JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH: Where Americans Found the Prairies
Issue No. 5 (October 28, 1997) of the Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser's HISTORY OF ACADIANA, a publication dedicated to preserving Acadiana's heritage and culture

Les Américains settled the Acadian prairies after they were opened by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the late 1800s. They came from the midwest to join a handful of Acadians and others who had settled earlier along the parish waterways.

1. Coushatta Heritage Reaches Deep into the Past
2. Early Jeff Davis Sold as 'Land of Sunshine and Flowers'
3. Railroads Opened Prairies and Established Towns
4. Jennings Sprang up on Treeless Calcasieu Prairie, City was named for early surveyor for Southern Pacific
5. Fire Destroyed Downtown Jennings in November 1901
6. Horse Races Highlighted Early Jefferson Davis Fairs
7. Sheriff was Ready for Bonnie and Clyde
8. Were the Princess and Her Husband German Spies?
9. Parish Name Made Yankee Settlers Gnash Their Teeth
10. Elton Named for Town in Middlesbrough, England
11. Little Jail Built After Would-Be Escapee Drowned
12. Fenton Named for Family from New York
13. Lake Arthur Community Grew Around Waterway
14. Early Settlers Could Plant Trees and Claim Lands
15. Settlers Tried to Grow Oranges on Lake Arthur's Shores
16. Original Jennings Settler had Irish Temper, Wit, and Luck
17. Cattle Industry was One of the First in Jefferson Davis
18. Youngster from Welsh Jumped into Spotlight
19. Welsh was Way Station in Stage Coach Days, Town became railroad stop, flourishing center of rice industry
20. Batson Murder Trial was Talk of Parish in 1902
21. Rice Industry Turned Jefferson Davis Prairie Green, Early Settlers Had Come Here to Produce Wheat
22. Louisiana Oil Industry Began on Jules Clément farm
23. Lumber was Once Important Industry
24. Jeff Davis Communities Add to Region's History: Andrus Cove, Ardoin's Cove, Barnsdall, Buller, Castex Landing, China, Edna, Foreman's Hall, Guidry, Hathaway, Illinois Plant, Jackson Point, Lacassine, Lauderdale, Lowry, Mamou Prairie, Nibletts, Panchoville, Pine Island, Raymond, Roanoke, Shell Beach, Silverwood, Thornwell, Verret, Woodlawn
25. Some Memorable Dates in Jefferson Parish History
26. Further Readings on Jefferson Davis Parish