Born in 1925, Clifton Chenier grew up in Opelousas, Louisiana, a small city in Acadiana. Influenced by traditional French Creole music and the burgeoning rock ’n’ roll scene in the 1950s, Chenier took up the accordion, put together a band and began playing a new style of music. The genre slowly adopted the name “zydeco,” and Chenier was crowned its king. Today, a popular festival and parade help Opelousas celebrate its status as the Zydeco capital of the world. While the population of roughly 15,000 is slowly declining, Opelousas residents often have deep roots in the area, staying for the city’s industrial jobs and low cost of living.
Opelousas was established in 1720.
Opelousas is a small quant South Louisiana town.
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Comparatively affordable Opelousas housing
The median home price in Opelousas is $174,500, less than half the national figure. “A house here, you can get a lot more than you would even just down the road in Lafayette,” says Lana Soileau, a Realtor with Real Broker, who has lived in the area for 45 years. “You get some good bang for your buck.” Well-maintained ranch-style homes and bungalows often make up the top end of the market, while cottages and national-style dwellings are frequently more affordable.
Ranch style homes are very common throughout Opelousas.
Bungalows can be found when looking to move to Opelousas.
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Opelousas' festival celebrating its musical heritage
The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival often draws over 10,000 attendees. “The festival is a big deal,” Soileau says. “People come from all over the world to attend.” Anchored by plenty of zydeco music, the festival also includes a parade through downtown Opelousas.
Across Interstate 49 from downtown, Evangeline Downs has a casino and racetrack. Residents and visitors head to the casino for race weekends plus live music and entertainment.
Downtown Opelousas' bounce back
Like many downtowns, Downtown Opelousas went through a rough spell in the late 20th century. However, the Opelousas Main Street organization is helping to reinvigorate the area. Landry Street, the main drag downtown, has bars, boutiques and music venues. Meanwhile, shopping centers line Creswell Lane and the frontage roads around I-49, with supermarkets, hardware stores and chain restaurants.
Landry Street in Downtown Opelousas has bars, boutiques and music venues.
Creswell Lane in Opelousas has many shopping centers like St Landry Plaza.
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French-immersion programs at St. Landry schools
The St. Landry Parish School District serves the city of Opelousas and receives an overall C-plus grade from Niche. Students can attend specialty schools, including Ecole St. Landry, which offers immersion into French, or the Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts, which receives a B-plus grade. Private school options include Opelousas Catholic School, rated B-plus. A campus for South Louisiana Community College is located downtown, and students can also head to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, about 25 miles away.
Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts was opened in 2005 to educate the many talented students.
Opelousas Catholic School has an overall Niche grade of B+.
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Recreation at city parks on either side of downtown
Residents enjoy two main parks in town. South City Park has several baseball fields, tennis courts and a playground. Donald Gardner Stadium, on the park's east side, serves as the home field for Opelousas High School football. Meanwhile, North City Park offers a swimming pool, playgrounds and an event pavilion.
South City Park has many different activities to enjoy.
North City Park has many different activities to enjoy.
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Agriculture, oil and manufacturing jobs in Acadiana
Opelousas is in the heart of Acadiana, where agriculture has long been a way of life. Today, manufacturing and the oil industry also employ large numbers of Opelousans. I-49 runs 25 miles south to Lafayette, the region’s largest city, and 60 miles north to Alexandria. Lafayette is also home to the nearest commercial airport, serving hubs like Dallas and Atlanta.
Interstate 49 runs through Opelousas connecting it to Lafayette and Alexandria.
Opelousas is in the heart of Acadiana, where agriculture has long been a way of life.
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Crime rates and environmental risks
According to FBI data, violent crime and property crime rates in Opelousas are higher than state and national figures. While violent crime rates have stayed somewhat steady over the last five years, property crime rates have slowly dropped.
Opelousas experiences hot, humid summers and mild winters. Hurricanes can affect the city with damaging winds and heavy rain, though its inland location means flood risk is lower than in areas closer to the Gulf Coast.
Written By
Brendan Doyle
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Williams
Video By
David Strayer
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