Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is the fourth largest city in the state of Louisiana and among the state’s most popular tourism hubs. The city was founded by the Acadian in the 19th century and has mixture of Caribbean, Spanish and French descendants. The city is adorned with Cajun and Creole cultures, which attract thousands of visitors every year. It is the county seat of Lafayette Parish.
The city has a population of 120,603 people according to a 2010 census report. Until the 1940s, economic progress relied on agriculture but later it succumbed to the growing petroleum, natural gas and other industries which led to its industrialization. The city has all the common urban life amenities, such as hospitals and universities. Lafayette is famed for its regional Cajun cuisine and is known to have more restaurants per capita than any other city in United States. The city has an alluring night life and entertainment hangouts with a myriad of places of interest to visit for tourists. Annual festivals such as the Festivals Acadiens and Festival International de Louisiane, are major tourist attractions.
The city is considered among the most beautiful cities in Louisiana with the Vermilion River flowing through the heart of the city, adding to the gorgeous scenes. The river provides a distributed humid sub-tropical climate throughout the year. Educational institutes offer the best education in the state and the University of Louisiana is located in Lafayette. Professional Healthcare institutions are well established in Lafayette city.
Lafayette is a great place to live in. There are intriquing options in entertainment, education, affordable living and many other benefits the city offers its residents. The city is known for its ambient social atmosphere and its lively residents.
Lafayette History
The history of Lafayette begins with the Attakapas Indians, who are regarded as the first settlers. These Native Indians populated the area until the 1700s, however the date when European settlers moved in and the Native Americans moved out is vaguely known. The regions of Attakapas and Opelousas were named after the Indian tribes before European settlers arrived. In the 18th century the country faced a cultural reform with the arrival of Acadians from French Canada. The immigrants lived under the French rule and the King of Spain granted permission for them to settle in South Louisiana. It was during this period that Acadians and other first comers faced crisis.
A conflict later ensued between the English and the Acadians as they declined to honor the Anglican Church and British Crown. The original Acadians were expatriated in 1755 as many families were split and hundreds lost their lives during the ‘Le Grand Derangement’. Most of them moved to New Orleans while others occupied surrounding regions.
The Vermilion River runs through the heart of the city so it was initially named Vermilionville before it was renamed to Lafayette. The first city was founded by Jean Mouton. It was in 1804 that Alexandre Mouton became the Governor of Louisiana. Before it was accepted into the United States of America, various battles were fought over the land. The Battle of Vermilion Bayou is the most memorable, as it was the finale that took place in the same locations where the Lafayette Parish is today located. Lafayette Parish was officially established in 1823.
The city was included in Louisiana legislature. Until 1805, the Attakapas County existed and it was Louisiana governor William C. C. Claiborne, who formed the Orleans Territory. Lafayette was officially established in 1823 and a newly formed, Lafayette Parish was established. Vermilionville continued to be the city’s name as there was a conflict between issuing names and it was solved when the suburb was included with New Orleans.
In the early history, fertile lands and the presence of the river drove the city’s economy largely relying on agriculture. Lafayette is situated on the Louisiana Prairie Terrace over higher grounds which makes it safe from flood and makes it an ideal location to harvest crops.
The community is surrounded by Cajun and Creole cultures which are a rarity in other cities. The city is the hub of Cajun culture and the most popular regional Cajun cuisine that delights travelers from around the world.
About Lafayette, Louisiana
Standing as the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, the city of Lafayette is a visitor’s delight with a large number of attractions. As the fourth largest city in the state of Louisiana, it has a stable economy and is popular for its cultural uniqueness. The climate of the city is humid sub-tropical, thanks to the presence of Vermilion River passing through the city.
Vermilionville was the name of the founder of Lafayette city and the river was christened after his name. The river led to the development of the economy of the city, which heavily relied on agriculture until the late 1940s. The majority of the population of the city is made up by White Americans (68%) and African Americans (28%), while other races such as Native Americans, Asians and Hispanics share the rest.
The culture of Lafayette is deep rooted in history with Cajun and Creole culture dominating the surrounding regions. Due to its heritage, tourism flourishes in the region and the Cajun regional cuisine is favored by foreigners and residents alike.
Lafayette is located on the West Gulf Coastal plain and is on a higher platform, which makes it less prone to flooding issues. The climate of Lafayette is described as hot, humid summers and tolerable winters.
Today, the economy of Lafayette relies on natural gas and petroleum. The public schools that spread across the city are run by Lafayette Parish School System and the University of Louisiana is the second largest university in the state. The institute offers the best education in the state with over 16,000 students enrolled and awarded certificates for excellence in the field of nursing, architecture, biology and others.
In past decade, medical centers have become a huge resource of income for the community. Healthcare institutions contribute to the majority of the city’s economy. Lafayette general medical center, surgical hospital, specialty hospital, Women’s and Children hospital, Cardiovascular Institute of the South are some of the reputed establishments in Lafayette. At present, a coherent city-parish government exists in the city. The public utility company provides basic amenities like electricity and water.
In Lafayette tourists have a wide range things to do, such as indulging in the city’s popular cuisine, attractive places of interest and nightlife clubs. The Acadiana region is filled with dance clubs, sports bar as well as the popular Grant Street Dancehall and The Blue Moon Saloon. Lafayette has the Alexandre Mouton House Museum, Mall of Acadiana, Cypress Lake, and the Zoo of Acadiana among many other locations to explore. Lafayette is a city of diverse cultural heritage, popular regional cuisine and a happening entertainment hub, which successfully attracts a hoard of tourists throughout the year.
About Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Lafayette is the county seat or the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, located in the center of the state of Louisiana. The county is par tof the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area and also the Lafayette-Arcadiana Statistical Area.
The county is quite small in physical size, covering just an area of 270 square miles, nearly all of which is land. The county is connected by U.S. Highways 90 and 167, and Interstate 10 and 49. Also the Louisiana highways 89, 92, 93 and 96 connect the county to other counties and their cities.
Neighboring counties or parishes of Lafayette parish include St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Iberia Parish, Acadia Parish and Vermilion parish. A part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve comes under the Lafayette Parish. Unincorporated areas of the parish include Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Lafayette, Scott, and Youngsville.
The Lafayette parish is home to a large number of Cajun people, who have a major influence on the culture of the County and also the way of living of the people. According to the 2010 population census, there were more than 220,000 people in the county. The population density of the area is 710 people per sq mile. The racial make up of the county is dominated by whites, who make up 73 percent, while the African Americans come second at 23 percent. Other races include Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Asians and a few others who are either pure or a mixture of two or more races. The Lafayette county is also the only county where almost 15 percent of the people speak Cajun or French at their homes.
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff is the department that provides security to the unincorporated towns and communities of the parish. In the city of Lafayette the Sheriff’s office does not have jurisdiction in order to avoid duplication of services provided by the federal police department.