It’s the quaintness, and even farm life, drawing people to Lafayette and with
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approximately 2,500 residents, it’s undoubtedly a small-town community. “We’re seeing more young families that are interested in farming and see the value of growing their own food or raising animals, even if they’re not doing it commercially,” said O’Leary. “People are drawn to the area for that small-town feel.” Roadside farm stands are sprinkled throughout Lafayette, offering residents and visitors fresh fruits and vegetables, local honey, as well as fresh meat and dairy products. Lafayette has an abundance of forested and environmentally sensitive land that supports a wide variety of wildlife, such as threatened and endangered species. In fact, Lafayette is home to a 262-acre preserved great blue heron rookery, one of the most important sanctuaries on the East Coast for the nesting species. With so much open space, there is no limit to outdoor activities. The Paulins Kill tributary runs through Lafayette and is known for its trout, providing opportunities for fishing. Lafayette
also features various trailhead locations throughout the town with parking areas. The trailhead located on Warbasse Junction Road offers parking for equestrian trailers and direct access to a vast trail system developed by the state on old railroad right of ways. Lafayette provides a great environment for activities like hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding right in the township’s backyard. Beyond its natural beauty, Lafayette offers plentiful shopping and dining experiences. Despite the rise of online shopping, the The Shoppes at Lafayette provide an outdoor shopping experience, featuring specialty shops, women’s boutiques, a candy shop, and a do it yourself candle shop. Renowned for its antiquing, Lafayette is home to The Lafayette Mill Antiques Center, a downtown attraction drawing antique collectors from as far as Philadelphia and New York. The Mill and surrounding properties earned the designation of a National Historic District in 2013, with the Ludlum-Mabee House
