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Driving south about 60 miles from Alexandria via I-49, at its junction with I-10, one arrives at Lafayette in the heart of Cajun Country and Acadiana, on the banks of the Vermilion River.
Lafayette is known for its Cajun and Creole culture, and its legendary Cajun cooking. Establishments such as Prejean's Restaurant, Randol's Restaurant, Blue Dog Cafe, Don's Seafood Restaurant, Poupart's Bakery, and Cafe des Amis (in Breaux Bridge) are widely known in Acadiana and nationwide.
And we can't count the number of times we've had great crawfish at Pat's Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant in nearby Henderson in the Atchafalaya River Basin!
Its economy today is diverse, including large onshore and offshore drilling, production and support services for the oil and gas industry. Lafayette is also the home of the University of Louisiana, and serves a large, regional retail and tourism industry.
Lafayette's first settlers were French Acadians ("Cajuns") who came to the area in the 1700s. Originally founded in 1821 as Vermilionville, it was renamed Lafayette in 1884. Today a popular tourist attraction called "Vermilionville" recreates the Cajun lifestyle and folklore in a series of restored buildings.
The parish seat of Lafayette Parish, the City of Lafayette is located near St. Martinville, Abbeville, Breaux Bridge, Henderson, Scott, Crowley, Rayne and Kaplan. See Lafayette area map below.
Shown below are a few images of the past from Lafayette.
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