When French-speaking Acadians fled Canada to escape British persecution, Southern Louisiana's famous melting pot received one of its most important ingredients: a Cajun influence that transcends the state's innumerable identities, perhaps nowhere more than Lafayette. Known as the heartland of Acadiana, Lafayette is home to roughly 120,000 people in prime Cajun country, some of whom still speak the archaic French dialect. Like many Southern Louisiana cities, Lafayette is a place where history feels alive — in its picturesque buildings, its historic districts and its cultural events. Yet downtown development shows how different things are from just a few decades ago. An influx of hip businesses and gathering spaces, many in retrofitted historic buildings, points to a citywide mission to meet community needs, adding new energy without erasing the past. "There's a nice wine shop across from an open park area where they just renovated the playground for individuals with either special needs or children with disabilities. So they're really trying to be more inclusive, more innovative, and it's exciting to see the downtown flourish," says Erica Fox, curator and executive director of the Maison Creole de Freetown Cultural Museum.
Lafayette is a proud, historic area of Cajun culture and food.
Lafayette is home to about 120,000 full time residents.
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History and culture at Festival International de Louisiane
As the beating heart of Acadiana, Lafayette bears the responsibility of preserving its many cultures and histories. The area was first inhabited by the Ishak people, who were displaced by European colonists trying to tame the harsh swampland. Originally founded as Vermilionville in 1821, Lafayette eventually became a powerhouse in the plantation industry, a slave-based economy where racism and inequality were part of everyday life. Today, sites like LARC's Acadian Village or the Vermilionville Historic Village provide a glimpse into the region's colonial history, while Freetown — a freedmen's town on the National Register of Historic Places — preserves stories from the city's post-slavery era. "It was 'free' for more reasons than just emancipation, but it's also kind of our creative hub. There are many artisans and artists. We also house an artisan incubator inside of the museum," Fox says. "You also see a strong, significant population of African American Catholics, which is kind of a rarity within the country. Many of the Catholics of this area created churches that still stand to this day."
Downtown is home to dozens of art galleries and cultural centers like the Acadiana Center for the Arts, showcasing historical and contemporary art from across the region. Numerous institutions and events also memorialize the city's Cajun and Creole heritage, from Mardi Gras parades to tailgates at Cajun Field, where thousands of fans cheer on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette football team, the Ragin' Cajuns. Perhaps no event spotlights the city's multiculturalism better than the Festival International de Louisiane, a free five-day fest featuring plenty of food, art and Francophone music from around the world. The family-friendly festival partly overlaps with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, aka Jazz Fest, its raucous cousin about 130 miles away.
The Freetown area of Lafayette preserves the cities history through art, found all over town.
On the outskirts of the city of Lafayette, you’ll find LARC’s Acadian Village.
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New downtown gathering spaces and burgeoning tech sector
A Downtown Action Plan has helped bring new development to the city core, such as repurposing Congress Street from a high-speed road to a more pedestrian-friendly mixed-use commercial area. Overall, the ethos is a desire for space-making, as cafes, beer gardens and creative gathering places like Wild Child Wines serve as vibrant meetup spots, many repurposing historic properties. "They're revitalizing the entire area. There's some new developments, like a music museum that is in the works," Fox says. "There's also been a lot of individual investment downtown. Some of the small developers and small real estate investors have come on board and purchased buildings to create some really cool spaces. There's a really nice ice cream shop now and some pottery studios — really new places that make downtown a destination again."
Away from downtown, commercial options include a widening array of national brands. The Acadiana Mall is home to numerous department stores and chain restaurants, and Johnson Street is a magnet for big-box retailers. TopGolf opened a facility at the Ambassador Town Center, and new employers have also opened facilities just outside Lafayette, including two Amazon fulfillment centers. Over the last 10 years, the city has become a technology hub for the medical industry, with new businesses like the LHC Group replacing the slowly disappearing petrochemical industry. Industrial agriculture is also a core economic force in the region, with grain suppliers like Kirkland owning swaths of rice paddies that, in the winter months, double as crawfish fields — a staple cuisine in Louisiana.
Acadiana Mall is open seven days a week in Arcadiana Wood, Lafayette.
Downtown Lafayette is a vibrant community with culture and arts, dining, and nightlife.
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Historic cottages, French Colonial Revival suburbs
Lafayette's new and old structures often express a French influence. True Acadian cottages — rarely found outside Lafayette but common in the area — feature metal roofs, wooden sidings and sweeping front porches. Other preserved properties in Freetown were built by African American bricklayers. "Thankfully, we're seeing more films and documentaries being created to highlight the fact that there were tradespeople, very skilled tradespeople, who built a lot of the architectural craftsmanship in some of the 100-year-plus homes in our neighborhood," Fox says. Not everything is old, though. New builds from the early 2000s onward have been designed to replicate the city's historic structures, incorporating elements of French Colonial Revival architecture, like tall, hipped roofs. New construction typically becomes more common further from downtown, where city architecture fades into suburban rows of traditional ranchers and snout houses. Multifamily options like multiplex condos and townhouses sell for a median price of $153,000, while single-family homes sell for a median of $250,000, although prices can vary dramatically depending on location, size and upkeep. Generally, South Lafayette neighborhoods like River Ranch have higher than average property values, while North Lafayette neighborhoods like Mills North see lower than average property values. Lately, Lafayette has been facing a housing shortage. Attempts have been made to address the shortage, including a new 252-unit apartment complex at Ambassador Town Center.
New builds are sprinkled throughout Lafayette, and common in the southern half of town.
Acadian style cottages can be found throughout Lafayette.
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Diverse public schools and an R1 university
Serving 32,000-plus students, Lafayette Parish Public Schools is the fifth-largest public school district in Louisiana and a major employer for the region. According to Niche, it's also the state's third-most diverse school district. Nineteen of the district's 48 schools include a specialized magnet academy offering a variety of unique curriculums, including dual-language programs in French and Spanish.The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a designated R1 research institute with nearly 20,000 students. Its sustainable development programs make it Louisiana's only Green Ribbon public university, and the school has won back-to-back awards for the diversity of its student body.
Lafayette High School, in central Lafayette, inspires and empowers students.
University of Louisiana boasts nearly 20,000 full time students on campus.
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Birdwatching in Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge
In addition to 30 parks managed by the Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department, the city is home to eight recreational centers, three public golf courses and two public tennis centers. Numerous country clubs, like Oakbourne, offer even more courses and tennis courts. City parks include expansive woodland escapes like Acadiana Park's mountain bike trails and disc golf course, small playgrounds throughout the city and downtown plazas like Parc Sans Souci for events. Further east, the 15,000 acres of wetlands in Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge serve as a natural barrier between Lafayette and Baton Rouge. The preserve is popular with hunters and anglers, but it's especially prized for wildlife watching. Black bears can be spotted swimming in the Atchafalaya River, and hundreds of migratory bird species use the wetlands as a temporary stop during April and May, making it a popular photography destination.
The Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge features over 15,000 acres of wetlands near Lafayette.
A resident of Lafayette plays a round of tennis at the Oakbourne Country Club.
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Planned extensions to Interstate 49
Lafayette is the southern terminus for Interstate 49, which runs nearly 550 miles north to Kansas City. The I-49 Lafayette Connector project aims to extend the roadway 5.5 miles south to the Lafayette Regional Airport. Lafayette is also along Interstate 10, America's 4th-longest interstate highway, which connects with Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans and many other cities across Louisiana. The Lafayette Regional Airport has connections to larger airports like New Orleans and Dallas, and the city's Amtrak station offers trips on the Sunset Limited Line, which runs from Los Angeles to New Orleans. Within the city, residents typically use a car to get around. Some residents rely on local buses through the Lafayette Transit System.
Coastal concerns and rising crime
Lafayette is about 45 miles from the Gulf Coast, making the threat of hurricanes slightly less than elsewhere in Southern Louisiana. Nevertheless, even an indirect hit can flood parts of the city, particularly the flood zones on the west side. Drainage canals and bayous help reduce flooding, carrying floodwaters into the Vermillion River, although erosion is a major issue in the region.
FBI data shows the city’s rates of property crime and violent crime are higher than both state and national figures. The city recently introduced interventions to reduce crime, including plans to install 130 surveillance cameras around the city, plus increased police patrols and pay raises for officers to entice more recruits.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Fox
Video By
Sara Warthen
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Reach out to
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On average, homes in Lafayette, LA sell after 90 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Lafayette, LA over the last 12 months is $235,655, down 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
See this unique well maintained home with recent updates nestled in the heart of Lafayette. With an air of elegance and an abundance of comfort, this home features an open split floorplan offering both privacy and spacious living. The entire interior has been freshly repainted, creating a crisp and inviting atmosphere and there are new hardwood walnut floors in the main living area adding warmth
Well maintained 3 bed, 2 bath home offering 2,000 square feet in a prime Lafayette location!Conveniently situated between Johnston Street and Congress Street, this home features a freshly painted living room and bedrooms giving it a clean, fresh feel. Major components have been taken care of: the roof, HVAC, and water heater are all 5 years old or less! Spacious floor plan with great natural
Welcome to your new home in the heart of Lafayette! This house has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, perfect for a family or anyone who needs a little extra space. Upgrades include a brand new roof, new carport door and backdoor, new electrical panel, new lvp flooring throughout, new sinks and new quartz countertops, all new switches and outlets and fresh paint everywhere!! This home has been nicely
Large commercial lot with frontage on Pinhook road. Great location with very high visibility. High traffic count. Level lot ready for any type of store front, or drive thru business.
Welcome to 309 Abercrombie Way on the pond in Langlinais Estates--where luxury & design come together. This home features 4 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms and 2 half baths. There's two bedrooms located on the main floor and two additional bedrooms upstairs. The kitchen is a true showstopper with custom cabinetry, wood beams, & windows that frame the views of the pond. A hidden pantry with wood
Traditional home with flare! This home brings the ''fun'' in functionality with large bedrooms, spacious bathrooms, new windows and window blinds, options for formal/informal dining and/or sitting areas, gas log burning fireplace, option for office or 4th bedroom, interior and exterior speaker system, custom kitchen cabinetry and stainless appliances, kitchen sink has the osmosis filtration
Welcome to 400 Croft Row! 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a large back porch overlooking a serene back yard give this cottage styled home just what you may be looking for right here in the thriving city of Lafayette. Located in proximity to almost all the shopping and restaurants Lafayette has to offer, this home is nestled at the end of a quiet and well groomed street in the respected community of
FOR RENT! Brick home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, an office with built in shelving, 2203 sq feet of living space and metal roof. Security system installed, just needs activation and this is a pet friendly home. Please send a picture of your pet to the listing agent for preapproval.
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