Acadia Parish (French: Paroisse de l’Acadie) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 57,576. The parish seat is Crowley. The parish was founded from parts of St. Landry Parish in 1886, and later an election was held to determine the parish seat, ending when Crowley beat Rayne and Prairie Hayes. Acadia Parish is included in the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area.
| Name: | Acadia Parish |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 22-001 |
| State: | Louisiana |
| Founded: | June, 30, 1886 |
| Named for: | The Acadians |
| Seat: | Crowley |
| Largest city: | Crowley |
| Total Area: | 657 sq mi (1,700 km²) |
| Land Area: | 655 sq mi (1,700 km²) |
| Total Population: | 57,576 |
| Population Density: | 88/sq mi (34/km²) |
| Time zone: | UTC−6 (Central) |
| Summer Time Zone (DST): | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Website: | www.appj.org/index.html |
Acadia Parish location map. Where is Acadia Parish?
History
The name of the parish is derived from the former French colony of Acadia in Canada (which consisted of the modern provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and much of Maine), many of whose French-speaking inhabitants were deported to France and then migrated to Louisiana in the Great Upheaval (see Cajuns).
The parish itself was formed from the southwestern portion of St. Landry Parish. On Wednesday May 19, 1886, a bill was introduced in the house entitled “An act to create the parish of Nicholls, and to provide for the organization thereof.” The title was later changed to read: “An act to create the parish of Acadia.” Father Joseph Anthonioz, the first pastor of the Catholic Church at Rayne, is credited with having suggested the name, Acadia Parish. The bill passed the house on June 11, the senate on June 28, and was approved by Governor Samuel D. McEnery on June 30. On October 6, an election was held to affirm the creation of the parish, with 2,516 votes for and 1,521 votes against the creation. The population of the new parish was from 10,000 to 12,000. Acadia Parish population in 1890 was 13,231.
After a close election held on March 1, 1887, Crowley was chosen as the parish seat, gathering 698 votes to Rayne’s and Prairie Hayes’ 560 and 519, respectively. The election also determined the first officers in the parish: Elridge W. Lyons, first sheriff of Acadia, and R. T. Clark, first clerk of court. The first courthouse was therefore constructed in Crowley and completed on June 30, 1888, and continued to be used until May 1, 1902, when it was destroyed to make way for the second building.
Acadia Parish Road Map
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 657 square miles (1,700 km), of which 655 sq mi (1,700 km) are land and 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km) (0.4%) are covered by water.
Major highways
- Interstate 10
- U.S. Highway 90
- Louisiana Highway 13
- Louisiana Highway 35
- Louisiana Highway 91
- Louisiana Highway 92
- Louisiana Highway 97
Adjacent parishes
- Evangeline Parish (north)
- St. Landry Parish (northeast)
- Lafayette Parish (east)
- Vermilion Parish (south)
- Jefferson Davis Parish (west)
Acadia Parish Topographic Map
Acadia Parish Satellite Map
Acadia Parish Outline Map
