Laporte, Colorado

A Brief History of Laporte

Laporte is an unincorporated Larimer County community on the Cache la Poudre River. Its predecessor, Colona, developed in 1858 with Antoine Janis and other settlers in a region long used by Indigenous peoples. The Colorado Territorial legislature designated Laporte the seat of the newly created Larimer County in 1861. In 1862, the Overland Stage route shifted through the community, which became a division headquarters and an important stop for passengers, mail and supplies. Camp Collins was established nearby that year to guard the route. These early government and transportation roles helped shape a settlement whose history predates the growth of neighboring Fort Collins.