IBERIA PARISH: Salt, Pepper, and Espagñol

Issue No. 6 (November 25, 1997) of the Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser's HISTORY OF ACADIANA, a publication dedicated to preserving Acadiana's heritage and culture

Salt mines and pepper plants make Iberia one of the spiciest places in North America. Its early settlers gave it a Spanish accent.

1. Archaeologists debate when Indians found Iberia
2. Iberia Parish was once part of Attakapas District, Spanish sent early settlers to Teche area
3. Bouligny wanted to put the Malagueños almost in Arkansas
4. New Iberia grew as regional center
5. Black woman from Haiti was 'angel' during epidemic
6. Jeanerette nearly named for a live oak stump
7. Loreauville made early reputation as place for bees
8. Flood of 1927 played havoc in Iberia Parish, Residents believed natural levee would hold water
9. You didn't smoke at the sawmills
10. Spanish Lake first named for Flemish settler
11. Barges were once only way across basin
12. Early trip to Teche country was less than romantic
13. Steamboats chugged up Bayou Teche to New Iberia
14. Iberia Parish could be the saltiest place in North America, Salt domes make wetlands
15. Spicy Avery Island home of salt, pepper, sugar
16. First Tabasco peppers were brought here from Mexico
17. "M'sieu Ned" McIlhenny was early conservationist, His bird city at Avery Island help save egrets
18. Maharajah told tale of first bird city
19. Jefferson Island named for famed actor
20. Joseph Jefferson was known for Rip Van Winkle role
21. Peaceful Lake Peigneur turned into maelstrom
22. Weeks Island was once known as Grande Côte
23. Port, airport bring Iberia modern commerce, Jet pilots trained at naval base from 1960 to 1964
24. Iberia prairie supplies sugar for the nation's sweet tooth, Crop remains important to parish today
25. Black people cultivated the early sugar plantations
26. Iberia Parish communities as part of Acadiana history: Beau Pré, Belle Place, Bob Acres, Boudreaux, Brannon, Brousville, Bryant, Burke, Coteau, Charlotte, Daspit, Davids, Delcambre, Dennison, Derouen, Duboin, Emma, Fauxbourg, Fausse Pointe, Gall, Greig, Hubertville, Independent, Lee, Lifenite, Loisel, Lozes, Ludger, Lydia, Marcel, Marsh Island, Marshfield, Migues, Morbihan, Nicholas, Norbert, Numa, Olivier, Parcperdue, Patoutville, Poufette, Prairie au Large, Rynella, Santiague, Segura, Sumerall, Ulysee, Vida, Walet
27. Some memorable dates in Iberia Parish
28. Further Reading on Iberia Parish