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Wikipedia

Lafayette, Louisiana

February 05, 2023

Lafayette (/ˌlɑːfiːˈɛt, ˌlæf-/, French: [lafajɛt]) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the most populous city and parish seat of Lafayette Parish,[3] located along the Vermilion River. It is Louisiana's fourth largest incorporated municipality by population with a 2020 census population of 121,374;[4] the consolidated city-parish's population was 241,753 in 2020.[5] The Lafayette metropolitan area was Louisiana's third largest metropolitan statistical area with a population of 478,384 at the 2020 census.[6] The Acadiana region containing Lafayette is the largest population and economic corridor between Houston, Texas and New Orleans.

Lafayette, Louisiana
Consolidated city-parish
From top, left to right: Downtown, Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Charles H. Mouton House, Old Lafayette City Hall, Cajundome, First United Methodist Church
Flag
Seal
Logo
Nickname: 
The Hub City
Motto: 
The Heart of Cajun Country
Interactive maps of Lafayette
Coordinates: 30°13′N 92°2′W / 30.217°N 92.033°W / 30.217; -92.033Coordinates: 30°13′N 92°2′W / 30.217°N 92.033°W / 30.217; -92.033
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishLafayette
Founded1821 as Vermilionville
Renamed1884 as Lafayette
Founded byJean Mouton
Named forGeneral Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Government
 • TypeConsolidated city–parish
 • MayorJosh Guillory (R)
Area
[1]
 • Total56.00 sq mi (145.03 km2)
 • Land55.92 sq mi (144.83 km2)
 • Water0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2)  auto%
 • Metro
3,408.5 sq mi (8,828 km2)
Elevation
49 ft (15 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total121,374
 • RankUS: 234th
 • Density2,170.57/sq mi (838.07/km2)
 • Urban
227,316 (US: 172nd)[2]
 • Urban density1,410.1/sq mi (544.4/km2)
 • Metro
478,384 (US: 118th)
 • CSA
627,146 (US: 77th)
 • Consolidated
244,390
DemonymLafayettien
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
70501–9, 70593, 70596, 70598
Area code337
FIPS code22-40735
Websitewww.lafayettela.gov

Originally established as Vermilionville in the 1820s and incorporated in 1836,[7] Lafayette developed as an agricultural community until the introduction of retail and entertainment centers, and the discovery of oil in the area in the 1940s. Since the discovery of oil, the city and parish have had the highest number of workers in the oil and natural gas industry in Louisiana as of 2018.[8] With the issuance of a bond ordinance for a series of roads connecting nearby settlements; the establishment of the University of Louisiana System's Lafayette campus; and the continued diversification of its economy, Lafayette and its metropolitan area have experienced population growth since the 1840 census and was promptly nicknamed "The Hub City."[9][10] The city and parish of Lafayette are also known as the "Heart of Acadiana."[11] As a result of its growth, the city and region have become major centers for the technology industry;[12][13] Lafayette also became a major center for health care and social services, aerospace, banking and retail.[14] Notable corporations with headquarters or a large presence in the Lafayette area have included Amazon,[15][16] Brookshire Grocery Company,[17] CGI,[18] JP Morgan Chase, Ochsner Health System,[19] Petroleum Helicopters International,[20] and Rouses Markets.[21]

Lafayette is home to a diverse population from Louisiana Creole and Cajun backgrounds.[22] In 2014, Lafayette was named the "Happiest City in America.”[23][24] The city and region's cultural icons include Alexandre Mouton House, Brandt House, Charles H. Mouton House, the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Daigle House, First United Methodist Church, Holy Rosary Institute, Hope Lodge No. 145, and Old Lafayette City Hall. Its educational institutions include the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College, and Remington College.

Etymology

Lafayette is named after Marquis de Lafayette.[25] Little is known about early settlements or if the area had a different name prior to European colonization. The city was originally founded in 1821 as Vermilionville.

History

Main article: History of Lafayette, Louisiana

Colonization and settlement

The Attakapa Native Americans inhabited this area at the time of the first European encounter. French colonists founded the first European settlement, Petit Manchac, a trading post along the Vermilion River.[26] In the mid-to-late eighteenth century, numerous Acadian refugees settled in this area,[27] after being expelled from Canada after Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War.[28] They intermarried with other settlers, forming what became known as Cajun culture, which maintained use of the French language and adherence to the Roman Catholic Church.[29][30]

Municipal incorporation

Jean Mouton, an Acadian settler, donated land to the Roman Church for construction of a small Catholic chapel at this site. In 1824, this area was selected for the Lafayette Parish seat and was named Vermilionville,[7] for its location on the river; in 1836, the Louisiana State Legislature approved its incorporation.

The area was initially developed by Europeans for agriculture, primarily sugar plantations, which depended on the labor of numerous enslaved Africans and African Americans. They made up a large percentage of the antebellum population.[26] According to U.S. census data in 1830, some 41 percent of the population of Lafayette Parish was enslaved.[31] By 1860, the enslaved population had increased to 49.6 percent. Some free people of color lived in Lafayette Parish, as well;[32][33] they made up 3 percent to a low of 2.4 percent between 1830 and 1860.

In 1884, Vermilionville was renamed for General Lafayette, a French aristocrat who had fought with and significantly aided the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.[34] The city and parish economy continued to be based on agriculture into the early 20th century. After the American Civil War, most of the labor was done by freedmen, who worked as sharecroppers. From the 1930s, mechanization of agriculture began to reduce the need for farm workers.[35]

Growth and consolidation

By 1898, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was established in the city as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute. It opened in 1901, and changed its name to the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1960.[36] The university's current name was chosen in 1999.

In the 1940s, after oil was discovered in the parish, the petroleum and natural gas industries expanded to dominate the economy. By 2018, Lafayette had the highest number of oil and natural gas industry workers in the state.[8]

Since the latter half of the 20th century, Lafayette has hosted the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, and was candidate as site for the New Orleans Pelicans NBA G League team in 2017.[37]

In 1996, the city and parish consolidated;[38][39][40][41] the governments of the city and parish were merged, though five other incorporated municipalities continued to operate with their own municipal governments and departments. Since the beginning of the 21st century, a committee proposed the deconsolidation of the city and parish.[42][43][44]

In 2015, the city of Lafayette gained international attention for a mass shooting and murder-suicide at Grand 16 Theater;[45][46] this mass shooting spurred further discussion and debate on gun control in the United States.[47] During 2015, the Lafayette metropolitan area also overtook the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area by population, becoming Louisiana's third largest metropolitan region.[48]

Geography

Main article: Geography of Lafayette, Louisiana

The city of Lafayette is located at 30°13′N 92°2′W / 30.217°N 92.033°W / 30.217; -92.033 (30.2139, −92.0294),[49] in southern Louisiana's Acadiana region on the Gulf Coast of the United States. It was part of the seabed during the earlier Quaternary period. During this time, the Mississippi River cut a 325-foot-deep (99 m) valley between what is now Lafayette and Baton Rouge. This valley was filled and is now the Atchafalaya Basin. The city is located on the western rim of this valley.

The Lafayette area is part of the southwestern Louisiana Prairie Terrace; it is higher and not made of wetlands like much of the surrounding areas to the south and west of Lafayette. Lafayette does not suffer significant flooding problems, outside of local flash flooding. Lafayette has developed on both sides of the Vermilion River. Other significant waterways in the city are Isaac Verot Coulee, Coulee Mine, Coulee des Poches, and Coulee Ile des Cannes, which are natural drainage canals that lead to the Vermilion River.[50]

Lafayette lies approximately 135 miles (217 km) from New Orleans,[51] 59 miles (95 km) from the state capital of Baton Rouge,[52] 75 miles (121 km) from Lake Charles,[53] and 89 miles (143 km) from Alexandria.[54] The city has an elevation ranging from 36 feet (11.0 m) to 49 feet (15 m) above sea level.[55][56] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 55.65 square miles (144.1 km2), of which 55.57 square miles (143.9 km2) is land and 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2) (0.19 percent) is covered by water.[57]

Cityscape

 
Panorama of Downtown Lafayette (2021)

The city of Lafayette's architecture is diverse, with a collection of more than eight downtown structures listed within the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown Lafayette landmarks include Old Lafayette City Hall and the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist. Near these structures, Chase and Doubletree have been the area's tallest buildings at 15 and 16 stories.

With the announcement of the latest addition to the city in over 40 years, two high-rise towers were planned and would stand 4 stories higher.[58] In October 2021, it was announced only one high-rise tower would be constructed citing lack of interest in condominiums within the area;[59][60] the project was halted in January 2022 citing further difficulties.[61] The attempted construction of new high-rises within the heart of the city followed efforts to redevelop the downtown area in the 2010s and attract further residents.[62][63] Alongside high-rise construction projects throughout the downtown area, a 70-unit apartment development began in early 2022 spurring continued interest in urban development.[64]

Climate

Lafayette's climate is described as humid subtropical using Köppen climate classification. It has year-round precipitation, especially during summertime. Lafayette's highest temperature was 107 °F (42 °C); it has hot, moist summers and warm, damp winters.

Climate data for Lafayette Regional Airport, Louisiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 87
(31) 		87
(31) 		93
(34) 		93
(34) 		98
(37) 		106
(41) 		107
(42) 		104
(40) 		103
(39) 		98
(37) 		92
(33) 		89
(32) 		107
(42)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 76.4
(24.7) 		78.1
(25.6) 		82.7
(28.2) 		86.9
(30.5) 		92.0
(33.3) 		95.3
(35.2) 		96.6
(35.9) 		97.6
(36.4) 		94.9
(34.9) 		90.4
(32.4) 		83.7
(28.7) 		79.1
(26.2) 		98.3
(36.8)
Average high °F (°C) 62.2
(16.8) 		66.1
(18.9) 		72.6
(22.6) 		79.0
(26.1) 		85.9
(29.9) 		90.2
(32.3) 		91.5
(33.1) 		92.3
(33.5) 		89.0
(31.7) 		81.3
(27.4) 		71.5
(21.9) 		64.4
(18.0) 		78.8
(26.0)
Daily mean °F (°C) 52.8
(11.6) 		56.8
(13.8) 		62.9
(17.2) 		69.2
(20.7) 		76.5
(24.7) 		81.6
(27.6) 		83.3
(28.5) 		83.5
(28.6) 		79.7
(26.5) 		70.7
(21.5) 		60.8
(16.0) 		54.9
(12.7) 		69.4
(20.8)
Average low °F (°C) 43.5
(6.4) 		47.4
(8.6) 		53.3
(11.8) 		59.3
(15.2) 		67.2
(19.6) 		73.1
(22.8) 		75.1
(23.9) 		74.7
(23.7) 		70.4
(21.3) 		60.1
(15.6) 		50.2
(10.1) 		45.3
(7.4) 		60.0
(15.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 26.4
(−3.1) 		32.0
(0.0) 		35.1
(1.7) 		42.7
(5.9) 		54.3
(12.4) 		66.0
(18.9) 		70.6
(21.4) 		69.1
(20.6) 		57.9
(14.4) 		42.8
(6.0) 		33.0
(0.6) 		29.2
(−1.6) 		24.6
(−4.1)
Record low °F (°C) 10
(−12) 		6
(−14) 		22
(−6) 		32
(0) 		42
(6) 		51
(11) 		59
(15) 		58
(14) 		41
(5) 		27
(−3) 		21
(−6) 		9
(−13) 		6
(−14)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.92
(150) 		4.07
(103) 		3.72
(94) 		4.91
(125) 		5.44
(138) 		7.09
(180) 		6.27
(159) 		6.26
(159) 		5.02
(128) 		4.76
(121) 		4.39
(112) 		4.96
(126) 		62.81
(1,595)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.0 9.3 8.7 7.5 8.4 12.2 14.1 12.2 9.4 7.6 8.3 9.8 117.5
Source: NOAA[65][66]


Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860498—
187077756.0%
18808154.9%
18902,106158.4%
19003,31457.4%
19106,39292.9%
19207,85522.9%
193014,63586.3%
194019,21031.3%
195033,54174.6%
196040,40020.4%
197068,90870.6%
198080,58416.9%
199094,44017.2%
2000110,25716.7%
2010120,6239.4%
2020121,3740.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[67]
Racial and ethnic composition 2020[68] 2010[69] 2000[69]
Non-Hispanic/Latino white 56.95% 63.78% 68.50%
African Americans 30.5% 31.11% 28.25%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 6.2% 3.76% 1.88%
Asian Americans 2.58% 1.81% 1.42%
Pacific Islander 0.03% n/a n/a
Two or more races 3.45% 1.68% 0.98%

Attakapa Native Americans were the primary residents of the Lafayette area before French colonization, concentrated along the Vermilion River.[26] After the Louisiana Purchase, American settlers began moving into the area and intermarrying among the French, enslaved Africans, and free people of color. Since 1860, Lafayette has grown from 498 to 121,374 residents at the 2020 U.S. census.[4][70] Following the American Community Survey's 5 year estimates program, the city has continued population growth with an additional 2020 estimate at 126,674 residents.[71]

With the migration and population growth of European, African, and multiracial Americans since early settlement, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city has been predominantly non-Hispanic or Latino white, Black or African American, multiracial, and Asian.[72][73] French, German, English, American, Irish, and Italian were the largest European ancestry groups among the non-Hispanic or Latino white population.[74] Asian settlers arrived during the establishment of Filipino communities along the coast of Louisiana, primarily in the Greater New Orleans area; and the city and area's Hispanic and Latino American population have existed since Spanish colonization of Louisiana.[citation needed]

According to 2021 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, its non-Hispanic or Latino white population have been prevalent throughout the city proper's geographic foothold with exception to its northern neighborhoods.[75] More than 34% of its Hispanic and Latino American population lived in the central-west portion of the city, and Black and African Americans primarily dominated the northern half of Lafayette city proper. Its Asian American community was dispersed throughout the whole city alongside multiracial Americans, and people of other races and ethnicities primarily lived near downtown or the city's border with Carencro.

Having historic growth from the 20th and 21st centuries attributed primarily to the oil and gas industry, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Acadiana tourism,[76] an estimated 3.8 percent of the city's population was foreign-born from 2014 to 2019; of the foreign-born population, 33.6 percent were naturalized U.S. citizens.[74] Altogether English, French, and Spanish were the most spoken languages at home among the native and foreign-born populations.[77]

Poverty remaining an issue in the city with an estimated 18.6 percent at or below the national poverty threshold in 2019,[78] the median income for a family was $54,139 in 2020 and Lafayettiens had a mean household income of $79,216;[79] among non-family households, the median income stood at $34,588. The city had an employment rate of 60.4 percent, up from the state's 55.4 percent from 2014 to 2019.[80]

Sexual orientation and gender identity

While in the predominantly conservative southern U.S., Lafayette has maintained a substantial lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community since at least 1969, when some members of the Mystic Krewe of Apollo, a gay cultural, social, and service organization in New Orleans, arrived in the city.[81] The area's LGBT population have described Acadiana as "welcoming," though some members of the community in the 1970s declined to be photographed at public and private LGBT events.[82] While regarded as welcoming, Lafayette's government was once under the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's focus regarding non-discrimination in city employment; a local government spokesperson responded with reports of no complaints from the local LGBT community.[83]

Religion

In common with Louisiana's religious demographic, Lafayette and its metropolitan area are predominantly religious, dominated by Christianity.[84] According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, the Catholic Church was the single largest Christian denomination with a reported 212,013 adherents, and Protestants were the largest collective Christian group. Among Protestant Christians, the largest were non-denominational Christians with 26,860 adherents; Southern Baptists with 22,324; Progressive National Baptists with 19,324; United Methodists with 8,401; and Assemblies of God USA with 6,704 adherents.[84]

Owing in part to Spanish and French colonialism and missionary work, Christians have historically affiliated with the Latin Church's Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana was founded in 1918 and its see is the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist.[85] Within the local Protestant traditions, Baptists have been the primary historic Protestant body affiliated toward; the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. and Progressive National Baptist Convention have been the city and region's historically Black or African American Baptist denominations, though the Church of God in Christ has also been a historically prominent African American Protestant body.[86]

Mormons, Lutherans, and Presbyterians have also maintained minority presences within the Lafayette municipal and metropolitan communities. Christians of other traditions including the Jehovah's Witnesses and united and uniting churches have been present in the city's metropolitan area since the 20th century.[87] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the oldest nontrinitarian Christian denomination in Lafayette, and has one church in the city limits; the closest LDS churches outside of Lafayette are in New Iberia and Opelousas.[88] There has been one Antiochian Orthodox jurisdiction operating since 2004;[89] there is also a Coptic Orthodox mission under the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States.[90] Altogether, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and non-mainstream Protestantism have constituted a significant minority in contrast to Catholic and Baptist missionary work.

In a separate religious study by Sperling's BestPlaces in 2020,[91] Judaism and Islam were tied as the second largest non-Christian religions within Lafayette and its metropolitan area. Jews began immigrating to the area in the 1800s,[92] and one of Louisiana's oldest continuously-operated synagogues (Temple Shalom) has been present in the city since 1869. The historic synagogue of Temple Shalom originally functioned as an Orthodox Jewish congregation before joining the Reform Judaism movement.[93] Lafayette's Jewish community has assisted in economic and cultural development of the area since their arrival.[94]

Economy

 
IberiaBank (now First Horizon Bank) tower, downtown Lafayette

Established and occupied as an agricultural community until the 1940s, Lafayette became a center of the oil and natural gas industry in Louisiana.[8] In addition, the city and its metropolitan area became major centers for technology, health care and social services, aerospace, banking and retail from the latter 20th- and early 21st centuries.[9][12][13][14] As of 2021, the consolidated city–parish's top employers have been the Lafayette Parish School System, Lafayette General Health, Wood Group Production Services, Lafayette Consolidated Government, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, WHC, Inc., Walmart, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Schlumberger, and Stuller, Inc.[95] The University of Louisiana System's other institutions and its Lafayette campus have contributed to a $10.9 billion impact on the state's economy.[96] As one of the primary employers in Lafayette, the local university has made a statewide impact of $379 million in 2015.[97]

Prominent corporations with headquarters or a large presence in Lafayette have included or currently include Albertsons,[98] Amazon,[15][16] Brookshire Grocery Company,[17] CGI,[18] First Horizon Bank, JP Morgan Chase, LUSFiber, the Ochsner Health System,[19] Petroleum Helicopters International,[20] Perficient, and Rouses Markets.[21] Among these corporations, the Tennessee-based First Horizon Bank absorbed IberiaBank (a former Louisiana-based banking institution) in 2020.[99] Other notable corporations stimulating the city and metropolitan economies have been Lowe's,[100] Costco,[101] and various national retail and department stores in the Mall of Acadiana.

Ranking as one of the best places to retire in Louisiana according to Forbes in 2018,[102] Lafayette was also ranked one of the best places for businesses and careers in 2019; according to Forbes, it was #25 in the cost of doing business, #200 in job growth, and #175 in education nationwide.[103] Per U.S. News & World Report, its cost of living has contributed to it being ranked as the second best place to live in Louisiana.[104]

Culture

 
Alpha Blondy, from the Ivory Coast, performed in 2016 at Festival International de Louisiane

Located in Acadiana, Lafayette is a diverse city with a large and growing metropolitan population as of 2015.[48] The Lafayette metropolitan area has a large Louisiana Creole, Cajun, and substantial foreign-born population; an estimated 14,676 Lafayettiens were foreign-born residents in 2019.[105] Additionally, more than 36% of foreigners came from Asia from 2014 to 2019.

Many annual events celebrate the diverse cultures of Lafayette. Notable cultural gatherings have included the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles,[106] Festival International de Louisiane,[107] Boudin Cookoff and Bacon Fest,[108] the Cajun Heartland State Fair,[109] and Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette. Residents also celebrate their cultural identities through visiting Acadian Village or Vermilionville Historic Village. Highly regarded for its diverse food and restaurant culture, Lafayette has been regarded as having the fourth-most restaurants per capita in Louisiana since 2015.[110]

Home to the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory of Music, Chorale Acadienne, Lafayette Ballet Theatre and Dance Conservatory, the Lafayette Concert Band, and Performing Arts Society of Acadiana; as well as the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, Acadiana Center for the Arts and Heymann Performing Arts Center, Lafayette has hosted Tyler Perry's Madea's Farewell play in 2019.[111]

The 2018 television film, The Christmas Contract, set in Lafayette, features many Cajun Christmas customs. In the story line, Jolie Guidry (Hilarie Burton) dreads returning to her home town when she learns that her former boyfriend, Foster Broussard (Hunter Burke) will be present at social gatherings with his new love interest. Jolie persuades Jack (Robert Buckley) to be her "contracted" escort in Lafayette. Then romance blossoms between Jolie and Jack. Bruce Boxleitner plays Jolie's father, Tim.[112]

Sports

 
The Cajundome

Lafayette is home to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, the athletic teams of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.[113] Between 1995 and 2005, Lafayette was home to the Louisiana IceGators ECHL hockey team. In 2009, the IceGators returned as a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League until 2016.[114] Also from 2009 to 2012, Lafayette was home to the Lafayette Wildcatters of the Southern Indoor Football League.[115] It also became home to the Lafayette Bayou Bulls, a semipro football program started in 2003. The Lafayette SwampCats (1997–1999) and Lafayette Swamp Cats (2000–2004) soccer teams played in the city. The Cajun Soccer Club of the Gulf Coast Premier League was founded in 2013; Louisiana Krewe FC played in the Gulf Coast Premier League before joining USL League Two for its 2022 season.[116]

The Lafayette area is home to multiple sports venues: Blackham Coliseum, Cajundome, Cajun Field, Earl K. Long Gymnasium, Evangeline Downs, and Planet Ice Skating and Hockey Arena.

Lafayette was home to minor-league baseball teams in various seasons from 1907 to 2000. Lafayette was an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns 1936–1941, Chicago Cubs (1955–1957) and San Francisco Giants (1975–1976). The Lafayette Browns (1907), Lafayette Hubs (1920), Lafayette White Sox (1934–1942), Lafayette Bulls (1948–1953), Lafayette Oilers (1954–1957), Lafayette Drillers (1975–1976) and Bayou Bullfrogs (1998–2000) all played in Lafayette. The teams were members of the Gulf Coast League (1907), Louisiana State League (1920), Evangeline League (1934–1942, 1948–1957), Texas League (1975–1976) and Texas-Louisiana League (1998–2000). Lafayette teams played at Parkdale Park (1934–1942), Clark Field (1945–1957, 1975–1976) and Tigue Moore Field (1998–2000).[citation needed]

Government

 
Lafayette Parish Courthouse
 
John M. Shaw U.S. Courthouse

Lafayette has a consolidated city–parish government, known as the Lafayette Consolidated Government;[117] parish voters agreed to consolidation of the city and parish governments in 1996.[38][42] Lafayette's chief executive was initially called the city-parish president, but is now known as the mayor-president for the Lafayette Consolidated Government. Republican Josh Guillory was elected to this office most recently.[118]

The consolidation of the city and parish has been the subject of continuous public debate over the years. In 2011, a charter commission recommended deconsolidation, though parish voters rejected the recommendation. In 2018, voters separated the single city–parish council into a city council to represent the city of Lafayette and a parish council to represent Lafayette Parish. The mayor-president is still elected parishwide. In 2021, the city council passed a resolution calling for another charter commission to look at amendments to the charter and, if necessary, deconsolidation. The Lafayette Parish Council did not agree to the charter commission proposal.[43] Public works and other services, such as land use and plat review, are operated by the Lafayette Consolidated Government to serve the city of Lafayette and unincorporated areas of Lafayette Parish, and by contract some of the area municipalities. Zoning rules apply only within the city and unincorporated areas of Lafayette Parish.[119]

Some neighboring municipalities have adopted their own planning and zoning protocols. The suburban and rural cities and towns maintain independent city councils, local executives, police and fire departments, and other public services. The LPSS operates independently of any municipality, and its jurisdiction is coterminous with Lafayette Parish.[120]

Lafayette is home to a regional office of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and the headquarters of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, the state agency that oversees preservation and documentation of Louisiana French for tourism, economic development, culture, education, and the development of international relations with other Francophone regions and countries.[121]

Public safety

The city of Lafayette is primarily served by the Lafayette Police Department, though the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, Lafayette City Marshal, and University of Louisiana Police Department maintain jurisdiction throughout the city and surrounding area. Following nationwide COVID-19 trends from 2019 to 2020,[122] Lafayette has experienced a rise in violent crimes per the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2020, the city experienced 712 violent crimes up from 664 in 2019; according to a professor of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, violent crime was decreasing prior to the pandemic. In 2018 the city experienced 9 homicides, and 17 in 2020; for comparison, there were 195 homicides in New Orleans in 2020, and 100 in Baton Rouge.[123][124] Altogether, Lafayette ranked as the 20th safest city overall in Louisiana, and the safest of Louisiana's four largest municipalities in 2021.[125]

Media

See also: List of newspapers in Louisiana, List of radio stations in Louisiana, and List of television stations in Louisiana

Lafayette's major daily newspaper is The Daily Advertiser, owned by Gannett (publishers of USA Today). Established in 1865 as the Weekly Advertiser, it purchased the local alternative paper, The Times of Acadiana in 1998. Other prominent newspapers in the Lafayette area include Acadiana Profile,[126] Baton Rouge-based The Advocate and its local paper The Acadiana Advocate,[127] The Independent,[128] and UL-based The Vermilion.[129] The Current is a non-profit online news organization that has published since 2017.[130]

Licensing more than 22 FM and AM radio stations in its metropolitan area, Lafayette includes Valcour Records and ML1 Records in its metropolis.[131] Major television stations include KATC 3 (ABC), KLFY-TV (CBS), KLAF-LD (NBC), KADN-TV (Fox), and KLPB-TV (PBS). Other major stations serving the Lafayette area include Alexandria's KALB-TV (CBS and NBC), Baton Rouge's WBRZ (ABC), WAFB (CBS), WGMB-TV (Fox), WVLA-TV (NBC), and Lake Charles' KPLC-TV (NBC). According to Nielsen Media Research, the Lafayette television market was the 123rd largest in the United States as of 2019.[132]

Education

 
Stephens Hall at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, one of the edifices encircling the UL Quad
 
Fleur-de-lis fountain at UL Quad

Primary and secondary education

Main articles: List of schools in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana and Lafayette Public Library

Lafayette Parish School System is the largest primary and secondary education system for Lafayette and its metropolitan area. Covering the whole of Lafayette Parish, it has 45 schools: 25 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and eight high schools. The Lafayette Parish School System offers nine career academies at the high-school level, school curricula designed to prepare students in certain career fields.[133] Of note among the schools in this system are Lafayette High School and Acadiana High School, its two largest high schools by enrollment.[134][135]

A majority of the area's private parochial, K-12 schools are operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana.

Collegiate and university education

Its university, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, is the flagship university for the University of Louisiana System; as a national research institution and home to more than 18,000 students, over 100 programs, and the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, it is the second-largest university in the state behind Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Attempting unsuccessfully to change its name to the "University of Louisiana" previously, the university's moniker as "Louisiana" became points of contention, and the community colloquially refers to the institution as the University of Louisiana, dropping "Lafayette" from the name.[136][137]

One of the newest college systems in Louisiana, South Louisiana Community College, is headquartered in Lafayette. South Louisiana Community College partnered with Acadian Ambulance to form the National EMS Academy, which offers EMT-Basic and EMT-Paramedic certification. This community college is part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.[138] Louisiana Technical College (Lafayette campus) is part of the Louisiana Technical College System,[139] which in turn is part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. It offers associate degrees in several fields.[140] It is a vocational school that offers a few bachelor's-degree programs, many associate-degree programs, and a few diploma programs. Additionally, Lafayette is also home to the Lafayette campus of the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, a technical college that specializes in video game programming, art and animation, and SFX.[141]

Military

Lafayette is home to the Louisiana Army National Guard headquarters of the 256th Infantry Brigade, a military unit of more than 3,000 soldiers. The unit served in Iraq in 2004–2005. The brigade was deployed again in January 2010.[142] Until 2014, Lafayette was also home to the United States Marine Corps Reserve Unit, F. Co. Anti-Terrorism Battalion commanded by Captain Cole Clements. This unit went on several deployments, many related to the Iraq War. In 2014, F. Co. Anti-Terrorism Battalion was decommissioned, to be replaced with H&S Co. Det. 4 4th Tanks Tow and Scouts, 4th MARDIV.[142]

Transportation

Lafayette Regional Airport—located on U.S. Highway 90 (future Interstate 49), on the southeast side of the city with daily scheduled passenger airline services nonstop to Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and effective April 2, 2021 to Charlotte—is the primary airport for Acadiana. Charter services also depart Lafayette Regional as well as helicopter flights and cargo jets. A new airline passenger terminal at the Lafayette airport opened on January 20, 2022.[143]

Alongside its aerial transportation methods, Interstate 10 and Interstate 49 are the primary highways, with a passenger rail. The Amtrak Sunset Limited offers service three days a week from New Orleans and Los Angeles, California with selected stops in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Connections are available in New Orleans to Chicago and to the East Coast via Atlanta. Service eastward to Orlando, Florida remains suspended in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Greyhound also operates a station downtown on Lee Avenue with destinations east and west on I-10, north on I-49 and southeast on U.S. Hwy 90. The Lafayette Transit System (formerly City of Lafayette Transit (COLT)) provides bus service; public transportation is provided only within Lafayette's city limits.[citation needed]

There are certain areas within the city of Lafayette dedicated to growing into a bicycle-friendly community. The Lafayette MPO Bicycle Subcommittee meet once a month and has developed long-term goals for bicycling in the area. BikeLafayette is the area's bicycle advocacy organization which is very active in promoting bicycle awareness, safety, and education in Acadiana.[144][145] TRAIL is an organization that promotes bicycling, canoeing, and pedestrian activities. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has installed an off-road paved bicycle path beginning at its Horticultural Center on Johnston Street extending up Cajundome Boulevard to Eraste Landry Road.[146] A number of out of use bicycle/pedestrian sidewalk paths remain from the 1970s and 1980s but are unsigned. A recreational trail extending from Downtown Lafayette into the Cypress Island region of Saint Martin Parish is under development. This path will connect neighboring Breaux Bridge and Saint Martinville with Lafayette.

U.S. Route 90 (co-signed with Evangeline Thruway, Mudd Avenue and Cameron Street within the city limits) and U.S. Route 167 (co-signed with I-49, Evangeline Thruway and Johnston Street). Ambassador Caffery Parkway, named for Jefferson Caffery, serves as a partial loop connecting I-10 at Exit 100 on the west and U.S. 90 on the south. Other arterial roads include Verot School Road (LA 339), West Congress Street, Kaliste Saloom Road (LA 3095), Ridge Road, Carmel Drive/Breaux Bridge Highway (LA 94), University Avenue (LA 182), Pinhook Road (LA 182), Camellia Boulevard, Guilbeau Road, Moss Street, Willow Street, Louisiana Avenue, Pont Des Mouton Road, Eraste Landry Road, and South College Road.

Sister cities

Lafayette has seven sister cities:[147]

See also

References

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  146. ^ Douglas, Doug (2021-03-03). "UL Lafayette praised for having bicycle-friendly campus". KLFY. Nexstar Media. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  147. ^ . Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2009.

External links

  • Lafayette Consolidated Government 2013-09-16 at the Wayback Machine
  • One Acadiana – Former Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
  • Lafayette Conventions and Visitors Center

February 05, 2023
lafayette, louisiana, lafayette, ɑː, french, lafajɛt, city, state, louisiana, most, populous, city, parish, seat, lafayette, parish, located, along, vermilion, river, louisiana, fourth, largest, incorporated, municipality, population, with, 2020, census, popul. Lafayette ˌ l ɑː f iː ˈ ɛ t ˌ l ae f French lafajɛt is a city in the U S state of Louisiana and the most populous city and parish seat of Lafayette Parish 3 located along the Vermilion River It is Louisiana s fourth largest incorporated municipality by population with a 2020 census population of 121 374 4 the consolidated city parish s population was 241 753 in 2020 5 The Lafayette metropolitan area was Louisiana s third largest metropolitan statistical area with a population of 478 384 at the 2020 census 6 The Acadiana region containing Lafayette is the largest population and economic corridor between Houston Texas and New Orleans Lafayette LouisianaConsolidated city parishFrom top left to right Downtown Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist Charles H Mouton House Old Lafayette City Hall Cajundome First United Methodist ChurchFlagSealLogoNickname The Hub CityMotto The Heart of Cajun CountryInteractive maps of LafayetteCoordinates 30 13 N 92 2 W 30 217 N 92 033 W 30 217 92 033 Coordinates 30 13 N 92 2 W 30 217 N 92 033 W 30 217 92 033CountryUnited StatesStateLouisianaParishLafayetteFounded1821 as VermilionvilleRenamed1884 as LafayetteFounded byJean MoutonNamed forGeneral Gilbert du Motier Marquis de LafayetteGovernment TypeConsolidated city parish MayorJosh Guillory R Area 1 Total56 00 sq mi 145 03 km2 Land55 92 sq mi 144 83 km2 Water0 08 sq mi 0 20 km2 auto Metro3 408 5 sq mi 8 828 km2 Elevation49 ft 15 m Population 2020 Total121 374 RankUS 234th Density2 170 57 sq mi 838 07 km2 Urban227 316 US 172nd 2 Urban density1 410 1 sq mi 544 4 km2 Metro478 384 US 118th CSA627 146 US 77th Consolidated244 390DemonymLafayettienTime zoneUTC 6 CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT ZIP codes70501 9 70593 70596 70598Area code337FIPS code22 40735Websitewww wbr lafayettela wbr govOriginally established as Vermilionville in the 1820s and incorporated in 1836 7 Lafayette developed as an agricultural community until the introduction of retail and entertainment centers and the discovery of oil in the area in the 1940s Since the discovery of oil the city and parish have had the highest number of workers in the oil and natural gas industry in Louisiana as of 2018 8 With the issuance of a bond ordinance for a series of roads connecting nearby settlements the establishment of the University of Louisiana System s Lafayette campus and the continued diversification of its economy Lafayette and its metropolitan area have experienced population growth since the 1840 census and was promptly nicknamed The Hub City 9 10 The city and parish of Lafayette are also known as the Heart of Acadiana 11 As a result of its growth the city and region have become major centers for the technology industry 12 13 Lafayette also became a major center for health care and social services aerospace banking and retail 14 Notable corporations with headquarters or a large presence in the Lafayette area have included Amazon 15 16 Brookshire Grocery Company 17 CGI 18 JP Morgan Chase Ochsner Health System 19 Petroleum Helicopters International 20 and Rouses Markets 21 Lafayette is home to a diverse population from Louisiana Creole and Cajun backgrounds 22 In 2014 Lafayette was named the Happiest City in America 23 24 The city and region s cultural icons include Alexandre Mouton House Brandt House Charles H Mouton House the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist Daigle House First United Methodist Church Holy Rosary Institute Hope Lodge No 145 and Old Lafayette City Hall Its educational institutions include the University of Louisiana at Lafayette South Louisiana Community College and Remington College Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2 1 Colonization and settlement 2 2 Municipal incorporation 2 3 Growth and consolidation 3 Geography 3 1 Cityscape 3 2 Climate 4 Demographics 4 1 Sexual orientation and gender identity 4 2 Religion 5 Economy 6 Culture 7 Sports 8 Government 8 1 Public safety 9 Media 10 Education 10 1 Primary and secondary education 10 2 Collegiate and university education 11 Military 12 Transportation 13 Sister cities 14 See also 15 References 16 External linksEtymology EditLafayette is named after Marquis de Lafayette 25 Little is known about early settlements or if the area had a different name prior to European colonization The city was originally founded in 1821 as Vermilionville History EditMain article History of Lafayette Louisiana Colonization and settlement Edit The Attakapa Native Americans inhabited this area at the time of the first European encounter French colonists founded the first European settlement Petit Manchac a trading post along the Vermilion River 26 In the mid to late eighteenth century numerous Acadian refugees settled in this area 27 after being expelled from Canada after Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years War 28 They intermarried with other settlers forming what became known as Cajun culture which maintained use of the French language and adherence to the Roman Catholic Church 29 30 Municipal incorporation Edit Jean Mouton an Acadian settler donated land to the Roman Church for construction of a small Catholic chapel at this site In 1824 this area was selected for the Lafayette Parish seat and was named Vermilionville 7 for its location on the river in 1836 the Louisiana State Legislature approved its incorporation The area was initially developed by Europeans for agriculture primarily sugar plantations which depended on the labor of numerous enslaved Africans and African Americans They made up a large percentage of the antebellum population 26 According to U S census data in 1830 some 41 percent of the population of Lafayette Parish was enslaved 31 By 1860 the enslaved population had increased to 49 6 percent Some free people of color lived in Lafayette Parish as well 32 33 they made up 3 percent to a low of 2 4 percent between 1830 and 1860 In 1884 Vermilionville was renamed for General Lafayette a French aristocrat who had fought with and significantly aided the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War 34 The city and parish economy continued to be based on agriculture into the early 20th century After the American Civil War most of the labor was done by freedmen who worked as sharecroppers From the 1930s mechanization of agriculture began to reduce the need for farm workers 35 Growth and consolidation Edit By 1898 the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was established in the city as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute It opened in 1901 and changed its name to the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1960 36 The university s current name was chosen in 1999 In the 1940s after oil was discovered in the parish the petroleum and natural gas industries expanded to dominate the economy By 2018 Lafayette had the highest number of oil and natural gas industry workers in the state 8 Since the latter half of the 20th century Lafayette has hosted the Festivals Acadiens et Creoles and was candidate as site for the New Orleans Pelicans NBA G League team in 2017 37 In 1996 the city and parish consolidated 38 39 40 41 the governments of the city and parish were merged though five other incorporated municipalities continued to operate with their own municipal governments and departments Since the beginning of the 21st century a committee proposed the deconsolidation of the city and parish 42 43 44 In 2015 the city of Lafayette gained international attention for a mass shooting and murder suicide at Grand 16 Theater 45 46 this mass shooting spurred further discussion and debate on gun control in the United States 47 During 2015 the Lafayette metropolitan area also overtook the Shreveport Bossier City metropolitan area by population becoming Louisiana s third largest metropolitan region 48 Geography EditMain article Geography of Lafayette Louisiana The city of Lafayette is located at 30 13 N 92 2 W 30 217 N 92 033 W 30 217 92 033 30 2139 92 0294 49 in southern Louisiana s Acadiana region on the Gulf Coast of the United States It was part of the seabed during the earlier Quaternary period During this time the Mississippi River cut a 325 foot deep 99 m valley between what is now Lafayette and Baton Rouge This valley was filled and is now the Atchafalaya Basin The city is located on the western rim of this valley The Lafayette area is part of the southwestern Louisiana Prairie Terrace it is higher and not made of wetlands like much of the surrounding areas to the south and west of Lafayette Lafayette does not suffer significant flooding problems outside of local flash flooding Lafayette has developed on both sides of the Vermilion River Other significant waterways in the city are Isaac Verot Coulee Coulee Mine Coulee des Poches and Coulee Ile des Cannes which are natural drainage canals that lead to the Vermilion River 50 Lafayette lies approximately 135 miles 217 km from New Orleans 51 59 miles 95 km from the state capital of Baton Rouge 52 75 miles 121 km from Lake Charles 53 and 89 miles 143 km from Alexandria 54 The city has an elevation ranging from 36 feet 11 0 m to 49 feet 15 m above sea level 55 56 According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 55 65 square miles 144 1 km2 of which 55 57 square miles 143 9 km2 is land and 0 08 sq mi 0 21 km2 0 19 percent is covered by water 57 Cityscape Edit Panorama of Downtown Lafayette 2021 The city of Lafayette s architecture is diverse with a collection of more than eight downtown structures listed within the National Register of Historic Places Downtown Lafayette landmarks include Old Lafayette City Hall and the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist Near these structures Chase and Doubletree have been the area s tallest buildings at 15 and 16 stories With the announcement of the latest addition to the city in over 40 years two high rise towers were planned and would stand 4 stories higher 58 In October 2021 it was announced only one high rise tower would be constructed citing lack of interest in condominiums within the area 59 60 the project was halted in January 2022 citing further difficulties 61 The attempted construction of new high rises within the heart of the city followed efforts to redevelop the downtown area in the 2010s and attract further residents 62 63 Alongside high rise construction projects throughout the downtown area a 70 unit apartment development began in early 2022 spurring continued interest in urban development 64 Climate Edit Lafayette s climate is described as humid subtropical using Koppen climate classification It has year round precipitation especially during summertime Lafayette s highest temperature was 107 F 42 C it has hot moist summers and warm damp winters Climate data for Lafayette Regional Airport Louisiana 1991 2020 normals extremes 1893 present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 87 31 87 31 93 34 93 34 98 37 106 41 107 42 104 40 103 39 98 37 92 33 89 32 107 42 Mean maximum F C 76 4 24 7 78 1 25 6 82 7 28 2 86 9 30 5 92 0 33 3 95 3 35 2 96 6 35 9 97 6 36 4 94 9 34 9 90 4 32 4 83 7 28 7 79 1 26 2 98 3 36 8 Average high F C 62 2 16 8 66 1 18 9 72 6 22 6 79 0 26 1 85 9 29 9 90 2 32 3 91 5 33 1 92 3 33 5 89 0 31 7 81 3 27 4 71 5 21 9 64 4 18 0 78 8 26 0 Daily mean F C 52 8 11 6 56 8 13 8 62 9 17 2 69 2 20 7 76 5 24 7 81 6 27 6 83 3 28 5 83 5 28 6 79 7 26 5 70 7 21 5 60 8 16 0 54 9 12 7 69 4 20 8 Average low F C 43 5 6 4 47 4 8 6 53 3 11 8 59 3 15 2 67 2 19 6 73 1 22 8 75 1 23 9 74 7 23 7 70 4 21 3 60 1 15 6 50 2 10 1 45 3 7 4 60 0 15 6 Mean minimum F C 26 4 3 1 32 0 0 0 35 1 1 7 42 7 5 9 54 3 12 4 66 0 18 9 70 6 21 4 69 1 20 6 57 9 14 4 42 8 6 0 33 0 0 6 29 2 1 6 24 6 4 1 Record low F C 10 12 6 14 22 6 32 0 42 6 51 11 59 15 58 14 41 5 27 3 21 6 9 13 6 14 Average precipitation inches mm 5 92 150 4 07 103 3 72 94 4 91 125 5 44 138 7 09 180 6 27 159 6 26 159 5 02 128 4 76 121 4 39 112 4 96 126 62 81 1 595 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 10 0 9 3 8 7 7 5 8 4 12 2 14 1 12 2 9 4 7 6 8 3 9 8 117 5Source NOAA 65 66 Demographics EditHistorical populationCensus Pop 1860498 187077756 0 18808154 9 18902 106158 4 19003 31457 4 19106 39292 9 19207 85522 9 193014 63586 3 194019 21031 3 195033 54174 6 196040 40020 4 197068 90870 6 198080 58416 9 199094 44017 2 2000110 25716 7 2010120 6239 4 2020121 3740 6 U S Decennial Census 67 Racial and ethnic composition 2020 68 2010 69 2000 69 Non Hispanic Latino white 56 95 63 78 68 50 African Americans 30 5 31 11 28 25 Hispanic or Latino of any race 6 2 3 76 1 88 Asian Americans 2 58 1 81 1 42 Pacific Islander 0 03 n a n aTwo or more races 3 45 1 68 0 98 Attakapa Native Americans were the primary residents of the Lafayette area before French colonization concentrated along the Vermilion River 26 After the Louisiana Purchase American settlers began moving into the area and intermarrying among the French enslaved Africans and free people of color Since 1860 Lafayette has grown from 498 to 121 374 residents at the 2020 U S census 4 70 Following the American Community Survey s 5 year estimates program the city has continued population growth with an additional 2020 estimate at 126 674 residents 71 With the migration and population growth of European African and multiracial Americans since early settlement the racial and ethnic makeup of the city has been predominantly non Hispanic or Latino white Black or African American multiracial and Asian 72 73 French German English American Irish and Italian were the largest European ancestry groups among the non Hispanic or Latino white population 74 Asian settlers arrived during the establishment of Filipino communities along the coast of Louisiana primarily in the Greater New Orleans area and the city and area s Hispanic and Latino American population have existed since Spanish colonization of Louisiana citation needed According to 2021 estimates from the U S Census Bureau its non Hispanic or Latino white population have been prevalent throughout the city proper s geographic foothold with exception to its northern neighborhoods 75 More than 34 of its Hispanic and Latino American population lived in the central west portion of the city and Black and African Americans primarily dominated the northern half of Lafayette city proper Its Asian American community was dispersed throughout the whole city alongside multiracial Americans and people of other races and ethnicities primarily lived near downtown or the city s border with Carencro Having historic growth from the 20th and 21st centuries attributed primarily to the oil and gas industry the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Acadiana tourism 76 an estimated 3 8 percent of the city s population was foreign born from 2014 to 2019 of the foreign born population 33 6 percent were naturalized U S citizens 74 Altogether English French and Spanish were the most spoken languages at home among the native and foreign born populations 77 Poverty remaining an issue in the city with an estimated 18 6 percent at or below the national poverty threshold in 2019 78 the median income for a family was 54 139 in 2020 and Lafayettiens had a mean household income of 79 216 79 among non family households the median income stood at 34 588 The city had an employment rate of 60 4 percent up from the state s 55 4 percent from 2014 to 2019 80 Sexual orientation and gender identity Edit While in the predominantly conservative southern U S Lafayette has maintained a substantial lesbian gay bisexual and transgender community since at least 1969 when some members of the Mystic Krewe of Apollo a gay cultural social and service organization in New Orleans arrived in the city 81 The area s LGBT population have described Acadiana as welcoming though some members of the community in the 1970s declined to be photographed at public and private LGBT events 82 While regarded as welcoming Lafayette s government was once under the Human Rights Campaign Foundation s focus regarding non discrimination in city employment a local government spokesperson responded with reports of no complaints from the local LGBT community 83 Religion Edit St John s Cathedral see of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana In common with Louisiana s religious demographic Lafayette and its metropolitan area are predominantly religious dominated by Christianity 84 According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 the Catholic Church was the single largest Christian denomination with a reported 212 013 adherents and Protestants were the largest collective Christian group Among Protestant Christians the largest were non denominational Christians with 26 860 adherents Southern Baptists with 22 324 Progressive National Baptists with 19 324 United Methodists with 8 401 and Assemblies of God USA with 6 704 adherents 84 Owing in part to Spanish and French colonialism and missionary work Christians have historically affiliated with the Latin Church s Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana was founded in 1918 and its see is the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist 85 Within the local Protestant traditions Baptists have been the primary historic Protestant body affiliated toward the National Baptist Convention USA Inc and Progressive National Baptist Convention have been the city and region s historically Black or African American Baptist denominations though the Church of God in Christ has also been a historically prominent African American Protestant body 86 Mormons Lutherans and Presbyterians have also maintained minority presences within the Lafayette municipal and metropolitan communities Christians of other traditions including the Jehovah s Witnesses and united and uniting churches have been present in the city s metropolitan area since the 20th century 87 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the oldest nontrinitarian Christian denomination in Lafayette and has one church in the city limits the closest LDS churches outside of Lafayette are in New Iberia and Opelousas 88 There has been one Antiochian Orthodox jurisdiction operating since 2004 89 there is also a Coptic Orthodox mission under the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States 90 Altogether the Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Churches and non mainstream Protestantism have constituted a significant minority in contrast to Catholic and Baptist missionary work In a separate religious study by Sperling s BestPlaces in 2020 91 Judaism and Islam were tied as the second largest non Christian religions within Lafayette and its metropolitan area Jews began immigrating to the area in the 1800s 92 and one of Louisiana s oldest continuously operated synagogues Temple Shalom has been present in the city since 1869 The historic synagogue of Temple Shalom originally functioned as an Orthodox Jewish congregation before joining the Reform Judaism movement 93 Lafayette s Jewish community has assisted in economic and cultural development of the area since their arrival 94 Economy Edit IberiaBank now First Horizon Bank tower downtown Lafayette Established and occupied as an agricultural community until the 1940s Lafayette became a center of the oil and natural gas industry in Louisiana 8 In addition the city and its metropolitan area became major centers for technology health care and social services aerospace banking and retail from the latter 20th and early 21st centuries 9 12 13 14 As of 2021 the consolidated city parish s top employers have been the Lafayette Parish School System Lafayette General Health Wood Group Production Services Lafayette Consolidated Government the University of Louisiana at Lafayette WHC Inc Walmart Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center Schlumberger and Stuller Inc 95 The University of Louisiana System s other institutions and its Lafayette campus have contributed to a 10 9 billion impact on the state s economy 96 As one of the primary employers in Lafayette the local university has made a statewide impact of 379 million in 2015 97 Prominent corporations with headquarters or a large presence in Lafayette have included or currently include Albertsons 98 Amazon 15 16 Brookshire Grocery Company 17 CGI 18 First Horizon Bank JP Morgan Chase LUSFiber the Ochsner Health System 19 Petroleum Helicopters International 20 Perficient and Rouses Markets 21 Among these corporations the Tennessee based First Horizon Bank absorbed IberiaBank a former Louisiana based banking institution in 2020 99 Other notable corporations stimulating the city and metropolitan economies have been Lowe s 100 Costco 101 and various national retail and department stores in the Mall of Acadiana Ranking as one of the best places to retire in Louisiana according to Forbes in 2018 102 Lafayette was also ranked one of the best places for businesses and careers in 2019 according to Forbes it was 25 in the cost of doing business 200 in job growth and 175 in education nationwide 103 Per U S News amp World Report its cost of living has contributed to it being ranked as the second best place to live in Louisiana 104 Culture Edit Alpha Blondy from the Ivory Coast performed in 2016 at Festival International de Louisiane Located in Acadiana Lafayette is a diverse city with a large and growing metropolitan population as of 2015 48 The Lafayette metropolitan area has a large Louisiana Creole Cajun and substantial foreign born population an estimated 14 676 Lafayettiens were foreign born residents in 2019 105 Additionally more than 36 of foreigners came from Asia from 2014 to 2019 Many annual events celebrate the diverse cultures of Lafayette Notable cultural gatherings have included the Festivals Acadiens et Creoles 106 Festival International de Louisiane 107 Boudin Cookoff and Bacon Fest 108 the Cajun Heartland State Fair 109 and Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette Residents also celebrate their cultural identities through visiting Acadian Village or Vermilionville Historic Village Highly regarded for its diverse food and restaurant culture Lafayette has been regarded as having the fourth most restaurants per capita in Louisiana since 2015 110 Home to the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory of Music Chorale Acadienne Lafayette Ballet Theatre and Dance Conservatory the Lafayette Concert Band and Performing Arts Society of Acadiana as well as the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum Acadiana Center for the Arts and Heymann Performing Arts Center Lafayette has hosted Tyler Perry s Madea s Farewell play in 2019 111 The 2018 television film The Christmas Contract set in Lafayette features many Cajun Christmas customs In the story line Jolie Guidry Hilarie Burton dreads returning to her home town when she learns that her former boyfriend Foster Broussard Hunter Burke will be present at social gatherings with his new love interest Jolie persuades Jack Robert Buckley to be her contracted escort in Lafayette Then romance blossoms between Jolie and Jack Bruce Boxleitner plays Jolie s father Tim 112 Sports Edit The Cajundome Lafayette is home to the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns the athletic teams of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette 113 Between 1995 and 2005 Lafayette was home to the Louisiana IceGators ECHL hockey team In 2009 the IceGators returned as a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League until 2016 114 Also from 2009 to 2012 Lafayette was home to the Lafayette Wildcatters of the Southern Indoor Football League 115 It also became home to the Lafayette Bayou Bulls a semipro football program started in 2003 The Lafayette SwampCats 1997 1999 and Lafayette Swamp Cats 2000 2004 soccer teams played in the city The Cajun Soccer Club of the Gulf Coast Premier League was founded in 2013 Louisiana Krewe FC played in the Gulf Coast Premier League before joining USL League Two for its 2022 season 116 The Lafayette area is home to multiple sports venues Blackham Coliseum Cajundome Cajun Field Earl K Long Gymnasium Evangeline Downs and Planet Ice Skating and Hockey Arena Lafayette was home to minor league baseball teams in various seasons from 1907 to 2000 Lafayette was an affiliate of the St Louis Browns 1936 1941 Chicago Cubs 1955 1957 and San Francisco Giants 1975 1976 The Lafayette Browns 1907 Lafayette Hubs 1920 Lafayette White Sox 1934 1942 Lafayette Bulls 1948 1953 Lafayette Oilers 1954 1957 Lafayette Drillers 1975 1976 and Bayou Bullfrogs 1998 2000 all played in Lafayette The teams were members of the Gulf Coast League 1907 Louisiana State League 1920 Evangeline League 1934 1942 1948 1957 Texas League 1975 1976 and Texas Louisiana League 1998 2000 Lafayette teams played at Parkdale Park 1934 1942 Clark Field 1945 1957 1975 1976 and Tigue Moore Field 1998 2000 citation needed Government Edit Lafayette Parish Courthouse John M Shaw U S Courthouse Lafayette has a consolidated city parish government known as the Lafayette Consolidated Government 117 parish voters agreed to consolidation of the city and parish governments in 1996 38 42 Lafayette s chief executive was initially called the city parish president but is now known as the mayor president for the Lafayette Consolidated Government Republican Josh Guillory was elected to this office most recently 118 The consolidation of the city and parish has been the subject of continuous public debate over the years In 2011 a charter commission recommended deconsolidation though parish voters rejected the recommendation In 2018 voters separated the single city parish council into a city council to represent the city of Lafayette and a parish council to represent Lafayette Parish The mayor president is still elected parishwide In 2021 the city council passed a resolution calling for another charter commission to look at amendments to the charter and if necessary deconsolidation The Lafayette Parish Council did not agree to the charter commission proposal 43 Public works and other services such as land use and plat review are operated by the Lafayette Consolidated Government to serve the city of Lafayette and unincorporated areas of Lafayette Parish and by contract some of the area municipalities Zoning rules apply only within the city and unincorporated areas of Lafayette Parish 119 Some neighboring municipalities have adopted their own planning and zoning protocols The suburban and rural cities and towns maintain independent city councils local executives police and fire departments and other public services The LPSS operates independently of any municipality and its jurisdiction is coterminous with Lafayette Parish 120 Lafayette is home to a regional office of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the headquarters of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana the state agency that oversees preservation and documentation of Louisiana French for tourism economic development culture education and the development of international relations with other Francophone regions and countries 121 Public safety Edit The city of Lafayette is primarily served by the Lafayette Police Department though the Lafayette Parish Sheriff s Office Lafayette City Marshal and University of Louisiana Police Department maintain jurisdiction throughout the city and surrounding area Following nationwide COVID 19 trends from 2019 to 2020 122 Lafayette has experienced a rise in violent crimes per the Federal Bureau of Investigation In 2020 the city experienced 712 violent crimes up from 664 in 2019 according to a professor of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette violent crime was decreasing prior to the pandemic In 2018 the city experienced 9 homicides and 17 in 2020 for comparison there were 195 homicides in New Orleans in 2020 and 100 in Baton Rouge 123 124 Altogether Lafayette ranked as the 20th safest city overall in Louisiana and the safest of Louisiana s four largest municipalities in 2021 125 Media EditSee also List of newspapers in Louisiana List of radio stations in Louisiana and List of television stations in LouisianaLafayette s major daily newspaper is The Daily Advertiser owned by Gannett publishers of USA Today Established in 1865 as the Weekly Advertiser it purchased the local alternative paper The Times of Acadiana in 1998 Other prominent newspapers in the Lafayette area include Acadiana Profile 126 Baton Rouge based The Advocate and its local paper The Acadiana Advocate 127 The Independent 128 and UL based The Vermilion 129 The Current is a non profit online news organization that has published since 2017 130 Licensing more than 22 FM and AM radio stations in its metropolitan area Lafayette includes Valcour Records and ML1 Records in its metropolis 131 Major television stations include KATC 3 ABC KLFY TV CBS KLAF LD NBC KADN TV Fox and KLPB TV PBS Other major stations serving the Lafayette area include Alexandria s KALB TV CBS and NBC Baton Rouge s WBRZ ABC WAFB CBS WGMB TV Fox WVLA TV NBC and Lake Charles KPLC TV NBC According to Nielsen Media Research the Lafayette television market was the 123rd largest in the United States as of 2019 132 Education Edit Stephens Hall at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette one of the edifices encircling the UL Quad Fleur de lis fountain at UL Quad Primary and secondary education Edit Main articles List of schools in Lafayette Parish Louisiana and Lafayette Public Library Lafayette Parish School System is the largest primary and secondary education system for Lafayette and its metropolitan area Covering the whole of Lafayette Parish it has 45 schools 25 elementary schools 12 middle schools and eight high schools The Lafayette Parish School System offers nine career academies at the high school level school curricula designed to prepare students in certain career fields 133 Of note among the schools in this system are Lafayette High School and Acadiana High School its two largest high schools by enrollment 134 135 A majority of the area s private parochial K 12 schools are operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana Collegiate and university education Edit Its university the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the flagship university for the University of Louisiana System as a national research institution and home to more than 18 000 students over 100 programs and the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns it is the second largest university in the state behind Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge Attempting unsuccessfully to change its name to the University of Louisiana previously the university s moniker as Louisiana became points of contention and the community colloquially refers to the institution as the University of Louisiana dropping Lafayette from the name 136 137 One of the newest college systems in Louisiana South Louisiana Community College is headquartered in Lafayette South Louisiana Community College partnered with Acadian Ambulance to form the National EMS Academy which offers EMT Basic and EMT Paramedic certification This community college is part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System 138 Louisiana Technical College Lafayette campus is part of the Louisiana Technical College System 139 which in turn is part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System It offers associate degrees in several fields 140 It is a vocational school that offers a few bachelor s degree programs many associate degree programs and a few diploma programs Additionally Lafayette is also home to the Lafayette campus of the Academy of Interactive Entertainment a technical college that specializes in video game programming art and animation and SFX 141 Military EditLafayette is home to the Louisiana Army National Guard headquarters of the 256th Infantry Brigade a military unit of more than 3 000 soldiers The unit served in Iraq in 2004 2005 The brigade was deployed again in January 2010 142 Until 2014 Lafayette was also home to the United States Marine Corps Reserve Unit F Co Anti Terrorism Battalion commanded by Captain Cole Clements This unit went on several deployments many related to the Iraq War In 2014 F Co Anti Terrorism Battalion was decommissioned to be replaced with H amp S Co Det 4 4th Tanks Tow and Scouts 4th MARDIV 142 Transportation EditLafayette Regional Airport located on U S Highway 90 future Interstate 49 on the southeast side of the city with daily scheduled passenger airline services nonstop to Atlanta Dallas Fort Worth Houston and effective April 2 2021 to Charlotte is the primary airport for Acadiana Charter services also depart Lafayette Regional as well as helicopter flights and cargo jets A new airline passenger terminal at the Lafayette airport opened on January 20 2022 143 Alongside its aerial transportation methods Interstate 10 and Interstate 49 are the primary highways with a passenger rail The Amtrak Sunset Limited offers service three days a week from New Orleans and Los Angeles California with selected stops in Louisiana Texas New Mexico Arizona and California Connections are available in New Orleans to Chicago and to the East Coast via Atlanta Service eastward to Orlando Florida remains suspended in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina Greyhound also operates a station downtown on Lee Avenue with destinations east and west on I 10 north on I 49 and southeast on U S Hwy 90 The Lafayette Transit System formerly City of Lafayette Transit COLT provides bus service public transportation is provided only within Lafayette s city limits citation needed There are certain areas within the city of Lafayette dedicated to growing into a bicycle friendly community The Lafayette MPO Bicycle Subcommittee meet once a month and has developed long term goals for bicycling in the area BikeLafayette is the area s bicycle advocacy organization which is very active in promoting bicycle awareness safety and education in Acadiana 144 145 TRAIL is an organization that promotes bicycling canoeing and pedestrian activities The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has installed an off road paved bicycle path beginning at its Horticultural Center on Johnston Street extending up Cajundome Boulevard to Eraste Landry Road 146 A number of out of use bicycle pedestrian sidewalk paths remain from the 1970s and 1980s but are unsigned A recreational trail extending from Downtown Lafayette into the Cypress Island region of Saint Martin Parish is under development This path will connect neighboring Breaux Bridge and Saint Martinville with Lafayette U S Route 90 co signed with Evangeline Thruway Mudd Avenue and Cameron Street within the city limits and U S Route 167 co signed with I 49 Evangeline Thruway and Johnston Street Ambassador Caffery Parkway named for Jefferson Caffery serves as a partial loop connecting I 10 at Exit 100 on the west and U S 90 on the south Other arterial roads include Verot School Road LA 339 West Congress Street Kaliste Saloom Road LA 3095 Ridge Road Carmel Drive Breaux Bridge Highway LA 94 University Avenue LA 182 Pinhook Road LA 182 Camellia Boulevard Guilbeau Road Moss Street Willow Street Louisiana Avenue Pont Des Mouton Road Eraste Landry Road and South College Road Sister cities EditLafayette has seven sister cities 147 Le Cannet Alpes Maritimes Provence Alpes Cote d Azur France twinned May 26 1967 Longueuil Quebec Canada twinned December 3 1968 Moncton New Brunswick Canada twinned October 19 1971 Poitiers Vienne Nouvelle Aquitaine France twinned April 22 1975 Namur Namur Province Belgium twinned June 19 1979 Agnibilekrou Ivory Coast twinned October 5 1999 Centla Mexico twinned November 4 2013 See also Edit United States portal Louisiana portalList of people from Lafayette Louisiana Youngsville LouisianaReferences Edit 2020 U S Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau Retrieved March 20 2022 List of 2020 Census Urban Areas census gov United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 7 2023 Lafayette Parish The official website of Louisiana Government of Louisiana Retrieved 2021 10 10 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b QuickFacts Lafayette city Louisiana United States Census Bureau 2020 Retrieved August 14 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link QuickFacts Lafayette Parish Louisiana United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2021 10 10 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link 2020 Population and Housing State Data United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2021 10 10 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Griffin Harry 23 September 2010 The Attakapas Country A History of Lafayette Parish Louisiana Pelican Publishing p 33 ISBN 9781455600465 a b c Louisiana s Oil and Natural Gas Insutry Still the Foundation of Lafayette s Economy Grow Louisiana Coalition 2018 05 08 Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b There s a Reason They Call Lafayette Louisiana The Hub City Innovation amp Tech Today Innovative Properties Worldwide 2018 01 24 Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Lynn Guidry Architect And Historian of Lafayette Parish Discover Lafayette 2017 10 01 Retrieved 2021 12 07 What Are the Nicknames for Many Louisiana Towns News Radio 710 KEEL Townsquare Media Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b As the tech industry grows in Acadiana the race is on both locally and nationally for talent The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate February 3 2019 Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Tech company SchoolMint to move operations to Lafayette creating 178 jobs with average salary of 74K The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate July 27 2020 Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b 20 Biggest Companies In Lafayette LA Zippia www zippia com Retrieved 2021 02 22 a b Amazon building massive fulfillment center in Lafayette Parish WAFB Gray Television December 22 2020 Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b What we know about Amazon s new Louisiana fulfillment center KLFY Nexstar Media 2020 12 29 Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Super 1 Foods Locations Brookshire Grocery Company a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Three New Companies Move to the Silicon Bayou Community Broadband Networks Institute for Local Self Reliance Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Lafayette General Health Joins Ochsner Health Online Newsroom Ochsner Health System Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b PHI Inc PHI Inc The Total Helicopter Company Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Locations Rouses Supermarkets Rouses Supermarkets Retrieved 2021 06 04 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Wyatt Megan April 1 2020 New origin options for 2020 census could provide useful Cajun Creole data The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2021 06 04 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Lafayette named the happiest city in U S The Daily Advertiser Gannett July 21 2014 Retrieved 2021 06 04 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Lafayette LA Happiest City in America Town Square Publications 2019 03 07 Retrieved 2021 06 04 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Why Has America Named So Many Places After a French Nobleman Essay Zocalo Public Square 2017 06 22 Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b c Martin Michael 2007 Historic Lafayette An Illustrated History of Lafayette amp Lafayette Parish San Antonio Texas Historical Publishing Network pp 5 7 10 11 ISBN 9781893619760 Timeline of the Acadians Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved July 31 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link From Acadian to Cajun Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve U S National Park Service Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link History of Cajun Country pages cs wisc edu University of Wisconsin Madison Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Cajuns 64 Parishes Retrieved 2021 07 31 Written at Duff Green Abstract of the Fifth Census of the United States PDF Washington DC House of Representatives United States of America 1832 Free People of Color in Louisiana Louisiana State University Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Ambroise Trevian From the shadows of the free people of color a look into the historic Freetown The Vermilion Retrieved 2021 07 31 Niles Weekly Register BALTIMORE June 26 1824 LAFAYETTE Blackmon Douglas Slavery by Another Name The University University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2012 12 20 Retrieved 2021 07 31 Magee Patrick April 7 2017 As Pelicans eye Gulfport can the NBA D League work on the Coast SunHerald McClatchy Retrieved July 31 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Daily Geoff 2020 11 09 COLUMN The city of Lafayette is trapped in consolidated government The Current Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Taylor Claire Deconsolidation still leaves Lafayette parish broke former charter commissioners predict The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Maloyed Christie 2018 12 05 Consolidation was about money Fixing it is about democracy The Current Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Pierce Walter 3 January 2015 Consolidation Remains Our Achilles Heel The Independent Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Taylor Claire Lafayette committee ends work recommending charter commission deconsolidation The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Capps Andrew Lafayette Parish Council escalates deconsolidation fight with new commission The Daily Advertiser Gannett Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Auzenne Ian Lafayette Parish Council Creates Council to Review Consolidation KPEL 96 5 Town Square Publications Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Louisiana cinema shooting Lafayette gunman had violent past BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 2015 07 24 Retrieved 2021 11 21 Shapiro Emily Liddy Tom 2015 07 24 Lafayette Louisiana Movie Theater Gunman Was Intent on Shooting and Escaping ABC News American Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 2021 11 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Crilly Rob 2015 07 24 Two dead in cinema shooting as Obama says he was stymied on gun control The Telegraph Retrieved 2021 11 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Goff Jessica Lafayette now third largest metro area in the state The Daily Advertiser Gannett Retrieved 2021 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link US Gazetteer files 2010 2000 and 1990 United States Census Bureau February 12 2011 Retrieved 2011 04 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Official Drainage Map Lafayette Parish PDF June 5 2018 Retrieved 2020 02 01 Distance between Lafayette LA and New Orleans LA www distance cities com Retrieved 2021 07 31 Distance between Lafayette LA and Baton Rouge LA www distance cities com Retrieved 2021 07 31 Distance between Lafayette LA and Lake Charles LA www distance cities com Retrieved 2021 07 31 Distance between Lafayette LA and Alexandria LA www distance cities com Retrieved 2021 07 31 US Board on Geographic Names United States Geological Survey October 25 2007 Retrieved 2008 01 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Geographic coordinates of Lafayette Latitude longitude and elevation above sea level of Lafayette Louisiana USA dateandtime info Retrieved 2021 07 31 Census profile Lafayette LA Census Reporter Retrieved 2021 07 31 Lewis Scott Zeringue Neale 2021 06 24 Double 20 floor high rise towers planned for downtown Lafayette KLFY Nexstar Media Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Daigle Adam Plans for Seven16 Tower in downtown Lafayette toned down now to feature one tower The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2021 11 29 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Potter William Taylor Year in Review A look at Acadiana s biggest business news of 2021 The Daily Advertiser Gannett Retrieved 2022 01 11 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Daigle Adam Tower project in downtown Lafayette on hold for now developer says The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2022 05 04 Taylor Claire Downtown Main Street redevelopment retains 1 million to initiate project The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Buckman Robert 2021 04 23 Bill would expand restructure North Lafayette Redevelopment Authority The Current Retrieved 2021 07 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Progress On The Monroe A 70 unit Apartment Development Near Downtown Lafayette Developing Lafayette Developing Louisiana 2022 08 22 Retrieved 2022 09 03 NowData NOAA Online Weather Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved August 27 2021 Station Lafayette RGNL AP LA U S Climate Normals 2020 U S Monthly Climate Normals 1991 2020 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved August 27 2021 Census of Population and Housing Census gov Retrieved June 4 2015 2020 Racial and Ethnic Statistics United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2022 01 04 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Lafayette LA Population Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map Demographics Statistics Quick Facts CensusViewer CensusViewer Retrieved 2021 10 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Daigle Adam Lafayette Parish population up 26 9 Youngsville fastest growing municipality in the state The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2021 10 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link 2020 Demographic and Housing Estimates United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2022 07 15 2020 U S Census Hispanic or Latino and not Hispanic or Latino by race United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2021 10 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link 2020 U S Census Race United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2021 10 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b 2019 Selected Social Characteristics United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2021 10 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States Statistical Atlas Retrieved 2021 11 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Larino Jennifer October 25 2017 These are Louisiana s 20 fastest growing cities and towns NOLA com Retrieved 2021 03 01 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link 2019 Language Statistics United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2021 10 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link 2019 Poverty Statistics United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2021 10 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link 2020 Selected Economic Characteristics United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2022 05 04 2019 Selected Economic Characteristics United States Census Bureau Retrieved 2021 10 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link LGBTQ Rights Movement in Louisiana 64 Parishes Retrieved 2021 11 13 Glitter and Be Gay 64 Parishes 2019 12 01 Retrieved 2021 11 13 Stickney Ken Study Lafayette doesn t do enough to support LGBTQ community The Daily Advertiser Gannett Retrieved 2021 11 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Maps and data files for 2020 U S Religion Census Association of Religious Data Archives Retrieved 2022 12 10 The History of the Diocese of Lafayette Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette Louisiana Retrieved 2021 03 01 Lafayette bishop leads Easter service after losing mother deacon to coronavirus The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2021 03 01 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Church Finder United Church of Christ Retrieved 2021 03 01 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Lafayette LA The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints Retrieved 2021 10 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Young Fr Stephen De Parish History Archangel Gabriel Antiochian Orthodox Church Retrieved 2021 11 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link St Mary of Egypt Coptic Orthodox Church Lafayette LA Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States Retrieved 2021 11 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Religion in Lafayette Parish Louisiana Sperling s BestPlaces Retrieved March 1 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Jewish Temples of Southwest Louisiana Records University Libraries University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2014 10 02 Retrieved 2021 03 01 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link History Temple Shalom Temple Shalom Retrieved 2021 03 02 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link ISJL Louisiana Lafayette Encyclopedia Goldring Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life Retrieved 2021 03 01 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Lafayette Parish Economic Profile One Acadiana Archived from the original on 2021 11 13 Retrieved 2021 11 13 Report UL System had 10B impact added 149K jobs to state s economy University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2019 01 11 Retrieved 2021 11 13 379 million New report details UL Lafayette s impact on state economy University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2017 07 26 Retrieved 2021 11 13 Albertsons Locations in Lafayette LA Pharmacy Grocery Weekly Ad local albertsons com Retrieved 2021 02 22 First Horizon FHN amp IBERIABANK Conclude Merger of Equals Yahoo News Zacks Equity Research July 6 2020 Retrieved 2021 10 10 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Daigle Adam Lowe s to close 51 stores in North American including one store in Louisiana The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2021 11 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Lafayette Costco to open March 17 The Daily Advertiser Gannett Retrieved 2021 11 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Barrett William Best Places To Retire In Each State 2018 Forbes Retrieved 2021 11 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Best Places For Business and Careers Forbes Retrieved 2021 11 13 Living in Lafayette Louisiana U S News amp World Report Retrieved 2021 11 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Lafayette Louisiana metropolitan area Census Reporter Retrieved 2021 11 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Lewis Scott 2021 08 12 Festivals Acadiens et Creoles pushed back to March 2022 KLFY Nexstar Media Retrieved 2021 11 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link About Festival International de Louisiane Festival International de Louisiane Retrieved 2021 11 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Boudin Cookoff and Bacon Fest in Lafayette set for October 2021 KATC Scripps Local Media 2021 09 16 Retrieved 2021 11 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Cajun Heartland State Fair returns to the Cajundome in 2021 KATC Scripps Local Media 2021 04 01 Retrieved 2021 11 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Altom Brittany 2015 05 13 Does Lafayette have the most restaurants per capita KLFY Nexstar Media Retrieved 2021 11 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Cast of Tyler Perry s Madea s Farewell Play Tour visits Reggie s Soulfood KLFY Nexstar Media 2019 03 13 Retrieved 2021 11 21 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link The Christmas Contract television film Internet Movie Database Retrieved November 23 2018 Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Athletics Retrieved 2021 11 29 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Bonin Ryan 2010 10 05 IceGators chomping to get season two underway Pro Hockey News Pro Hockey News Retrieved 2021 11 29 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Wildcatters Slam the Force Remain Perfect at Home OurSports Central 2010 05 25 Retrieved 2021 11 29 Louisiana Krewe FC Set to Join USL League Two for the 2022 Season USL League Two 2021 10 27 Retrieved 2021 11 29 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Welcome to Lafayette Lafayette Consolidated Government Retrieved 2021 11 29 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Josh Guillory wins Lafayette Mayor President race KLFY Nexstar Media 2019 11 17 Retrieved 2021 12 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Brand Anna Villavaso Stephen Spring 2011 REVISITING PALERMO THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF LOUISIANA S LANDMARK LAND USE RIGHTS AND ZONING DECISION AND ITS LEGACY FOR PLANNING IN LOUISIANA Loyola Law Review 57 1 113 133 Intergovernmental Agreement Webcache googleusercontent com Retrieved 2017 07 20 CRT Office of Cultural Development Archived from the original on 2013 07 07 Retrieved 2013 07 08 CODOFIL Retrieved on July 8 2013 Mamone Davide Violent crime and homicides increase in Lafayette following state national trends The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2021 12 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Killings shootings soared in 2020 one of New Orleans bloodiest years since Katrina NOLA com Retrieved 2021 12 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Kemker Austin Baton Rouge sees record number of homicides in 2020 WAFB Gray Television Retrieved 2021 12 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Romero Michaela 2021 10 01 LIST Safest cities in Louisiana ranked ArkLaTexHomepage Nexstar Media Retrieved 2021 12 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Acadiana Profile Magazine Lafayette Travel Retrieved 2021 12 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Acadiana Advocate Lafayette Travel Retrieved 2021 12 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link About The Independent The Independent December 2014 Retrieved 2021 12 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link About The Vermilion The Vermilion 2021 08 09 Retrieved 2021 12 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link About Us The Current Retrieved 3 May 2022 Local label plays with Kanye West and the stars The Daily Advertiser Gannett January 11 2018 Retrieved 2021 08 14 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link The Nielsen Company September 28 2019 Local Television Market Universe Estimates PDF Nielsen Retrieved December 6 2021 Career Academies LPSS Lafayette Parish School System Lpssonline com August 30 2015 Retrieved 2017 07 20 Acadiana High School Statistics U S News amp World Report Retrieved December 9 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Lafayette High School Statistics U S News amp World Report Retrieved December 9 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link McGaughy Lauren UL Lafayette not attempting to change name officials say NOLA com Retrieved 2021 12 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Hunsucker Adam How ULM helped the Ragin Cajuns become Louisiana The News Star Gannett Retrieved 2021 12 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Gomez Nancy May 19 2008 La Specialized Language Course Aims To Knock Down Barriers Community College Week 20 19 13 Lafayette Archived from the original on August 4 2009 Retrieved 2009 07 20 Remington College in Lafayette Lafayette Technical School Remingtoncollege edu Retrieved 2017 07 20 Lafayette Academy of Interactive Entertainment AIE Retrieved 2021 12 09 a b National Guard Units Alerted for Iraq Duty Army Magazine 54 4 64 66 April 2004 Daigle Adam After seven year journey new LFT terminal a reality You got it done The Acadiana Advocate The Advocate Retrieved 2022 05 11 Bike Lafayette Bike Lafayette Retrieved 2022 05 11 Dumped bikes getting a new purpose KATC Scripps Local Media 2019 03 18 Retrieved 2022 05 11 Douglas Doug 2021 03 03 UL Lafayette praised for having bicycle friendly campus KLFY Nexstar Media Retrieved 2022 05 11 Lafayette s six sister cities Archived from the original on January 6 2010 Retrieved October 16 2009 External links EditLafayette Louisiana at Wikipedia s sister projects Media from Commons Travel information from Wikivoyage Lafayette Consolidated Government Archived 2013 09 16 at the Wayback Machine One Acadiana Former Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Lafayette Conventions and Visitors Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lafayette Louisiana amp oldid 1137268074, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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