Lafayette Parish, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lafayette Parish
Consolidated city-parish
Lafayette Parish Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Founded	January 17, 1823
Named for	Marquis de la Fayette
Seat	Lafayette
Largest city	Lafayette
Area
• Total	269 sq mi (700 km2)
• Land	269 sq mi (700 km2)
• Water	0.5 sq mi (1 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	241,753
• Density	898.7/sq mi (347.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Lafayette Parish (which is called Paroisse de Lafayette in French) is like a county in other U.S. states. It is located in the southern part of Louisiana. In 2020, about 241,753 people lived here. This was more than the 221,578 people counted in 2010.

The main city and "parish seat" (like a county seat) is Lafayette. The parish was created in 1823. Since 1996, the city of Lafayette and Lafayette Parish have worked together under one combined government.

What's in a Name?

Both the city and Lafayette Parish are named after the Marquis de Lafayette. He was a French general who helped the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He even gave money to help the American cause!

Exploring Lafayette Parish Geography

Lafayette Parish is in a special part of southern Louisiana called Acadiana. This area is close to the Gulf Coast.

The parish covers about 269 square miles. Almost all of this area is land. Only a tiny bit (0.5 square miles) is water. Lafayette Parish is one of the smallest parishes in Louisiana.

Main Roads and Highways

Many important roads run through Lafayette Parish. These help people travel easily.

Neighboring Parishes

Lafayette Parish shares borders with several other parishes:

• St. Landry Parish (to the north)
• St. Martin Parish (to the east)
• Iberia Parish (to the southeast)
• Vermilion Parish (to the south)
• Acadia Parish (to the west)

Protected Natural Areas

Part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is located in Lafayette Parish. This park helps protect important natural and historical sites.

Towns and Cities in Lafayette Parish

Lafayette Parish has several communities, from large cities to smaller towns and villages.

Cities

• Broussard
• Carencro
• Lafayette (This is the biggest city and the parish seat.)
• Scott
• Youngsville

Town

• Duson

Unincorporated Areas

These are areas that are not part of an official city or town.

Census-Designated Places

• Milton
• Ossun

Other Communities

Who Lives in Lafayette Parish?

Lafayette Parish is home to a diverse group of people. In 2020, the population was 241,753. Most residents were White (about 62%), followed by Black or African American (about 25%). There are also growing Asian and Hispanic or Latino communities.

The average age of people in the parish in 2019 was about 35 years old. Most people (over 76%) were 18 or older. About 10% of people spoke a language other than English at home. Spanish was the second most common language, and French was third.

Many people in Lafayette Parish work, with an employment rate of over 62%. There are also many businesses, including those owned by minority groups and veterans. The average household income in 2019 was around $56,999.

Learning in Lafayette Parish

The Lafayette Parish School System runs the public schools for children in the parish.

Lafayette Parish is also a center for higher education. It is home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which is the second-largest public university in Louisiana. There are also other colleges like South Louisiana Community College, Remington College, Blue Cliff College, an Aveda Institute, and a Louisiana Technical College.

Keeping the Community Safe

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office (LPSO) is in charge of law enforcement for the parish. Sheriff Mark T. Garber leads the department, which has about 750 employees. While they can work anywhere in the parish, their main job is to patrol areas outside of the cities. They also run the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, which is the parish jail.

The LPSO works with the University of Louisiana to run the Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA). This academy trains new deputies and police officers. It's an eleven-week program that includes physical training and classroom learning.

Besides the Sheriff's Office, the Lafayette Police Department and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Police Department also help keep the area safe.

National Guard in Lafayette

The main office and other groups of the 256th IBCT are located in the city of Lafayette, Louisiana. This unit has over 3,500 soldiers. They have helped in many important situations. For example, they deployed to Iraq twice (in 2004-2005 and 2010). They also helped after natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Isaac, and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill.

Famous People from Lafayette Parish

Many interesting people have come from Lafayette Parish. Here are a few:

• Lauren Daigle (born 1991), a Grammy-nominated Christian music singer.
• Jefferson Caffery (1886-1974), who served as a U.S. Ambassador to many countries.
• Benjamin Flanders (1816-1896), a politician who helped start the Republican Party in Louisiana.
• Jerry Luke LeBlanc (born 1956), a former state lawmaker and university leader.
• Alexandre Mouton (1804–1885), who was a U.S. Senator and Governor of Louisiana.
• Frank Schmitz (1945-1966), a champion gymnast.
• Fred Prejean (1946-2022), a community leader and activist.
• Dustin Poirier (born 1989), a professional mixed martial artist and former champion.

See also

In Spanish: Parroquia de Lafayette para niños