West Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Indianapolis. Named in honor of General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The 2000 Census enumerated 28,778 residents in West Lafayette, making it the most densely populated city in Indiana. It is located across the Wabash River from Lafayette, Indiana and is home to Purdue University. West Lafayette is part of the Lafayette, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area.