Opelousas, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49
and U.S. Route 190
. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's population above 25,000. Opelousas is the principal city for the Opelousas-Eunice
Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 92,178 in 2008. Opelousas is also the 3rd largest city in the Lafayette
-Acadiana
Combined Statistical Area
, which has a population of 537,947.
At only 7.5 square miles, Opelousas is the most densely populated incorporated city in Louisiana.
Founded in 1720, Opelousas is Louisiana's 3rd oldest city. The city served as a major trading post between New Orleans and Natchitoches
in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Traditionally an area of settlement by French Creoles and Acadians, Opelousas is the center of zydeco
music. It celebrates its heritage at the Creole Heritage Folklife Center, one of the destinations on the new Louisiana African American Heritage Trail
. It is also the location of the Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino.
The city is known as the spice capital of the world, with production and sale of seasonings such as Tony Chachere's products, Targil Seasonings, Savoie's cajun meats and products, and LouAna Cooking Oil. Opelousas was also home to one of the nation's two Yoohoo Factories until their closing.
During the tenure of Sheriff
Cat Doucet
from 1936–1940 and 1952-1968 that part of Opelousas along Highway 190 was a haven of gambling
and prostitution
. Doucet told the historian Michael Kurtz that the return of Earl Kemp Long to the governorship in 1956 allowed Doucet to permit the return of brothels and casinos and to guarantee the sheriff a take of the proceeds.
of 2000, there were 22,860 people, 8,699 households, and 5,663 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,240.0 people per square mile (1,250.2/km²). There were 9,783 housing units at an average density of 1,386.6 per square mile (535.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.12% African American, 29.30% White, 0.10% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.
There were 8,699 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.7% were married couples
living together, 26.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $14,717, and the median income for a family was $19,966. Males had a median income of $24,588 versus $17,104 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $9,957. About 37.7% of families and 43.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 57.2% of those under age 18 and 32.0% of those age 65 or over.
who had occupied the area before European contact.
The first recorded European arrived in the Appalousa Territory in 1690. He was a French coureur de bois (trapper and hunter). French traders arrived later to trade with the Appalousa Indians. In 1719, the French sent the first military to the Territory, when Ensign Nicolas Chauvin de la Frénière and two others were sent to patrol the area and in 1720, the French established Opelousas Post as a major trading organization for the developing area.
The French encouraged immigration to Opelousas Post before they ceded Louisiana to Spain in 1762. By 1769 about 100 families, mostly French, were living in the Post. In 1774 the Saint Landry Catholic Church was built.
Don Alejandro O'Reilly
, Spanish governor of Louisiana, issued a land ordinance to allow settlers in the frontier of the Opelousas Territory to acquire land grants. The first official land grant was made in 1782. Numerous settlers: French, Creoles
and Acadians, mainly from the Attakapas Territory, came to the Opelousas Territory and acquired land grants.
After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, settlers continued to arrive from St. Martinville
. LeBon, Prejean, Thibodaux, Esprit, Nezat, Hebert, Babineaux, Mouton, and Provost were some of the early Creole families. (This was Creole as French born in Louisiana, see Louisiana Creole people
.) Other early French Creole families were Roy, Barre, Guenard, Decuir, and Bail. In 1820, Alex Charles Barre, also a French Creole, founded Port Barre. His ancestors came from the French West Indies, probably after Haiti (St. Domingue) became independent. Jim Bowie
and his family were said to have settled in the area circa
1813.
In 1805, Opelousas became the seat of the newly formed St. Landry Parish, also known as the Imperial Parish of Louisiana. The year 1806 marked the beginning of significant construction in Opelousas. The first courthouse was constructed in the middle of the town. Later in the year, the Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church was founded, becoming the first Methodist, as well as Protestant, church in Louisiana. Five years later, the first St. Landry Parish Police Jury met in Opelousas, keeping minutes in the two official languages of English and French. The city was incorporated in 1821.
s to work as laborers in cotton cultivation. African Americans influenced all cultures as the people created a creolized cuisine and music. The long decline of cotton prices throughout the 19th century created economic problems worsened by the lack of employment diversity.
In 1862, after Baton Rouge
fell to the Union
troops during the Civil War
, Opelousas was designated the state capital for nine months. The governor's mansion in Opelousas stands to this day. The one story mansion is located on the corner of Liberty and Grolee Street just west of the heart of town. An observation tower was removed from the top of the residence in the early 1900s but the remainder of the exterior is identical to its original construction in 1863. The entire roof section of heavy rafters is held in place by thousands of wooden pegs, not one nail can be found in the attic. Today the home is a private residence and not accessible to the public. The capitol was moved again in 1863, this time to Shreveport
when Union troops occupied Opelousas. During Reconstruction, the state government operated from New Orleans
.
The Union forces led by General
Nathaniel P. Banks who occupied Opelousas found what the historian
John D. Winters
describes as "a beautiful town boasting several churches, a fine convent, and a large courthouse," far superior in appearance to nearby Washington
, also in St. Landry Parish. Early in 1864, jayhawkers began to make daring daytime raids in parts of St. Landry Parish near Opelousas. According to Winters in his The Civil War in Louisiana, the thieves "robbed the inhabitants in many instances of everything of value they possessed, but taking particularly all the fine horses and good arms they could find." Winters added that conscription
in the area came to a standstill, as men could avoid the army by staying within the lines of the jayhawkers. The conscripts who did not join the lawless element stayed home until the state or the army could protect their families."
Opelousas enacted ordinances following the abolition of slavery that served to greatly restrict the freedoms of black Americans. These codes required "Negroes" to have a written pass from their employer to enter the town and to state the duration of their visit. Negroes were not allowed on the streets after 10 p.m. They could neither own a house nor reside in the town, unless the employee of a white person. They were also not allowed in the town after 3 p.m. on Sundays.
s arranged by New York social services agencies to provide for resettlement of orphans until 1929. Opelousas is the heart of a traditional Catholic region of French, Spanish, Canadian and French West Indian heritage. Families in Louisiana took in more than 2,000 mostly Catholic orphans to live in their rural farming communities.
Opelousas accepted thousands of refugees in May 1927 following the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927
. Heavy rains in northern and midwestern areas caused intense flooding in areas of Mississippi
, Arkansas
, and Louisiana downstream, especially after levées near Moreauville
, Cecilia
and Melville
collapsed. More than 81 percent of St. Landry Parish suffered some flooding, with 77 percent of the inhabitants directly affected. People in more southern areas of Louisiana, especially those communities along Bayou Teche
, were forced to flee their homes for areas which suffered less damage. By May 20, over 5,700 refugees were registered in Opelousas, which itself had a population of only 6,000 people. Many of the refugees were later able to return to their homes and begin the rebuilding process.
The city of Opelousas is constructing an Orphan Train Museum (second in the nation) in an old train depot located in Le Vieux Village. The first museum dedicated to the Orphan Train children is located in Kansas.
Since 1982, Opelousas has hosted the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival. Usually held the Saturday before Labor Day at Zydeco Park in Plaisance, LA, the festival features a day of performances by Zydeco musicians, with the goal of keeping the genre alive. The exposure helped the city to be named the Zydeco
Capital of the World on May 27, 2000, reflecting its significance in the history and continuing evolution of zydeco. Opelousas is also the home of Clifton Chenier
, the king of Zydeco.
Additional events include:
A complete list of festivals in the Opelousas area can be found at the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission's website.
The private schools include Opelousas Catholic School,Westminster Christian Academy, Acadiana Preparatory School, Apostolic Christian Academy, and New Hope Christian Academy.
Opelousas has 2 public high schools, which are Opelousas Senior High and MACA - Magnet Academy for the Cultural Arts. Opelousas Junior High serves as the area middle school. Opelousas is also home to 7 public elementary schools which are North Elementary, Northeast Elementary, Grolee Elementary, South Street Elementary, Southwest Elementary, Creswell Elementary and Park Vista Elementary.
station owned and operated by the Southern Development Foundation. The station was built by numerous volunteers from Opelousas and around the country at the third Prometheus Radio Project
barnraising. KOCZ broadcasts music, news, and public affairs to listeners at 103.7FM. Opelousas is also home to The Mix KOGM 107.1FM which is owned by KSLO Broadcasting, Inc. There is 1 TV station based in Opelousas, KDCG TV Channel 22, and the city also uses the ABC, FOX, and CBS affiliates of nearby Lafayette.
In September 1999, Wal-Mart
opened a large distribution center just north of the city. It is currently generating an $89 million dollar impact per year to the area, employing over 600 full time workers.
Horse racing track Evangeline Downs relocated to Opelousas from its former home in Carencro, Louisiana
in 2003 and employs over 750 workers.
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
St. Landry Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is at the heart of Acadian/Cajun culture and heritage in Louisiana. The parish seat is Opelousas. According to the 2010 census, the population of St. Landry Parish is 83,384.St...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49
Interstate 49
Interstate 49 is currently an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is in Lafayette, Louisiana, at Interstate 10 while its northern terminus is in Shreveport, Louisiana, at Interstate 20.-Route...
and U.S. Route 190
U.S. Route 190
U.S. Route 190, also known as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, is an east–west United States highway in Louisiana and Texas. It evolved from the shortest of intrastate routes in 1926 to a length comparable to a main Interstate Highway route, leading from the swamps and pine forests of...
. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's population above 25,000. Opelousas is the principal city for the Opelousas-Eunice
Eunice, Louisiana
Eunice is a city in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.The St...
Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 92,178 in 2008. Opelousas is also the 3rd largest city in the Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
-Acadiana
Acadiana
Acadiana, or The Heart of Acadiana, is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that is home to a large Francophone population. Of the 64 parishes that make up Louisiana, 22 named parishes and other parishes of similar cultural environment, make up the intrastate...
Combined Statistical Area
Lafayette-Acadiana combined statistical area
The Lafayette-Acadiana Combined Statistical Area is made up of six parishes in the Acadiana region of southern Louisiana. The statistical area consists of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area and four micropolitan statistical areas - Abbeville, Crowley, New Iberia, and Opelousas-Eunice...
, which has a population of 537,947.
At only 7.5 square miles, Opelousas is the most densely populated incorporated city in Louisiana.
Founded in 1720, Opelousas is Louisiana's 3rd oldest city. The city served as a major trading post between New Orleans and Natchitoches
Natchitoches
Natchitoches may refer to:*Natchitoches , an American Indian people*Natchitoches, Louisiana, a city*Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana...
in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Traditionally an area of settlement by French Creoles and Acadians, Opelousas is the center of zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
music. It celebrates its heritage at the Creole Heritage Folklife Center, one of the destinations on the new Louisiana African American Heritage Trail
Louisiana African American Heritage Trail
Louisiana African American Heritage Trail is a cultural heritage trail with 26 sites designated in 2008 by the state of Louisiana, from New Orleans along the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge and Shreveport, with sites in small towns and plantations also included. In New Orleans several sites are...
. It is also the location of the Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino.
The city is known as the spice capital of the world, with production and sale of seasonings such as Tony Chachere's products, Targil Seasonings, Savoie's cajun meats and products, and LouAna Cooking Oil. Opelousas was also home to one of the nation's two Yoohoo Factories until their closing.
During the tenure of Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Cat Doucet
Cat Doucet
Daly Joseph Doucet, Sr., known as Cat Doucet , was a Democratic politician and a law enforcement officer from St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. He served as sheriff of St. Landry Parish for a total of twenty years.-Background:Doucet was born in Grand Prairie in St. Landry Parish to Lucius...
from 1936–1940 and 1952-1968 that part of Opelousas along Highway 190 was a haven of gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
and prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. Doucet told the historian Michael Kurtz that the return of Earl Kemp Long to the governorship in 1956 allowed Doucet to permit the return of brothels and casinos and to guarantee the sheriff a take of the proceeds.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 22,860 people, 8,699 households, and 5,663 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,240.0 people per square mile (1,250.2/km²). There were 9,783 housing units at an average density of 1,386.6 per square mile (535.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.12% African American, 29.30% White, 0.10% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.
There were 8,699 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 26.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $14,717, and the median income for a family was $19,966. Males had a median income of $24,588 versus $17,104 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $9,957. About 37.7% of families and 43.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 57.2% of those under age 18 and 32.0% of those age 65 or over.
Early years
Opelousas takes its name from the Native American tribe AppalousaAppalousa
The Appalousa were Native Americans who had occupied the area around Opelousas, Louisiana before European contact.The name Opelousas has been thought to have many meanings, but the one most commonly accepted is "Blackleg", possibly because the tribe painted or stained their legs a dark color...
who had occupied the area before European contact.
The first recorded European arrived in the Appalousa Territory in 1690. He was a French coureur de bois (trapper and hunter). French traders arrived later to trade with the Appalousa Indians. In 1719, the French sent the first military to the Territory, when Ensign Nicolas Chauvin de la Frénière and two others were sent to patrol the area and in 1720, the French established Opelousas Post as a major trading organization for the developing area.
The French encouraged immigration to Opelousas Post before they ceded Louisiana to Spain in 1762. By 1769 about 100 families, mostly French, were living in the Post. In 1774 the Saint Landry Catholic Church was built.
Don Alejandro O'Reilly
Alejandro O'Reilly
Alejandro O'Reilly , was a military reformer and Inspector-General of Infantry for the Spanish Empire in the second half of the 18th century...
, Spanish governor of Louisiana, issued a land ordinance to allow settlers in the frontier of the Opelousas Territory to acquire land grants. The first official land grant was made in 1782. Numerous settlers: French, Creoles
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
and Acadians, mainly from the Attakapas Territory, came to the Opelousas Territory and acquired land grants.
After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, settlers continued to arrive from St. Martinville
St. Martinville, Louisiana
St. Martinville is a city in and the parish seat of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on Bayou Teche, sixteen miles south of Breaux Bridge, eighteen miles southeast of Lafayette, and nine miles north of New Iberia. The population was 6,989 at the 2000 census. It is part of the...
. LeBon, Prejean, Thibodaux, Esprit, Nezat, Hebert, Babineaux, Mouton, and Provost were some of the early Creole families. (This was Creole as French born in Louisiana, see Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
.) Other early French Creole families were Roy, Barre, Guenard, Decuir, and Bail. In 1820, Alex Charles Barre, also a French Creole, founded Port Barre. His ancestors came from the French West Indies, probably after Haiti (St. Domingue) became independent. Jim Bowie
Jim Bowie
James "Jim" Bowie , a 19th-century American pioneer, slave trader, land speculator, and soldier, played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution, culminating in his death at the Battle of the Alamo...
and his family were said to have settled in the area circa
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1813.
In 1805, Opelousas became the seat of the newly formed St. Landry Parish, also known as the Imperial Parish of Louisiana. The year 1806 marked the beginning of significant construction in Opelousas. The first courthouse was constructed in the middle of the town. Later in the year, the Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church was founded, becoming the first Methodist, as well as Protestant, church in Louisiana. Five years later, the first St. Landry Parish Police Jury met in Opelousas, keeping minutes in the two official languages of English and French. The city was incorporated in 1821.
American Civil War
European and American settlement was based on plantation agriculture, and both groups brought or purchased numerous enslaved Africans and African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s to work as laborers in cotton cultivation. African Americans influenced all cultures as the people created a creolized cuisine and music. The long decline of cotton prices throughout the 19th century created economic problems worsened by the lack of employment diversity.
In 1862, after Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
fell to the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
troops during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Opelousas was designated the state capital for nine months. The governor's mansion in Opelousas stands to this day. The one story mansion is located on the corner of Liberty and Grolee Street just west of the heart of town. An observation tower was removed from the top of the residence in the early 1900s but the remainder of the exterior is identical to its original construction in 1863. The entire roof section of heavy rafters is held in place by thousands of wooden pegs, not one nail can be found in the attic. Today the home is a private residence and not accessible to the public. The capitol was moved again in 1863, this time to Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
when Union troops occupied Opelousas. During Reconstruction, the state government operated from New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
The Union forces led by General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Nathaniel P. Banks who occupied Opelousas found what the historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
John D. Winters
John D. Winters
John David Winters was a historian at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, best known for his definitive and award-winning study, The Civil War in Louisiana, still in print, published in 1963 and released in paperback in 1991.-Background:Winters was born to John David Winters, Sr...
describes as "a beautiful town boasting several churches, a fine convent, and a large courthouse," far superior in appearance to nearby Washington
Washington, Louisiana
Washington is a small town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,082 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, also in St. Landry Parish. Early in 1864, jayhawkers began to make daring daytime raids in parts of St. Landry Parish near Opelousas. According to Winters in his The Civil War in Louisiana, the thieves "robbed the inhabitants in many instances of everything of value they possessed, but taking particularly all the fine horses and good arms they could find." Winters added that conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
in the area came to a standstill, as men could avoid the army by staying within the lines of the jayhawkers. The conscripts who did not join the lawless element stayed home until the state or the army could protect their families."
Reconstruction
After the defeat of the South and emancipation of slaves, many whites had difficulty accepting the changed conditions, especially as economic problems and dependence on agriculture slowed the South's recovery. Social tensions were high during Reconstruction. In 1868, a white mob rioted and killed 25-50 freedmen in Opelousas. Some reports put the number killed even higher, ranging from 200-300, and it was one of the single worst instances of Reconstruction violence in south Louisiana.Opelousas enacted ordinances following the abolition of slavery that served to greatly restrict the freedoms of black Americans. These codes required "Negroes" to have a written pass from their employer to enter the town and to state the duration of their visit. Negroes were not allowed on the streets after 10 p.m. They could neither own a house nor reside in the town, unless the employee of a white person. They were also not allowed in the town after 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Home of refugees
In 1880, the railroad reached Opelousas, which became a stop for at least three of the Orphan TrainOrphan Train
The Orphan Train was a social experiment that transported children from crowded coastal cities of the United States to the country's Midwest for adoption. The orphan trains ran between 1854 and 1929, relocating an estimated 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children...
s arranged by New York social services agencies to provide for resettlement of orphans until 1929. Opelousas is the heart of a traditional Catholic region of French, Spanish, Canadian and French West Indian heritage. Families in Louisiana took in more than 2,000 mostly Catholic orphans to live in their rural farming communities.
Opelousas accepted thousands of refugees in May 1927 following the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927
Great Mississippi Flood of 1927
The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 was the most destructive river flood in the history of the United States.-Events:The flood began when heavy rains pounded the central basin of the Mississippi in the summer of 1926. By September, the Mississippi's tributaries in Kansas and Iowa were swollen to...
. Heavy rains in northern and midwestern areas caused intense flooding in areas of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, and Louisiana downstream, especially after levées near Moreauville
Moreauville, Louisiana
Moreauville is a village in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 922 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Moreauville is located at ....
, Cecilia
Cecilia, Louisiana
Cecilia is a census-designated place in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,505 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Cecilia is located at ....
and Melville
Melville, Louisiana
Melville is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,376 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Melville is located at ....
collapsed. More than 81 percent of St. Landry Parish suffered some flooding, with 77 percent of the inhabitants directly affected. People in more southern areas of Louisiana, especially those communities along Bayou Teche
Bayou Teche
The Bayou Teche is a waterway of great cultural significance in south central Louisiana in the United States. Bayou Teche was the Mississippi River's main course when it developed a delta about 2,800 to 4,500 years ago...
, were forced to flee their homes for areas which suffered less damage. By May 20, over 5,700 refugees were registered in Opelousas, which itself had a population of only 6,000 people. Many of the refugees were later able to return to their homes and begin the rebuilding process.
The city of Opelousas is constructing an Orphan Train Museum (second in the nation) in an old train depot located in Le Vieux Village. The first museum dedicated to the Orphan Train children is located in Kansas.
Festivals
The Yambilee Festival began in 1946 and is the oldest festival held each year in Opelousas. It starts on the Wednesday before the last full weekend of October and continues throughout the weekend with events including concerts, cooking competitions, a parade and beauty pageants.Since 1982, Opelousas has hosted the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival. Usually held the Saturday before Labor Day at Zydeco Park in Plaisance, LA, the festival features a day of performances by Zydeco musicians, with the goal of keeping the genre alive. The exposure helped the city to be named the Zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
Capital of the World on May 27, 2000, reflecting its significance in the history and continuing evolution of zydeco. Opelousas is also the home of Clifton Chenier
Clifton Chenier
Clifton Chenier , a Creole French-speaking native of Opelousas, Louisiana, was an eminent performer and recording artist of Zydeco, which arose from Cajun and Creole music, with R&B, jazz, and blues influences. He played the accordion and won a Grammy Award in 1983...
, the king of Zydeco.
Additional events include:
- Frank's Downtown Gumbo Cook-off-January
- International Joke Telling Contest- April
- Zydeco Extravaganza- May
- Juneteenth Festival- 3rd Sat. in June
- Holy Ghost Creole Festival- 1st weekend of November
- Christmas Lighting of Le Vieux Village- 1st Friday of December
- Here's the Beef Cook-off
- Frank's Mardi Gras Parade- Mardi Gras Day
- Opelousas Mardi Gras Celebration/Street Dance on Court St.- Mardi Gras Day
A complete list of festivals in the Opelousas area can be found at the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission's website.
Education
Opelousas is home to several public and private schools.The private schools include Opelousas Catholic School,Westminster Christian Academy, Acadiana Preparatory School, Apostolic Christian Academy, and New Hope Christian Academy.
Opelousas has 2 public high schools, which are Opelousas Senior High and MACA - Magnet Academy for the Cultural Arts. Opelousas Junior High serves as the area middle school. Opelousas is also home to 7 public elementary schools which are North Elementary, Northeast Elementary, Grolee Elementary, South Street Elementary, Southwest Elementary, Creswell Elementary and Park Vista Elementary.
Media
Opelousas is home to KOCZ-LP, a low power community radioCommunity radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
station owned and operated by the Southern Development Foundation. The station was built by numerous volunteers from Opelousas and around the country at the third Prometheus Radio Project
Prometheus Radio Project
The Prometheus Radio Project is a non-profit advocacy and community organizing group committed to building an inclusive and representative media landscape in the United States and around the world. They are working to create a network of low power community radio stations...
barnraising. KOCZ broadcasts music, news, and public affairs to listeners at 103.7FM. Opelousas is also home to The Mix KOGM 107.1FM which is owned by KSLO Broadcasting, Inc. There is 1 TV station based in Opelousas, KDCG TV Channel 22, and the city also uses the ABC, FOX, and CBS affiliates of nearby Lafayette.
Economy
The primary industries in Opelousas are agriculture, oil, manufacturing, wholesale, and retail.In September 1999, Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
opened a large distribution center just north of the city. It is currently generating an $89 million dollar impact per year to the area, employing over 600 full time workers.
Horse racing track Evangeline Downs relocated to Opelousas from its former home in Carencro, Louisiana
Carencro, Louisiana
Carencro[p] is a small city in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a suburb of the nearby city of Lafayette. The population was 6,120 at the 2000 census. Its name comes from the Louisiana Creole word for buzzard: the spot was one where large flocks of buzzards roosted in the bald...
in 2003 and employs over 750 workers.
Notable people
- Brigadier General J.J. Alfred MoutonAlfred MoutonJean-Jacques-Alfred-Alexandre "Alfred" Mouton was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He was born in Opelousas, Louisiana, and spent most of his life in Lafayette. Beloved by those under his command, Mouton was a strict drillmaster and disciplinarian who simultaneously freely...
, CSA. Born in Opelousas February 29, 1829. Confederate General who served under General Richard TaylorRichard Taylor (general)Richard Taylor was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He was the son of United States President Zachary Taylor and First Lady Margaret Taylor.-Early life:...
, CSA and was killed during the Battle of MansfieldBattle of MansfieldThe Battle of Mansfield, also known as the Battle of Sabine Crossroads, occurred on April 8, 1864, in De Soto Parish, Louisiana. Confederate forces commanded by Richard Taylor attacked a Union army commanded by Nathaniel Banks a few miles outside the town of Mansfield, near Sabine Crossroads...
, Louisiana - Clifton ChenierClifton ChenierClifton Chenier , a Creole French-speaking native of Opelousas, Louisiana, was an eminent performer and recording artist of Zydeco, which arose from Cajun and Creole music, with R&B, jazz, and blues influences. He played the accordion and won a Grammy Award in 1983...
, legendary zydecoZydecoZydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
musician - Jim BowieJim BowieJames "Jim" Bowie , a 19th-century American pioneer, slave trader, land speculator, and soldier, played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution, culminating in his death at the Battle of the Alamo...
, legendary adventurer and hero of the AlamoBattle of the AlamoThe Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
, lived in Opelousas for a time. His first marriage is recorded in the archives of the St. Landry Catholic Church. - Cat DoucetCat DoucetDaly Joseph Doucet, Sr., known as Cat Doucet , was a Democratic politician and a law enforcement officer from St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. He served as sheriff of St. Landry Parish for a total of twenty years.-Background:Doucet was born in Grand Prairie in St. Landry Parish to Lucius...
, Sheriff of St. Landry Parish, 1936–1940; 1952–1968 - W.W. Dumas, MayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
-President of East Baton Rouge Parish from 1965–1980, was born in Opelousas in 1916. - Sue EakinSue EakinMyrtle Sue Lyles Eakin, known as Sue Eakin , was an American professor, newspaper columnist, and historian from Bunkie in Avoyelles Parish, who researched Louisiana history, particularly the Old South plantation system.-Early years:Eakin was born on the Compromise Plantation in the Lyles community...
(1918–2009), based in BunkieBunkie, LouisianaBunkie is a city in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,662 at the 2000 census.Bunkie is the birthplace of jazz drummer Zutty Singleton. Sue Eakin, Louisiana historian and former publisher of the Bunkie Record, resided in Bunkie for most of her life until her death in...
, was a columnist for the Opelousas Daily World and several other newspapers - Richard EasthamRichard EasthamRichard Eastham, born as Dickinson Swift Eastham , was an American actor of stage, film, and television and a concert singer known for his deep baritone voice.-Tombstone Territory:...
(1916–2005), an American actor, was born in Opelousas. He played Harris Claibourne, a newspaper editor in the 1957-1960 ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
and later syndicatedTelevision syndicationIn broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
westernWestern (genre)The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
series, Tombstone TerritoryTombstone TerritoryTombstone Territory is an American Western series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The series' first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959...
. - T. H. HarrisT. H. HarrisThomas H Harris was the dominant figure in Louisiana public education in the first half of the 20th century through his role as the state school superintendent from 1908-1940.-Early years and education:...
, state education superintendent from 1908–1940, was principal of St. Landry High School in Opelousas prior to 1900. The T.H. Harris Campus of Louisiana Technical CollegeLouisiana Technical CollegeLouisiana Technical College is an institute for professional technical education in the state of Louisiana, with campuses across the state. Louisiana Technical College has no affiliation to Louisiana Tech University.-History:...
is named in his honor. - Rod Milburn, 1972 Olympic1972 Summer OlympicsThe 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
champion - John Ed Bradley, author
- Paul PrudhommePaul PrudhommePaul Prudhomme is an American celebrity chef whose specialty is Cajun cuisine. He is also the owner of one of the top restaurants in New Orleans, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen.-Early life:...
, chef - Lloyd MumphordLloyd MumphordLloyd N. Mumphord was a cornerback who played collegiately for Texas Southern University and ten seasons in American Pro Football. He played professionally for the Miami Dolphins of the American Football League and the Dolphins and Baltimore Colts of the National Football League...
, standout NFL cornerback and special teams captain of the legendary perfect seasonPerfect SeasonA perfect season is any sports season, excluding the playoff portion of a season, in which a team remains undefeated and untied. The feat is extremely rare at the professional level of any team sport, and has occurred more commonly at the collegiate level in the United States.A perfect season may...
Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1972–73) and two-time Super Bowl champion - Chef Tony ChachereTony Chachere'sTony Chachere's refers to the Creole seasoning created by southern Louisiana chef Tony Chachere. Many people refer to the seasoning simply as "Tony's" while others call it "Tony Catchers." The correct pronunciation is "sass-sure-ee's". Today, the official name of the seasoning is Tony Chachere's...
was born in Opelousas, where the Chachere family still owns and operates Tony Chachere'sTony Chachere'sTony Chachere's refers to the Creole seasoning created by southern Louisiana chef Tony Chachere. Many people refer to the seasoning simply as "Tony's" while others call it "Tony Catchers." The correct pronunciation is "sass-sure-ee's". Today, the official name of the seasoning is Tony Chachere's...
Creole Foods. - Judge Benjamin PavyBenjamin PavyBenjamin Henry Pavy was a state district judge in St. Landry and Evangeline parishes, Louisiana, who was gerrymandered out of office through the intervention of his political rival, the powerful Huey Pierce Long, Jr...
, father-in-law of Carl WeissCarl WeissCarl Austin Weiss was a young Baton Rouge, Louisiana physician who assassinated U.S. Senator Huey Pierce Long, Jr. on September 8, 1935.-Baton Rouge doctor:...
, the young doctor who allegedly killed U.S. Senator Huey Pierce Long, Jr.Huey LongHuey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
, was from Opelousas. - Louisiana Chief Justice Albert Tate, Jr.Albert Tate, Jr.Albert Tate Jr. was a long-serving Louisiana judge known for his leadership of the legal profession. A Democrat, Tate served on the Louisiana First and Third Circuit Courts of Appeal, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans , and the Louisiana Supreme Court , also in New...
, who later served on the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans. - Devery HendersonDevery Henderson-New Orleans Saints:On November 5, 2006, Devery had his best day as a professional in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught 3 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Henderson had 158 receiving yards on 5 catches, including a 76 yard touchdown, against the Atlanta Falcons on November...
, New Orleans Saints wide receiver - Tex BrashearTex BrashearTex Brashear is a voice actor, who after a career in radio in Texas, Arizona and Los Angeles, made the transition into voice acting. Known as "The Man of 1000 Voices" , Brashear has been heard in thousands of cartoons, radio and television commercials, and has narrated many nature and historical...
, voice-over and cartoon voice actor - Marvin WhiteMarvin WhiteMarvin L. White is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
from Port Barre plays for the Cincinnati Bengals-safety - Janice Chenier-Taylor, former United States Trustee for Region 5, appointed by Attorney Janet Reno.
- Ivan L. R. Lemelle, Federal Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, nominated by President Willam J. Clinton, and former U.S. Majistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana.
- Bobby DunbarBobby DunbarBobby Dunbar was a 4-year old child whose disappearance and apparent recovery was widely reported in newspapers across the United States in 1912 and 1913. After an eight-month nationwide search, investigators believed that they had found the child in the hands of William Cantwell Walters of...
, A famous kidnapped child
Resources
- Jack Claude Nezat The Nezat And Allied Families 1630-2007 Lulu 2007 ISBN 978-2-9528339-2-9, ISBN 978-0-6151-5001-7