Lake Arthur

History

The lake and the abundant wildlife near Lake Arthur made the place an early camping ground for Native Americans, most likely Atakapas, although there were also Comanche Indians in the area at times during the era just before European settlement. Before Lake Arthur, first settled was a little village that was south and across the lake called Lakeside and also the area called Shell Beach. Acadian families moved to the area in the late 1700s. They called the lake le petit lac Mentau. "Mentau" was the name of an Atakapas Indian chief who had lived in the area. One of those early Acadians was Arthur LeBlanc, and travelers passing through the country began to refer to the lake as le lac d'Arthur, and through time, it evolved into the present name, Lake Arthur. "In 1811 Atanas Hebert came to Lake Arthur to settle. That marks a date we can follow with accuracy." The first store was operated by D. D. Hebert. 1840 The first sawmill was established in the area. Cypress timber drew most of the early people. 1854 Gustave Laurents owned and operated a store. Early settlers were noble Creoles from New Orleans. Jean Revlon built a large residence in 1854. Today it is known as MacDonell plantation. The deLaunays, Deschamps and Gaithes, all who were in the French Revolution came from New Orleans. At first, they grew corn and other crops, but found that rice was the crop to grow. 1876 The first rice mill was built by Gustave Laurents and D. Derouen. 1887 Anatole Gauthier and C. St Germain brought in the first rice thresher and portable steam boiler. 1890 The first rice irrigation pumping plant was built on Bayou Lacassine. All of this turned Lake Arthur into successful rice country. One of the largest families in the area was Broussard. It is almost impossible to pinpoint…

Geography

The town is in southeastern Jefferson Davis Parish, on the north shore of Lake Arthur, a tidal section of the Mermentau River. The town limits extend into the center of the lake, which is the Vermilion Parish line. Louisiana Highway 14 passes through the town center, leading west to Lake Charles. To the east Highway 14 crosses the Mermentau River at its mouth then leads to Abbeville. Louisiana Highway 26 has its southern terminus in Lake Arthur and leads north to Jennings. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Lake Arthur has a total area of , of which are land and , or 23.67%, are water. Lake Arthur has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa) with hot summers and mild summers.

Race & ethnicity