Colfax began life as Alder Grove, a winter camping spot for trappers and gold miners in the mid 1800s. When the railroad was designed to miss Illiniostown the entire town was up rooted and moved to its present location. The name was changed to Colfax in honor of Schulyer Colfax Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States at the time. Later he became Vice President under U.S. Grant. The town was incorporated in 1910.
Colfax is a historic community on Interstate 80 between Auburn and Truckee in Placer County. There is also a Colfax, Iowa.
Colfax is part of the Sacramento, California metro area.
