Lafayette

Sister cities

• Poitiers
• Agnibilékrou
• Le Cannet
• Namur

History

The Attakapa Native Americans inhabited this area at the time of the first European encounter. French colonists founded the first European settlement, Petit Manchac, a trading post along the Vermilion River. In the mid-to-late eighteenth century, numerous Acadian refugees settled in this area, after being expelled from Canada after Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War. They intermarried with other settlers, forming what became known as Cajun culture, which maintained use of the French language and adherence to the Roman Catholic Church. Jean Mouton, an Acadian settler, donated land to the Roman Church for construction of a small Catholic chapel at this site. In 1824, this area was selected for the Lafayette Parish seat and was named Vermilionville, for its location on the river; in 1836, the Louisiana State Legislature approved its incorporation. The area was initially developed by Europeans for agriculture, primarily sugar plantations, which depended on the labor of numerous enslaved Africans and African Americans. They made up a large percentage of the antebellum population. By 1860, the enslaved population had increased to 49.6 percent. Some free people of color lived in Lafayette Parish, as well; they made up 3 percent to a low of 2.4 percent between 1830 and 1860. In 1884, Vermilionville was renamed for General Lafayette, a French aristocrat who had fought with and significantly aided the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The city and parish economy continued to be based on agriculture into the early 20th century. After the American Civil War, most of the labor was done by freedmen, who worked as sharecroppers. From the 1930s, mechanization of agriculture began to reduce the need for farm workers. By 1898, the University…

Geography

The city of Lafayette is located in southern Louisiana's Acadiana region on the Gulf Coast of the United States. It was part of the seabed during the earlier Quaternary period. During this time, the Mississippi River cut a valley between what is now Lafayette and Baton Rouge. This valley was filled and is now the Atchafalaya Basin. The city is located on the western rim of this valley. The Lafayette area is part of the southwestern Louisiana Prairie Terrace; it is higher and not made of wetlands like much of the surrounding areas to the south and west of Lafayette. Lafayette does not suffer significant flooding problems, outside of local flash flooding. Lafayette has developed on both sides of the Vermilion River. Other significant waterways in the city are Isaac Verot Coulee, Coulee Mine, Coulee des Poches, and Coulee Ile des Cannes, which are natural drainage canals that lead to the Vermilion River. Lafayette lies approximately from New Orleans, from the state capital of Baton Rouge, from Lake Charles, and from Alexandria. The city has an elevation ranging from to above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.19 percent) is covered by water. The city of Lafayette's architecture is diverse, with a collection of more than eight downtown structures listed within the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown Lafayette landmarks include Old Lafayette City Hall and the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist. Near these structures, Chase and Doubletree have been the area's tallest buildings at 15 and 16 stories. With the announcement of the latest addition to the city in over 40 years, two high-rise towers were planned and would stand 4 stories higher. In October 2021, it was announced…

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,178
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,355
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  7,818
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,526
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  5,999
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  5,831
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,799
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  5,269

Largest nearby schools

• Southside High School
  High · Youngsville · 1,910 students · 24.5:1 ratio
• Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy
  Other · Youngsville · 1,878 students · 20.2:1 ratio
• Lafayette High School
  High · Lafayette · 1,852 students · 23.1:1 ratio
• Acadiana High School
  High · Lafayette · 1,813 students · 20.4:1 ratio
• David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy
  High · Lafayette · 1,388 students · 21.4:1 ratio
• Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy
  Other · Lafayette · 1,350 students · 20.5:1 ratio
• Milton Elementary School
  Elementary · Lafayette · 1,332 students · 21.1:1 ratio
• O. Comeaux High School
  High · Lafayette · 1,098 students · 19.6:1 ratio