Lafayette, Louisiana was first inhabited during the 1700’s by French Acadians originally from Nova Scotia. Jean Mouton in 1821 designated Lafayette to the Catholic Church. In 1844, Vermilionville was renamed after Marquis de Lafayette. Once an agricultural society, the settlers became dependent upon the oil and gas industries. Lafayette resides in an area called Acadiana, which is known as the Cajun Heartland.

The Cajun heritage relates to the Acadian settlers who left Canada in 1755. These people gave the world their French-Canadian customs and intense work ethics. French remains a second language for them. The Attakapas Indians they faced were cannibals.  Lafayette, Louisiana has several annual festivals including the Cajun French Music Association, Downtown Alive, Festivals Acadiens, Louisiana Native Crafts Festival, Zydeco Extravaganza and the Acadian village Courir du Mardi Gras.