History of Lafayette, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Lafayette and the surrounding area is a mix of American Indian
, African American
, English
, French
and Spanish
culture. The area is situated in the region known as Southwest Louisiana. The Vermilion River
runs through the city. Today, the city and parish are at the heart of Acadiana
.
.
districts named after the local Indian tribes. Before 1765, very few Europeans settled in the area other than trappers and smugglers. By 1765, Acadians were arriving in New Orleans and the Spanish governor began settling them in the Lafayette area at St. Martinville and Opelousas. Both the French and Spanish officials granted lands freely along the bayous Carencro and Vermilion. Generally, the size of 6-8 arpent
s along the stream with a depth of 40 arpent
s. Two of the earliest settlers were Andrew Martin, Jean and Marin Mouton. It wasn't until Louisiana Governor William C. C. Claiborne created the counties of the Orleans Territory in 1805 did the Attakapas County exist.
In 1804, Alexandre Mouton was born in Lafayette and would become Governor of Louisiana from 1843 to 1846.
On April 17, 1863, The Battle of Vermilion Bayou was fought, the third battle in a series of running battles between Union
Major General
Nathaniel Prentice Banks
and Confederate
Major General
Richard Taylor
.
. However, the city's name remained Vermilionville due to the fact that the name "Lafayette" was already given to a suburb of New Orleans. Eventually, in 1884, the suburb was incorporated into New Orleans and Vermilionville became Lafayette.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
and Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
culture. The area is situated in the region known as Southwest Louisiana. The Vermilion River
Vermilion River (Louisiana)
The Vermilion River is a river in southern Louisiana in the United States. It is formed on the common boundary of Lafayette and St. Martin parishes by a confluence of small bayous flowing from St. Landry Parish, and flows generally southward through Lafayette and Vermilion parishes, past the...
runs through the city. Today, the city and parish are at the heart of Acadiana
Acadiana
Acadiana, or The Heart of Acadiana, is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that is home to a large Francophone population. Of the 64 parishes that make up Louisiana, 22 named parishes and other parishes of similar cultural environment, make up the intrastate...
.
Early history
The earliest settlers in the area were Attakapas Indians. Several burial mounds exist along the Vermilion and Bayou TecheBayou Teche
The Bayou Teche is a waterway of great cultural significance in south central Louisiana in the United States. Bayou Teche was the Mississippi River's main course when it developed a delta about 2,800 to 4,500 years ago...
.
Acadian Settlement
The earliest records label the area as the Attakapas and OpelousasAppalousa
The Appalousa were Native Americans who had occupied the area around Opelousas, Louisiana before European contact.The name Opelousas has been thought to have many meanings, but the one most commonly accepted is "Blackleg", possibly because the tribe painted or stained their legs a dark color...
districts named after the local Indian tribes. Before 1765, very few Europeans settled in the area other than trappers and smugglers. By 1765, Acadians were arriving in New Orleans and the Spanish governor began settling them in the Lafayette area at St. Martinville and Opelousas. Both the French and Spanish officials granted lands freely along the bayous Carencro and Vermilion. Generally, the size of 6-8 arpent
Arpent
An arpent is a unit of length and a unit of area. It is a pre-metric French unit based on the Roman actus. It is used in Quebec as well as in some areas of the United States that were part of French Louisiana.-Unit of length:...
s along the stream with a depth of 40 arpent
Arpent
An arpent is a unit of length and a unit of area. It is a pre-metric French unit based on the Roman actus. It is used in Quebec as well as in some areas of the United States that were part of French Louisiana.-Unit of length:...
s. Two of the earliest settlers were Andrew Martin, Jean and Marin Mouton. It wasn't until Louisiana Governor William C. C. Claiborne created the counties of the Orleans Territory in 1805 did the Attakapas County exist.
Founding of Vermilionville
By 1811, the Attakapas Country was split into the St. Martin parish and the St. Mary parish. The original village which would become Lafayette, was laid out by Jean Mouton and his surveyor, John Dinsmore, Jr. in 1821 and was given the name "St. Jean du Vermilionville". Later, the name would be shortened to "Vermilionville". The boundaries were defined in an 1836 charter and later expanded in the 1869 charter.In 1804, Alexandre Mouton was born in Lafayette and would become Governor of Louisiana from 1843 to 1846.
On April 17, 1863, The Battle of Vermilion Bayou was fought, the third battle in a series of running battles between Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Nathaniel Prentice Banks
Nathaniel Prentice Banks
Nathaniel Prentice Banks was an American politician and soldier, served as the 24th Governor of Massachusetts, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and as a Union general during the American Civil War....
and Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor (general)
Richard Taylor was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He was the son of United States President Zachary Taylor and First Lady Margaret Taylor.-Early life:...
.
Lafayette Established
In 1823, the Louisiana legislature divided St. Martin parish and created Lafayette Parish. The parish name Lafayette was chosen due to the enthusiasm of General Lafayette's visit to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. However, the city's name remained Vermilionville due to the fact that the name "Lafayette" was already given to a suburb of New Orleans. Eventually, in 1884, the suburb was incorporated into New Orleans and Vermilionville became Lafayette.