Historical Markers in
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana

19th Century Outhouse, c.1890 Academy of the Sacred Heart Atchafalaya Floodway Atchafalaya River Battle of Opelousas Bayou Courtableau Bayou Courtableau at Bayou Teche Headwaters Big Alabama Bayou Black Academy At Mt. Olive Baptist Church Bloch Corner Bottomland Hardwoods Budd's Corner City Hall City Of Eunice Confederate Mass Grave Delta Theater Dennis McGee Doctor's Office Emar Andrepont Store Grand Coteau Humble Cottage Lodge No. 19 J.S. Clark High School Jarrell Home Jim Bowie Oak Johnson's Grocery King's Corner La Chapelle House Lawyers Row Le Vieux Village Let Freedom Ring Louisiana Memorial Methodist Church Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church Louisiana Orphan Train Museum Lt. Fr. Joseph "Verbis" Lafleur Manon's Corner Mary Jane Steam Engine Train Myrtle Grove Cemetery Old Federal Building Old Lacombe Hotel Site Old Union Bank Building Opelousas Opelousas Opelousas Catholic School Opelousas Colored School Opelousas Firsts and Famous/ Hall of Fame Pitre's Corner Plaisance School Port Barre Port Barre Rosa B. Scott (Anderson) Saint Landry Parish Mural Semmes Battery Seven Brothers Oak Shute's Drug Store Site of Bowie Residence St. Joseph Methodist Church for Colored People St. Landry Catholic Cemetery St. Landry Catholic Church St. Landry Catholic Church Sugar Kettle, c. 1800 The Macland Plantation Bell The Opelousas Post Militia of 1779 Union Pacific Freight Depot Venus House Whiteville School House
The Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as "Angola," is one of the largest maximum-security prisons in the United States. It is named after the former plantation on which it was built, and it is known for its extensive agricultural operations.
Louisiana random facts
St. Landry Parish, located in southwestern Louisiana, has a rich and diverse history dating back thousands of years. The area was inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Attakapas and Opelousas, before the arrival of European settlers. In the 18th century, French Acadian refugees known as the Cajuns began to settle in the region, establishing a strong farming and agricultural community.

St. Landry Parish was officially established in 1807, and was named after the Catholic Church of St. Landry in Opelousas. The early settlers primarily engaged in subsistence farming, hunting, and trapping, and developed close ties to the land. As the region continued to grow, cotton became the dominant crop and a major force in the local economy. The plantation system brought both wealth and slavery to St. Landry Parish, shaping much of its social and cultural history.

The parish played a significant role during the Civil War, with many local residents supporting the Confederacy. The area was invaded multiple times by Union forces, leading to significant destruction and loss. However, St. Landry Parish rebounded after the war, and diversified its agricultural industry to include sugarcane, rice, and livestock. The arrival of the railroad in the late 19th century further facilitated economic growth and increased connectivity to other parts of the state.

In the 20th century, St. Landry Parish continued to evolve. The discovery of oil brought prosperity to the region, and industrialization began to reshape the local economy. The parish also witnessed the Civil Rights Movement, with significant activism and efforts towards desegregation. Today, St. Landry Parish is a vibrant and culturally rich area, known for its Cajun and Creole heritage, lively music scene, and diverse agricultural production.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.

  • 1690: French explorer, Sieur Armand de Ville d'Orgeron, explores the area that will become St. Landry Parish
  • 1762: France cedes Louisiana to Spain through the Treaty of Fontainebleau
  • 1773: Jean-Francois Rivet establishes the first permanent settlement in the area
  • 1803: The Louisiana Purchase transfers the area from Spain back to France, and then to the United States
  • 1805: St. Landry Parish is officially established and named after the Catholic Church of St. Landry in Opelousas
  • 1819: Opelousas becomes the parish seat
  • 1824: The Courtableau Bayou Steamboat Company establishes a shipping route on Bayou Courtableau
  • 1838: The Opelousas Railroad is completed, connecting Opelousas to New Orleans
  • 1862: St. Landry Parish is occupied by Union forces during the Civil War
  • 1877: The Opelousas Massacre occurs, resulting in the deaths of several African Americans
  • 1927: The Great Mississippi Flood devastates the area, causing widespread destruction and displacement
  • 1965: Opelousas becomes the first city in the United States to elect an African American mayor since Reconstruction
  • 2005: St. Landry Parish is affected by Hurricane Katrina, causing significant damage and displacing residents