History

Explore the rich history of Lafayette Parish, where indigenous Atakapa-Ishak, Choctaw, Chitimacha, and Opelousa cultures once thrived. Early settlers from France, Spain, and Acadia established vibrant communities along the Vermilion River and its bayous. Jean Mouton and surveyor John Dinsmore, Jr. designed St. Jean du Vermilionville in the 1820s, evolving into Vermilionville. Later, in 1823, Lafayette Parish was carved from St. Martin Parish, named after Marquis de Lafayette, a revolutionary hero. The town evolved into Lafayette and became the central hub of Acadiana, blossoming with a railroad stop, a dynamic population, and a bustling business district. To explore more of Lafayette, LA’s history, see below.