by Elistra Istre

In the heart of Cajun country lies Lafayette Parish, one of South Louisiana's most popular tourist destinations. French-speaking Acadians from Nova Scotia began settling the area in the mid-1700s after their eviction from Canada by the British. Later, Creoles of Color of African and European ancestry, joined them in making their home in the area.

Over the ensuing centuries, immigrants from all points of the globe have made Lafayette Parish their home, transforming the city into one of the South's most cosmopolitan places.

Although the area's largest city was originally known as "Vermilion," then "Vermilionville," the name "Lafayette" was finally selected to commemorate the Marquis de La Fayette, a Frenchman who aided the Americans in the Revolutionary War.

Most of Lafayette Parish's 259 square miles is composed of prairies, although there are some alluvial plains. Although the parish is the third smallest in the state, it has a population of nearly 200,000 and is a center for the state's oil and gas industry. Lafayette Parish, famous for its hospitality and cultural vitality, is also a mecca for tourists wanting to catch a glimpse of "Cajun" culture and sample some of the best food on earth. From living history museums depicting rural Cajun life to restaurants that serve mouth-watering gumbo and jambalaya with a smile, from the world-famous Festival International and Festivals Acadiens to historic St. John's Cathedral and Oak Tree, Lafayette Parish has it all.