LAFAYETTE PARISH: The Heart of Acadiana
Issue No. 8 (January 27, 1998) of the Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser's HISTORY OF ACADIANA, a publication dedicated to preserving Acadiana's heritage and culture

In 1910, the Progressive League promoted Lafayette as "The Queen City of Southwest Louisiana," and Lafayette Parish as "The Garden Spot of the State." Both titles hold true today.

1. Indian mounds tell of early inhabitants, Attakapas artifacts help show life of firs Acadiana settlers
2. Ancient mastodon visited what is now Lafayette
3. Early history: "All are happy at little expense," First major settlement here began with Acadians' arrival
4. Marquis de La Fayette was Revolutionary War hero
5. Lafayette was hard-working farm parish in early 1800s, Study looked at "typical household"
6. Booster gives view of Lafayette in the early 1900s
7. Lafayette grew up around Jean Mouton land donation
8. Mouton family contributed early leaders to Lafayette
9. Broussard named for early settler Valsin Broussard
10. Duson named for town-building promoters
11. Carencro name comes from old Attakapas legend
12. Fight between factions nearly lead to area civil war, Gov. W. C. C. Claiborne visited to try to end political feud
13. Scott was superintendent of Souther Pacific Railroad
14. Milton named for son of prominent early citizen, Location on river helped town grow
15. Youngsville was designed by J. J. Roy family
16. Blanc brothers hanged for celebrated murder in Scott, Young French orphans said James brothers inspired crime
17. Lafayette is hub of church in southwest Louisiana
18. Railroad opened sleepy town of Vermilionville
19. College was one of the keys that made Lafayette grow
20. Magnolia plantation now site of home
21. Place names reflect Lafayette Parish history: Beau Bassin, Billeaud, Capitan, Côte Gelée, Grande Prairie, Isle Navarre, Judice, Landry, Long Bridge, Mouton, New Flanders, Ossun, Pilette, Pin Hook, Pont des Mouton, Prairie Basse, Prairie Sorel, Ridge, Sadou, Stekey, Vatican, Walroy
22. Some memorable dates in Lafayette Parish history
23. Further reading on Lafayette Parish