In 1971, the
Louisiana legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution 496, which
officially dubbed as Acadiana a twenty-two parish region of southern
Louisiana. (Detailed
description.) The area's name recognizes the region's historic
role as the area in which approximately 3,000 Acadian refugees sought
sanctuary after a massive ethnic-cleansing operation in present-day
Nova Scotia. The refugees' descendants are now called Cajuns, and
the region is still home to the nation's largest concentration of
Cajuns. Acadiana, however, is also home to the country's largest rural
Creole population. Acadiana is the cradle of Cajun music, Zydeco,
and Cajun cuisine. The region maintains perhaps America's highest
culinary standards and boasts an exceptionally high concentration
of excellent restaurants. For a guide to each parish's cultural resources,
use the map below.
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