Parks

History

The exact origin of the name "Parks" is somewhat of a mystery. Although some residents seem to think that it had something to do with the railroad, one story states the first train to pass through the community arrived on Easter Sunday. When the train engineer, who apparently did not speak or understand French, inquired about the name of the settlement, the residents replied "C'est Pacques" (it's Easter). The train engineer thought he understood the word Parks, and the name apparently stuck. Parks, originally called Potier, lies in the area previously known as La Pointe District, which existed in 1765. It was also called La Pointe de Repose, supposedly because the cowhands in the early 19th century drove their cattle into the cul-de-sac formed by the sharp bend of the bayou on round up time. Settlement began in the Parks village shortly after 1900. Around that time, Paul Melancon purchased a large tract of land in the vicinity of what is now Parks in order to establish a cotton farm. But, shortly after buying the property, he decided to divide a portion into town lots and the community took shape. In 1908, the village of 330 acres was incorporated. Since that time, Parks has remained approximately the same size.

Geography

Parks is located at (30.215675, -91.829472), in the region of Acadiana in southern Louisiana. Highways 31 and 347, which both parallel the Bayou Teche, pass through the village with the cities of Breaux Bridge being located northwest and St. Martinville, the parish seat, located to the south. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,329
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  4,892
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,854
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,165
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  4,108
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,872
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  3,485
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  3,110

Largest nearby schools

• Breaux Bridge High School
  High · Breaux Bridge · 851 students · 25.8:1 ratio
• Cecilia High School
  High · Cecilia · 788 students · 21.3:1 ratio
• Cecilia Primary School
  Elementary · Cecilia · 693 students · 19.8:1 ratio
• St. Martinville Senior High School
  High · St. Martinville · 610 students · 20.3:1 ratio
• Cecilia Junior High School
  Middle · Cecilia · 599 students · 19.3:1 ratio
• Teche Elementary School
  Elementary · Breaux Bridge · 593 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• Breaux Bridge Primary School
  Elementary · Breaux Bridge · 571 students · 22:1 ratio
• St. Martinville Primary School
  Elementary · St. Martinville · 498 students · 18.4:1 ratio