Purchase wax here from Louisiana Wax
Call 337-302-4240 for all orders-local pick-up only
Call 337-302-4240 for all orders-local pick-up only
Louisiana Towns and Cities
This page is dedicated to providing an extensive list of most of the towns and cities in Louisiana. The list does not contain many of the small towns that really add flavor to Louisiana's rich culture. We will be working on adding those towns. Also, feel free to contact us and tell us about any small towns we should include (include the history).
List (2)
List (3)
Ghost towns of Louisiana
List (2)
List (3)
Ghost towns of Louisiana
History behind the names of cities and towns in Louisiana
(most extensive list on the internet)
Some histories may be incorrect as many are not written down but passed down by word of mouth.
Louisiana- Named in 1682 by French explorer Robert Cavalier de la Salle in honor of France's King Louis XIV. It was originally much larger than it is today, stretching all the way to Canada.
Abbeville- Founded by Père Antoine Désiré Mégret in 1843 and originally called la Chapelle. The origin of the name Abbeville has two theories. Some believe Abbeville derives from Abbe Mergret, and ville for town, thus Abbes' town. Another theory, and one that is more followed, is that Abbeville, France was Pere Megret's birthplace and he named his new American town after his French birthplace.
Abita Springs- Originally a Choctaw village and named for the nearby medicinal springs. Over 100 years ago, nearby New Orleanians were drawn to its mild climate and fresh spring water.
Addis- Named after Texas and Pacific Railroad official, John Wesley Addis and incorporated in 1915. The area was originally settled by Valery Bergeron and then acquired by Isadore Daigle in 1831. He named it St. Delphine after his wife. August Levert purchased St. Delphine in 1871. The area later becomes known as Baton Rouge Junction and finally as Addis.
Albany- Founded in 1896 by Hungarians and originally named Arpadhon. Arpad was the tribe leader and hon means land in Hungarian.
Angola- Once the site of four different plantations and then consolidated into one in the 1830's. It was named after the African country where most of its slaves originated.
Arabi- Once the site of slaughterhouses and stockyards, the courthouse being burned in the 1890's gave the city its name. The locals identified with Arabi Pasha, a mispelled name of an Egyptian who torched Alexandria, Egypt while fighting the British. That's a stretch for naming a city.
Arcadia- Named by its first postmaster, Shadrick P. Sutton, Arcadia means beautiful hills. It became an incorporated village in 1855. Arcadia is famous as the final resting place of legendary criminals Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, "Bonnie and Clyde", after being gunned down by the Bienville Sheriff posse in 1934, just southwest of Arcadia.
Arnaudville- Originally an Attakapas indian village, and then called La Muriere , and then later named La Jonction. it was incorporated in 1870 deriving its name from the Arnaud brothers who donated the land to build a white and black church.
Ashland- Named in 1901 by Andrew Johnson, an Alabama native, after a town he lived in in Wisconsin.
Avery Island- Originally settled by Indians and named Petite Anse Island where the indians would boil down the briny water to extract salt and use it in trade. The island was later bought by the Marsh family of New Jersey. Their daughter Sarah Craig Marsh would marry Daniel Dudley Avery of Baton Rouge in1837 which gave the island its current name.
Basile- The small town located in Evangeline Parish was incorporated in 1911.
Bastrop- Named after the Baron de Bastrop, a Dutch embezzler who falsely claimed to be a nobleman. Bastrop escaped to Louisiana and was issued a Spanish land grant on what is now present day Bastrop.
Baton Rouge- The capital and second largest city in Louisiana derives its name from a red cypress pole covered with bloody fish that marked the tribal boundaries between the Houma and Bayou Goula tribes. French explorer Sieur d'Iberville saw this in 1699 and called it , "le baton rouge", which means red stick in english.
Bayou Goula- Area near Baton Rouge named after the Bayou Goula indian tribe that inhabited the area.
Belcher- Originally named Horseshoe, for its location on the Red River and because of a bayou of the same name. It is named after plantation owner John Clinton Belcher.
Bell City- Named after A.E. Bell. Workers on the local railroad would make large fires at night that could be seen from nearby Lake Charles. Onlookers would say, "look at Bell's City".
Bell Chasse- There are two theories on the origin of the name. Bell Chasse in french means good hunting, which would be quite appropriate for the area. The second theory is that it is named after Colonel Joseph D. Bellechasse, who lived in New Orleans in the late 1800's.
Berwick- Named after Pennsylvania surveyor, Thomas Berwick, who settled along the banks of the Atchafalaya River in the late 1700's.
Blanchard- Officially becoming a town in 1896, it was named after Senator Newton Crain Blanchard who eventually became Governor of Louisiana.
Bogalusa- Named after the Choctaw named creek, Bogue Lusa, which means smoky or dark waters and incorporated in 1914. Bogalusa has an extensive history with the Goodyear family of Buffalo, NY establishing the lumber industry there in 1906. The vast stands of virgin pine forests were the draw. The Goodyears opened the Great Southern Lumber Company plant and it became the largest sawmill in the world.
Bossier City- Originally called Bennett's Bluff, it was later named Bossier City in 1843 in honor of Creole General Pierre Evariste Jean Baptiste Bossier. Bossier became a cotton farmer in the area and is said to be one of the first settlers.
Boyce- Originally called Cotile Landing, it was later named Boyce in 1880 in honor of Judge Henry Boyce who owned the land the town was built on.
Breaux Bridge- Known as the "Crawfish Capital of the World", Acadian settler Firmin Breaux began buying up land in the area around 1771 from New Orleans merchant Jean Francois Ledee. In 1799, Breaux built a footbridge over Bayou Teche to help his family and neighbors pass over the bayou. People starting using the bridge as a landmark while giving directions. People would say, go to Pont de Breaux, or "Breaux's Bridge", and the name stuck.
Broussard- Originally called Cote Gelee (Frozen Hill) because of its hilly area and the terrible winter of 1784. It was later renamed in 1884 after Valsin Broussard, a prominent merchant in the area and a direct descendant of Gaurhept Broussard de Beau Soleil, one of the first 200 Acadians to arrive in Louisiana in 1765 aboard the Santo Domingo.
Bunkie- Originally named Irion, after Major Irion who came to the area in 1822 after the war of 1812. Story has it that Captain Samuel Haas, a Civil War veteran who settled in the area, was returning from a trip to New Orleans and brought his daughter back a little toy monkey. The daughter, Maccie Haas, mispronounced monkey, and would always call her toy her "Bunkie". The Captain picked up the name and began calling his daugher "his little Bunkie". The Captain was later given the opportunity to name the new Depot. He named it Bunkie and immortalized his daughter's nickname forever.
Buras- Informally settled in the 1840's, the settlements on the West Bank of the Mississippi River north of Fort Jackson, were collectively called the Quartiers de Burats (Burat Settlement). In 1854, Burat was later Anglecized to Buras.
Calhoun- This small town west of West Monroe is named after Statesman John C. Calhoun.
Cameron- Originally called Leesburg, the Father of Cameron Parish, Samuel P. Henry is said to have named it in 1902 in honor of his good friend, Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania. Both Henry and Cameron hailed from Lancaster County Pennsylvania. There is another theory to the naming of Cameron in that it was named after Robert Alexander Cameron, a soldier in the Confederate Army and a prominent politician at that time.
Campti- Eighteenth century records show the town as being named Compte or Campte, (French for account, as in bank account).
Cankton- Legend has it that there was a Doctor in the area, sometime in the 1800's, and he always carried a duck call with him. "Cank cank cank", everyone would here when he was around. The people started calling him Doctor Cank, and named the area Cankton after him.
Carencro- Originally called St. Pierre, it was later renamed Carencro. There are many theories as how Carencro got its name. There is one common theme in that Carencro is french for buzzard, and the buzzards were present in the area from the late 1600's to the 1800's. Somewhere in Carencro's history, a large flock of buzzards roosted or fed on something in the area and the locals referred to the Carencro's when referring to the area.
Carville- The town was named after the famous politician, James Carville's grandfather who was the first postman.
Cecilia- Cecilia was named in 1890 when Mrs. Andre Lastrapes was serving as the first postmistress. She was a music lover and named the town after St. Cecilia, patron saint of music.
Chalmette- Named after French plantation owner Martin de Lino de Chalmette. Chalmette is also the site of the infamous Battle of New Orleans where the American troops led by Andrew Jackson defeated the British in 1815.
Chataignier- French for Chinquapin. A chinquapin is a small type of chestnut tree that grew in the area until they were wiped out by a chestnut blight. Records show that Ursiana Manuel was the area's first settler in 1793. She received the land as a Spanish land grant. She hailed from New Orleans via Mexico.
Chatham- Named after the Chatham family who settled in the area in 1852.
Church Point- The areas first settler was Etienne d'Aigle II from Quebec. He settled the land along Bayou Plaquemine Brule where he would eventually donate land for a Jesuit chapel. The chapel was known as "La Chapelle de la pointe de Plaquemine Brule" (The chapel at the point of Burnt Persimmon). The English term was later shortened to Church Point which actually referred to the spire at the top of the chapel which could be seen for miles. The French translated it back into French as "La Pointe de l'Eglise". It is presently known as Church Point.
Clinton- Settled in 1824, the town was named after New York Governor DeWitt Clinton.
Colfax- Founded in 1864, the town was named after Schuyler M. Colfax, who served as US Vice President under President Ulysses S. Grant.
Convent- Originally called Baron when it was first settled in the early 1700's. It was the site of the St. Michael's Convent Order of the Sacred Heart, from 1825 -1932. It was later renamed Convent after S. Michael's.
Cottonport- Incorporated in 1888, this town on the banks of Bayou Rouge was named for the large cotton shipping industry that once existed there.
Covington- The area was originally owned by Jacque Drieux of New Orleans. John Wharton Collins purchased the land in 1813 and established the town of Wharton. The city was formally incorporated in 1816 and renamed Covington. There are two theories as to how Covington got its name. Some say it is named after General Leonard Covington, a hero of the War of 1812. Others say it was named after the Blue Grass whiskey enjoyed by the local officials which was made in Covington, Kentucky.
Crowley- Originally named Crowley Switch, it was founded by brothers C.C. and W.W Duson. They named the settlement after Pat Crowley (sometime in the mid to late 1800's), an Irish contractor who paved the roadbed for the Southern Pacific Railroad through Acadia Parish.
Denham Springs- Ground water springs that come to the surface at the base of a low lying ridge have identified the city since the 1850's. It has been named Amite Springs, Hill's Springs and finally Denham Springs., after William Denham of Mississippi. He married the daughter of Alexander Hogue, one of the original land owners of the area.
DeRidder- Originally named Schovall and Miersburg, its name was later changed to DeRidder. The city is named after Ella de Ridder, the dutch sister in law of the man who brought the railroad to the area.
Des Allemands- The area was originally settled by German immigrants in 1721. The French called the area "Des Allemands" which means "The Germans" in English.
Destrahan- Named after Jean N. Destrahan, French plantation owner in the area who served as the President of the Territorial Council and was appointed to the United States Senate in 1812.
Dodson- The area was originally settled in 1850 and named Reek's Deadening. Deadening was a method used long ago to clear large tracts of timber for farming. In 1900, Contractor J.M. Dodson came to the area with his daughter Lena. Lena was the belle of the town and the town was renamed Lena in her honor. It was later discovered that a Lena, LA already existed and the name was changed again to Dodson.
Donaldsonville- Named after landowner William Donaldson, who in 1806 commissioned Barthelemy Lafon to plan a new town. It should be noted that Donaldsonville served as the State's Capital for one year in 1830.
Dry Prong- Incorporated as a village in 1945. The are gets its name from a family that moved to the area in 1870 to build a sawmill. To power the mill, they built a water wheel. They discovered that the creek went dry every summer thus eliminating any power generation.
Dubach- The Colvin family originally wanted to name the town Colvin, but there was another Colvin, LA already. A young man of German descent from Eau Claire, WI came to the area and bought land for a sawmill and it became the largest sawmill in North Louisiana. His name was Fred B. Dubach.
Dupont- (Avoyelles Parish) The area was settled by Mr. Joachim Dupont and named in his honor. Another story, in 1902, the townspeople were trying to come up with a name for the new post office. Within site of Mayor Pierre Guidroz was a box of Dupont shotgun shells. He recommended naming the town Dupont after the box of shotgun shells. The first story sounds more believable.
Duson- Incorporated in 1909 and named after local land developer brothers, C.C. and W.W. Duson.
Edgard- Originally named St. John the Baptist, it was later renamed in 1850 to Edgard, after its first postmaster Edgard Perret.
Elton- Incorporated as a village in 1911, it is believed that the name came from the wife of pioneer settler J.M. Henderson. She was reading a book, and the English town in the book was called Elton.
Estherwood- Incorporated as a village in 1901, there are a coupe of theories to the origin of its name. Origianlly called "Tortue" (Turtle) and "Coulee Trief" or "Trive". Jean Baptiste Trief was a mysterious man believed to be one of Jean Lafitte;s pirates. The area was later renamed Estherwood possibly after Dr. Wood and a railroad executive's wife, Esther. Another theory is that the trains would stop there for fuel wood.
Eunice- Named after land developer C.C. Duson's wife in 1893.
Farmerville- Named after a local family (probably Miles Farmer) in the area in 1839.
Ferriday- One of the areas early settlers was Calvin Smith who had one son and seven daughters. Two of his daughters married Ferridays, Joe and William. The town was named after William Ferriday and incorporated in 1906.
Folsom- The town was named after President Grover Cleveland's wife, Francis Folsom, who remains the youngest first lady ever at 21.
Fordoche- The first post office was erected here in 1854 and there are two theories as to how it got its name. The first is that it refers to a Indian Choctaw term meaning "wild animal lair". The second is that it refers to the french word "fordoche", which refers to underbrush found in a bayou bottom. It was incorporated as a village in 1961 and became a town in 1994.
Franklin- Originally called Carlin's Settlement in 1808, Franklin was named after Benjamin Franklin and incorporated into a town in 1820.
Franklinton- Founded in 1819, it was originally 5 miles downstream but it was moved in 1826 to land donated by John Bickham, Sr.. It was renamed Franklinton to eliminate any confusion with the town of Franklin.
French Settlement- Originally called Londell, the present name is derived from Joseph Salassi's general store. Steamboats from New Orleans bound for Salassi's store began referring to their destination point as "French Settlement", and the name stuck. It was incorporated in 1965.
Gilbert- The town is named after one of the early families that settled the area.
Golden Meadow- Incorporated into a town in 1950.
Gonzales- Origianlly called Edenborn, "Tee-John Gonzales'" opened a general store and post office in the area. When the railroad came through, they changed the name from Edenborn to the name of the settlement's post office.
Grand Cane- Incorporated as a village in 1899, it is named after the area called the "Grand Cane Territory" which was at the intersection of two wagon trails.
Grand Chenier- Chenier literally means "place of oaks", and refers to the oak lined ridges that rise drastically from the marshes.
Grand Coteau- French for "big sloping ridge". It is named for its place on a long sloping ridge.
Grand Isle- French for "Big island". The island was named for its large size.
Greenwell Springs- Named after Robert Greenwell who purchased the area in 1850. The area is home to 10 purportedly medicinal springs.
Gretna- Settled by German immigrants in 1836 and originally called Mechanicsham. It was incorporated in 1913.
Grosse Tete- French for "Big Head". Legend has that the area is named for a big headed Choctaw Indian that lived along the banks of the bayou.
Gueydan- Declared a village in 1899, it was named after founding father Jean Pierre Gueydan of St. Bonnet France. It was originally called Gueydanburg and then Lockwood before becoming Gueydan.
Hackberry- Named after the abundance of Hackberry trees present in the area.
Hahnville- Named after the 19th Governor of Louisiana, George Michael Hahn, of Klingenmunster, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He moved to the area via New York and Texas and arrived in New Orleans in 1840. He moved to a plantation in the area and established the village of Hahnville.
Hammond- Named for Swedish immigrant, Peter Hammond (possibly anglicized from Per av Hammerdal), who settled the area around 1818.
Harrisonburg- Named after George Harrison who settled in the area in 1818 and established the town.
Hayes- Originally called “La Savanne des Dugas", or Dugas' Pasture. Thomas Hayes moved to the area in 1832 and had a son named Toliver Hayes. Toliver would sell land to the railroad for a depot site and the area took on his name.
Haynesville- Settled in 1818, the area received its name from farmer Samuel Haynes of Georgia who moved to the area in 1843.
Hessmer- Named by railroad tycoon William Edenborn in 1903.
Holden- Named after James Mahlon Holden. The railroad would purchase land from him when bringing the railroad through the area. The post office was established in 1909.
Homer- The town was named after the Greek poet Homer. The town was laid out around the courthouse in 1850 by Frank Vaughn.
Hornbeck- Settled in the 1830's, F.A. Hornbeck started to develop the area in 1897.
Houma- Named for the Houma Indians who inhabited the area. "Houma" means red in Houma indian language, and their war emblem was the crawfish. It was incorporated in 1848.
Independence- Known as "Little Italy" because of its large Italian community that began settling in the area in the 1880's. This town was originally called "Rabbit Town" and then "Uncle Sam". Welch immigrant Christopher Evans eventually changed the undignified name to Independence.
Iota- Originally called "Point Aux Loups" (Wolves Point) and then Cartville before being changed to Iota.
Iowa- Named after the large number of Iowa natives that were lured to the area with promises of excellent rice producing land.
Jackson- Originally called Bears Corner for the large numbers of bears that crossed Thompson's Creek. It was eventually changed to Jackson to honor General Andrew Jackson who was said to have camped in the area on a return trip to the north after his 1815 Battle of New Orleans.
Jeanerette- Named after John W. Jeanerette. He came to the area in the 182o's as a tutor and later opened a store and a saloon.
Jennings- The area was settled in the 1880's and named after Jennings McComb, a contractor for the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Kaplan- Named after Abrom Kaplan who bought a plantation the area in 1901.
Kenner- Founded by Minor Kenner in 1885 on land that consisted of three plantations.
Kentwood- The town was founded by Amos Kent in 1893.
Kinder- Actually named after Yankee soldier James A. Kinder who returned to the area after the Civil War in the late 1800's.
Krotz Springs- Originally called Latania (fan palm), it was later renamed after Ohio native C.W. Krotz who came to the area at the turn of the 19th century and set up a sawmill. Krotz thought he bought property on top of oil, but when he drilled a well, all he hit was water. The water was used to power the sawmill.
Labadieville- Originally called "Brulee Labadie", it gets its name from French pioneer and resident Jean Louis LaBadie.
Lacassine- There are two theories as to how the town was named. The first is that the area was named after Comanche Indian Chied Lacassine who migrated to the area in the early 1800's to hunt and fish. Another theory is that its name derives from the Choctaw word for hunting ground which was "La Cassine". Many agree the name sounds more French than Indian though.
Lafayette- Originally founded in 1821 as Vermilionville by Acadian Jean Mouton. It was later renamed to Lafayette in honor of Marquis de Lafayette.
Lafitte- Named after the infamous Pirate Jean Lafitte.
Lake Arthur- The areas south of the Lake were originally called Lakeside and Shellbeach. In the late 1700's Acadian families started moving into the area and called it Petit lac Mentau, after the Attakapas Indian chief who lived in the area. Arthur Leblanc was one of those early Acadians to settle the area and people begain referring to it as le lac d'Arthur.
Lake Charles- The first Europeans to settle the area were Martin LeBleu and his wife Dela Marion of Bordeaux, France. They settled the area what is now Lebleu Settlement. Charles Sallier, one of the areas first settlers married LeBleus daughter and they settled on the shores of the lake of what is now Lake Charles. People began referring to the area as Charlies Lake and later Charles' town or Charleston in Sallier's honor.
LaPlace- Named after early settler Basile LaPlace.
LeCompte- The town was named after a famous race horse owned by the Wells family named LeComte. When the railroad painted their depot sign, a "P" was added and it has been there ever since.
Livingston- The town was named after Livingston Parish, which was named after Edward Livingston. The town was incorporated in 1955.
Lockport- Founded in 1835 and incorporated in 1899. It is named after the locks that separate Bayou Lafourche from the Old Intracoastal canal.
Loreauville- A town of many names. It was originally called Fausse Point, then Dugasville for the Dugas family in the area. It then changed to Picouville in 1871 and then to Loreauville for Ozaire Loreau who donated land for the Old Catholic Church and Cemetary.
Lottie- Located about five miles west of Livonia, this rural community had to come up with a name when it was given a post office in 1900. The story goes that Lottie Raby's name was chosen and it was named just that.
Luling- Originally named St. Denis, then referred to as Old Town or Cajun Town. It was the site of numerous sugar plantations which gave their names to many of the subdivisions in the area. Luling finally received its final name from Florenz Albrecht Luling, a cotton merchant from Bremen Germany who married Marie Georgina Hermann in New Orleans.
Lutcher- Named after sawmiller and businessman, Henry J. Lutcher, who built a sawmill in the area after purchasing fifty square miles of virgin cypress swamp. Originally from Williamsport, PA, he also helped establish Orange, TX as the timber processing capital of the south.
Madisonville- Nestled on the banks of the Tchefuncte River. It was settled by Jean/Juan Baham who originally called it Cocquille or Cokie because of the abundance of sea shells in the area. It was later renamed in honor of President James Madison.
Mamou- Mamou's name origination has many explanations. One is that a large wooly mammoth tusk was found in the area and the French people referred to it as "mamouth," or mamou. Another is that it is simply named after the french surname Mamou. The area was called Mamou Prairie as early as the 1800's and C.C. Duson subdivided the property and began selling property there. The term "mamou" could also refer to the vast prairie which derives from the word "mammoth," or vast and expansive. Yet another is that there was an Indian chief in the area called "Chief Mamou."
Mandeville- A once popular destination for wealthy New Orleanians wishing to escape the heat, it was named after Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville, a French-Creole American from New Orleans.
Mansfield- Named after the Mansfield Railway Transportation Company which operated in the area in the late 1800's and early 1900's.
Many- Named after James B. Many, the popular Colonel serving at nearby Fort Jesup.
Maringouin- French for "mosquito," it was named after it.
Marion- Small town in Union parish named after the Alabama hometown of many of its first settlers.
Marksville- Named after the traveling Italian, Marc Eliche, who's wagon broke down in the area. After recognizing the areas beauty and marrying a Julie Carmouche from nearby point Coupee, he set up a trading post. From then the area has been referred to as"Marc's Ville."
Marrero- Named after Louisiana politician and founder of the Marrero Land Co.
Marthaville- An unincorporated area in Natchitoches Parish. The areas founder named it honor of his wife, Martha Rains.
Maurice- Originally referred to as "Mauriceville". It was named after Maurice Vellien, a native of Savoy France who sold goods in New Orleans, New Iberia, and Milton. His wife was from the area and they built a home and a grocery store there.
Mer Rouge- Named for the "wavy red soil" of the hill separating Bastrop and Mer Rouge.
Mermentau- Originally named after Indian Chief Nementou. Through clerical error it was misspelled as Mementou, and then later mispelled by the French as Mermentau, sinch "Mer" is french for water.
Metairie- Derived from the french term "moitie," meaning one half and the french term "moitoire." A motoire derives from the 12th century feudal days of Europe to describe a particular type of French farming relationship where a landowner would lease a portion of property to a farmer for 50% of the crops or produce grown by the tenant and no money as rent. A couple hundred years ago, all farms along Bayou Metairie began being referred to as Metairie.
Milton- Named after Dr. Milton R. Cushman, and son Milton S. Cushman, who came to the area in 1855 to practice medicine. Cushman petitioned for a post office at the Desire Broussard place and became the first postmaster. When local postal officials asked for a name, the wife of Dr. Cushman chose Milton.
Minden- Established in 1836 by New York native, Charles H. Veeder, who named it after Minden, Germany.
Monroe- Originally named Fort Miro, the town was named after the powered paddle-wheeler, James Monroe, which of course was named after the fifth president of the United States.
Morgan City- Originally named Tiger Island, because of a wild cat often seen in the area, and later Brashear City, after the Kentucky physician Walter Brashear, who bought large land tracts in the area. It was later renamed Morgan City after rail and steamship magnate Charles Morgan, who first dredged the Atchafalaya Bay Ship Channel to accommodate ocean-going vessels.
Morganza- Named after the plantation owned by Charles Morgan, the first American Sheriff of Point Coupee Parish.
Morse- Originally settled by farmers from Illinois and Iowa, it was named after a railroad official in the area.
Napoleonville- Originally named "Canal," in reference to the canal that connected the town to Lake Verret. The town was later named by a soldier who served under Napoleon Bonaparte. That soldier is buried in the nearby town of Plattenville.
Natchitoches- Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as a French outpost, and incorporated in 1819, it was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe in the area. It is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase.
Negreet- There a couple of explanations regarding the origin of its name. The first is that the town was simply named after and Indian chief from the area. The second, and more probable, is that the town was named after the plentiful Black Haw trees in the area. In Spanish, "Negrito" is translated as "Black, hence the name "Negreet." Early maps show the area as Black Haw Creek, which the Spanish renamed as Bayou Negreet.
New Iberia- Settled by the Spanish around 1779, it was originally named "Nuevo Iberia" by the Malagueno Spaniards in honor of their homeland. Translated, it meant, "New Land", since they were from the Iberian Peninsula region. It has since been renamed New Iberia, reflecting both English and Spanish words.
New Orleans- Named after Phillippe d'Orleans, Duke of Orleans, who reigned as regent for King Louis XV from 1715-1723. On land taken from the Chtimachas who told the French the area flooded, it was originally named La Nouvelle-Orleans in 1718 by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville who headed the French Mississippi Company.
New Roads- Dating back to 1822, a six block settlement was built at the end of a "New Road" connecting False River to the Mississippi River. It was originally called "Poste de Pointe Coupee'. "
New Sarpy- Named after plantation owner Leon Sarpy of Tennessee who settled the area.
Newellton- Named for Edward Newell by his son, John David Stokes Newell, Sr., a lawyer and planter. Edward Newell settled in the area in 1834 and hailed from North Carolina.
New Llano- originally called Stables, LA, it was renamed to New Llano, when in 1917 a group of 200 members of the Llano Del Rio Cooperative Colony from California settled in the area. It continued to operate as a Socialist commune until 1939.
Norco- Named for the New Orleans Refining Company which was located there in 1926.
Norwood- Incorporated in 1948, it was named for Mr. Abel J. Norwood who donated the original 75 acre tract that formed the town.
Oakdale- Originally named "Dunnsville" after William T. Dunn, it was renamed to "Oakdale" when the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad came to the area.
Oberlin- Named after Johann Friedrich Oberlin.
Oil City- When oil was discovered in the area in 1905, Howard Hughes was instrumental in bringing a post office in and giving the city its name
Olla- Named for Dr. Frank Mills' daughter, Olla Mills, who set aside forty acres for the town-site in 1891.
Opelousas- Originally called le Poste de Opelousas, it was a stopping point for travelers between Natchitoches and New Orleans. It's named for the indigenous Opelousas Indian tribe and is Louisiana's third oldest city.
Paincourtville- The town supposedly got its name from an early visitor who was unable to buy a single loaf of bread. In French this translates to "short of bread town." The town was originally settled by French and Islenos, or Canary Islanders of Spanish descent, and later exiled Acadians.
Paradis- French for "Paradise," this town is located southwest of New Orleans.
Patterson- In 1832, Captain John Patterson from Indiana settled his family there. Originally named Dutch Prairie, Dutch Settlement, and Dutchtown, the name was changed to Pattersonville and later Patterson after the Captain.
Pearl River- Originally named "Haloo," because of the many loggers shouting at each other across the Pearl River. it was eventually changed to Pearl, Pearlville, and then Pearl River.
Perry- Located in Vermilion Parish. The town was named after Kentuckian Robert Perry who was contracted to build the bridge over the river.
Pilottown- Located about ten miles from the the now vanished town it replaced, La Balize, which is French for "seamark." Pilottown serves as a base for river pilots across the bar and up and down the Mississippi River.
Plaquemine- Settled in 1775 and named for the Indian word Plakemine, which means persimmons.
Pleasant Hill- Located in Sabine parish, it is the location of "The Battle of Pleasant Hill," which was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, west of the Mississippi.
Point a la Hache- Named by the early Franch settlers, its name means "Axe Point or Cape."
Pollock- Named in honor of the Manager of the Big Creek Sawmill and Lumber Company in the area, James W. Pollock.
Ponchatoula- Named by the Choctaw Indians after the Spanish moss hanging from the trees. The name means flowing hair.
Abbeville- Founded by Père Antoine Désiré Mégret in 1843 and originally called la Chapelle. The origin of the name Abbeville has two theories. Some believe Abbeville derives from Abbe Mergret, and ville for town, thus Abbes' town. Another theory, and one that is more followed, is that Abbeville, France was Pere Megret's birthplace and he named his new American town after his French birthplace.
Abita Springs- Originally a Choctaw village and named for the nearby medicinal springs. Over 100 years ago, nearby New Orleanians were drawn to its mild climate and fresh spring water.
Addis- Named after Texas and Pacific Railroad official, John Wesley Addis and incorporated in 1915. The area was originally settled by Valery Bergeron and then acquired by Isadore Daigle in 1831. He named it St. Delphine after his wife. August Levert purchased St. Delphine in 1871. The area later becomes known as Baton Rouge Junction and finally as Addis.
Albany- Founded in 1896 by Hungarians and originally named Arpadhon. Arpad was the tribe leader and hon means land in Hungarian.
Angola- Once the site of four different plantations and then consolidated into one in the 1830's. It was named after the African country where most of its slaves originated.
Arabi- Once the site of slaughterhouses and stockyards, the courthouse being burned in the 1890's gave the city its name. The locals identified with Arabi Pasha, a mispelled name of an Egyptian who torched Alexandria, Egypt while fighting the British. That's a stretch for naming a city.
Arcadia- Named by its first postmaster, Shadrick P. Sutton, Arcadia means beautiful hills. It became an incorporated village in 1855. Arcadia is famous as the final resting place of legendary criminals Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, "Bonnie and Clyde", after being gunned down by the Bienville Sheriff posse in 1934, just southwest of Arcadia.
Arnaudville- Originally an Attakapas indian village, and then called La Muriere , and then later named La Jonction. it was incorporated in 1870 deriving its name from the Arnaud brothers who donated the land to build a white and black church.
Ashland- Named in 1901 by Andrew Johnson, an Alabama native, after a town he lived in in Wisconsin.
Avery Island- Originally settled by Indians and named Petite Anse Island where the indians would boil down the briny water to extract salt and use it in trade. The island was later bought by the Marsh family of New Jersey. Their daughter Sarah Craig Marsh would marry Daniel Dudley Avery of Baton Rouge in1837 which gave the island its current name.
Basile- The small town located in Evangeline Parish was incorporated in 1911.
Bastrop- Named after the Baron de Bastrop, a Dutch embezzler who falsely claimed to be a nobleman. Bastrop escaped to Louisiana and was issued a Spanish land grant on what is now present day Bastrop.
Baton Rouge- The capital and second largest city in Louisiana derives its name from a red cypress pole covered with bloody fish that marked the tribal boundaries between the Houma and Bayou Goula tribes. French explorer Sieur d'Iberville saw this in 1699 and called it , "le baton rouge", which means red stick in english.
Bayou Goula- Area near Baton Rouge named after the Bayou Goula indian tribe that inhabited the area.
Belcher- Originally named Horseshoe, for its location on the Red River and because of a bayou of the same name. It is named after plantation owner John Clinton Belcher.
Bell City- Named after A.E. Bell. Workers on the local railroad would make large fires at night that could be seen from nearby Lake Charles. Onlookers would say, "look at Bell's City".
Bell Chasse- There are two theories on the origin of the name. Bell Chasse in french means good hunting, which would be quite appropriate for the area. The second theory is that it is named after Colonel Joseph D. Bellechasse, who lived in New Orleans in the late 1800's.
Berwick- Named after Pennsylvania surveyor, Thomas Berwick, who settled along the banks of the Atchafalaya River in the late 1700's.
Blanchard- Officially becoming a town in 1896, it was named after Senator Newton Crain Blanchard who eventually became Governor of Louisiana.
Bogalusa- Named after the Choctaw named creek, Bogue Lusa, which means smoky or dark waters and incorporated in 1914. Bogalusa has an extensive history with the Goodyear family of Buffalo, NY establishing the lumber industry there in 1906. The vast stands of virgin pine forests were the draw. The Goodyears opened the Great Southern Lumber Company plant and it became the largest sawmill in the world.
Bossier City- Originally called Bennett's Bluff, it was later named Bossier City in 1843 in honor of Creole General Pierre Evariste Jean Baptiste Bossier. Bossier became a cotton farmer in the area and is said to be one of the first settlers.
Boyce- Originally called Cotile Landing, it was later named Boyce in 1880 in honor of Judge Henry Boyce who owned the land the town was built on.
Breaux Bridge- Known as the "Crawfish Capital of the World", Acadian settler Firmin Breaux began buying up land in the area around 1771 from New Orleans merchant Jean Francois Ledee. In 1799, Breaux built a footbridge over Bayou Teche to help his family and neighbors pass over the bayou. People starting using the bridge as a landmark while giving directions. People would say, go to Pont de Breaux, or "Breaux's Bridge", and the name stuck.
Broussard- Originally called Cote Gelee (Frozen Hill) because of its hilly area and the terrible winter of 1784. It was later renamed in 1884 after Valsin Broussard, a prominent merchant in the area and a direct descendant of Gaurhept Broussard de Beau Soleil, one of the first 200 Acadians to arrive in Louisiana in 1765 aboard the Santo Domingo.
Bunkie- Originally named Irion, after Major Irion who came to the area in 1822 after the war of 1812. Story has it that Captain Samuel Haas, a Civil War veteran who settled in the area, was returning from a trip to New Orleans and brought his daughter back a little toy monkey. The daughter, Maccie Haas, mispronounced monkey, and would always call her toy her "Bunkie". The Captain picked up the name and began calling his daugher "his little Bunkie". The Captain was later given the opportunity to name the new Depot. He named it Bunkie and immortalized his daughter's nickname forever.
Buras- Informally settled in the 1840's, the settlements on the West Bank of the Mississippi River north of Fort Jackson, were collectively called the Quartiers de Burats (Burat Settlement). In 1854, Burat was later Anglecized to Buras.
Calhoun- This small town west of West Monroe is named after Statesman John C. Calhoun.
Cameron- Originally called Leesburg, the Father of Cameron Parish, Samuel P. Henry is said to have named it in 1902 in honor of his good friend, Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania. Both Henry and Cameron hailed from Lancaster County Pennsylvania. There is another theory to the naming of Cameron in that it was named after Robert Alexander Cameron, a soldier in the Confederate Army and a prominent politician at that time.
Campti- Eighteenth century records show the town as being named Compte or Campte, (French for account, as in bank account).
Cankton- Legend has it that there was a Doctor in the area, sometime in the 1800's, and he always carried a duck call with him. "Cank cank cank", everyone would here when he was around. The people started calling him Doctor Cank, and named the area Cankton after him.
Carencro- Originally called St. Pierre, it was later renamed Carencro. There are many theories as how Carencro got its name. There is one common theme in that Carencro is french for buzzard, and the buzzards were present in the area from the late 1600's to the 1800's. Somewhere in Carencro's history, a large flock of buzzards roosted or fed on something in the area and the locals referred to the Carencro's when referring to the area.
Carville- The town was named after the famous politician, James Carville's grandfather who was the first postman.
Cecilia- Cecilia was named in 1890 when Mrs. Andre Lastrapes was serving as the first postmistress. She was a music lover and named the town after St. Cecilia, patron saint of music.
Chalmette- Named after French plantation owner Martin de Lino de Chalmette. Chalmette is also the site of the infamous Battle of New Orleans where the American troops led by Andrew Jackson defeated the British in 1815.
Chataignier- French for Chinquapin. A chinquapin is a small type of chestnut tree that grew in the area until they were wiped out by a chestnut blight. Records show that Ursiana Manuel was the area's first settler in 1793. She received the land as a Spanish land grant. She hailed from New Orleans via Mexico.
Chatham- Named after the Chatham family who settled in the area in 1852.
Church Point- The areas first settler was Etienne d'Aigle II from Quebec. He settled the land along Bayou Plaquemine Brule where he would eventually donate land for a Jesuit chapel. The chapel was known as "La Chapelle de la pointe de Plaquemine Brule" (The chapel at the point of Burnt Persimmon). The English term was later shortened to Church Point which actually referred to the spire at the top of the chapel which could be seen for miles. The French translated it back into French as "La Pointe de l'Eglise". It is presently known as Church Point.
Clinton- Settled in 1824, the town was named after New York Governor DeWitt Clinton.
Colfax- Founded in 1864, the town was named after Schuyler M. Colfax, who served as US Vice President under President Ulysses S. Grant.
Convent- Originally called Baron when it was first settled in the early 1700's. It was the site of the St. Michael's Convent Order of the Sacred Heart, from 1825 -1932. It was later renamed Convent after S. Michael's.
Cottonport- Incorporated in 1888, this town on the banks of Bayou Rouge was named for the large cotton shipping industry that once existed there.
Covington- The area was originally owned by Jacque Drieux of New Orleans. John Wharton Collins purchased the land in 1813 and established the town of Wharton. The city was formally incorporated in 1816 and renamed Covington. There are two theories as to how Covington got its name. Some say it is named after General Leonard Covington, a hero of the War of 1812. Others say it was named after the Blue Grass whiskey enjoyed by the local officials which was made in Covington, Kentucky.
Crowley- Originally named Crowley Switch, it was founded by brothers C.C. and W.W Duson. They named the settlement after Pat Crowley (sometime in the mid to late 1800's), an Irish contractor who paved the roadbed for the Southern Pacific Railroad through Acadia Parish.
Denham Springs- Ground water springs that come to the surface at the base of a low lying ridge have identified the city since the 1850's. It has been named Amite Springs, Hill's Springs and finally Denham Springs., after William Denham of Mississippi. He married the daughter of Alexander Hogue, one of the original land owners of the area.
DeRidder- Originally named Schovall and Miersburg, its name was later changed to DeRidder. The city is named after Ella de Ridder, the dutch sister in law of the man who brought the railroad to the area.
Des Allemands- The area was originally settled by German immigrants in 1721. The French called the area "Des Allemands" which means "The Germans" in English.
Destrahan- Named after Jean N. Destrahan, French plantation owner in the area who served as the President of the Territorial Council and was appointed to the United States Senate in 1812.
Dodson- The area was originally settled in 1850 and named Reek's Deadening. Deadening was a method used long ago to clear large tracts of timber for farming. In 1900, Contractor J.M. Dodson came to the area with his daughter Lena. Lena was the belle of the town and the town was renamed Lena in her honor. It was later discovered that a Lena, LA already existed and the name was changed again to Dodson.
Donaldsonville- Named after landowner William Donaldson, who in 1806 commissioned Barthelemy Lafon to plan a new town. It should be noted that Donaldsonville served as the State's Capital for one year in 1830.
Dry Prong- Incorporated as a village in 1945. The are gets its name from a family that moved to the area in 1870 to build a sawmill. To power the mill, they built a water wheel. They discovered that the creek went dry every summer thus eliminating any power generation.
Dubach- The Colvin family originally wanted to name the town Colvin, but there was another Colvin, LA already. A young man of German descent from Eau Claire, WI came to the area and bought land for a sawmill and it became the largest sawmill in North Louisiana. His name was Fred B. Dubach.
Dupont- (Avoyelles Parish) The area was settled by Mr. Joachim Dupont and named in his honor. Another story, in 1902, the townspeople were trying to come up with a name for the new post office. Within site of Mayor Pierre Guidroz was a box of Dupont shotgun shells. He recommended naming the town Dupont after the box of shotgun shells. The first story sounds more believable.
Duson- Incorporated in 1909 and named after local land developer brothers, C.C. and W.W. Duson.
Edgard- Originally named St. John the Baptist, it was later renamed in 1850 to Edgard, after its first postmaster Edgard Perret.
Elton- Incorporated as a village in 1911, it is believed that the name came from the wife of pioneer settler J.M. Henderson. She was reading a book, and the English town in the book was called Elton.
Estherwood- Incorporated as a village in 1901, there are a coupe of theories to the origin of its name. Origianlly called "Tortue" (Turtle) and "Coulee Trief" or "Trive". Jean Baptiste Trief was a mysterious man believed to be one of Jean Lafitte;s pirates. The area was later renamed Estherwood possibly after Dr. Wood and a railroad executive's wife, Esther. Another theory is that the trains would stop there for fuel wood.
Eunice- Named after land developer C.C. Duson's wife in 1893.
Farmerville- Named after a local family (probably Miles Farmer) in the area in 1839.
Ferriday- One of the areas early settlers was Calvin Smith who had one son and seven daughters. Two of his daughters married Ferridays, Joe and William. The town was named after William Ferriday and incorporated in 1906.
Folsom- The town was named after President Grover Cleveland's wife, Francis Folsom, who remains the youngest first lady ever at 21.
Fordoche- The first post office was erected here in 1854 and there are two theories as to how it got its name. The first is that it refers to a Indian Choctaw term meaning "wild animal lair". The second is that it refers to the french word "fordoche", which refers to underbrush found in a bayou bottom. It was incorporated as a village in 1961 and became a town in 1994.
Franklin- Originally called Carlin's Settlement in 1808, Franklin was named after Benjamin Franklin and incorporated into a town in 1820.
Franklinton- Founded in 1819, it was originally 5 miles downstream but it was moved in 1826 to land donated by John Bickham, Sr.. It was renamed Franklinton to eliminate any confusion with the town of Franklin.
French Settlement- Originally called Londell, the present name is derived from Joseph Salassi's general store. Steamboats from New Orleans bound for Salassi's store began referring to their destination point as "French Settlement", and the name stuck. It was incorporated in 1965.
Gilbert- The town is named after one of the early families that settled the area.
Golden Meadow- Incorporated into a town in 1950.
Gonzales- Origianlly called Edenborn, "Tee-John Gonzales'" opened a general store and post office in the area. When the railroad came through, they changed the name from Edenborn to the name of the settlement's post office.
Grand Cane- Incorporated as a village in 1899, it is named after the area called the "Grand Cane Territory" which was at the intersection of two wagon trails.
Grand Chenier- Chenier literally means "place of oaks", and refers to the oak lined ridges that rise drastically from the marshes.
Grand Coteau- French for "big sloping ridge". It is named for its place on a long sloping ridge.
Grand Isle- French for "Big island". The island was named for its large size.
Greenwell Springs- Named after Robert Greenwell who purchased the area in 1850. The area is home to 10 purportedly medicinal springs.
Gretna- Settled by German immigrants in 1836 and originally called Mechanicsham. It was incorporated in 1913.
Grosse Tete- French for "Big Head". Legend has that the area is named for a big headed Choctaw Indian that lived along the banks of the bayou.
Gueydan- Declared a village in 1899, it was named after founding father Jean Pierre Gueydan of St. Bonnet France. It was originally called Gueydanburg and then Lockwood before becoming Gueydan.
Hackberry- Named after the abundance of Hackberry trees present in the area.
Hahnville- Named after the 19th Governor of Louisiana, George Michael Hahn, of Klingenmunster, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He moved to the area via New York and Texas and arrived in New Orleans in 1840. He moved to a plantation in the area and established the village of Hahnville.
Hammond- Named for Swedish immigrant, Peter Hammond (possibly anglicized from Per av Hammerdal), who settled the area around 1818.
Harrisonburg- Named after George Harrison who settled in the area in 1818 and established the town.
Hayes- Originally called “La Savanne des Dugas", or Dugas' Pasture. Thomas Hayes moved to the area in 1832 and had a son named Toliver Hayes. Toliver would sell land to the railroad for a depot site and the area took on his name.
Haynesville- Settled in 1818, the area received its name from farmer Samuel Haynes of Georgia who moved to the area in 1843.
Hessmer- Named by railroad tycoon William Edenborn in 1903.
Holden- Named after James Mahlon Holden. The railroad would purchase land from him when bringing the railroad through the area. The post office was established in 1909.
Homer- The town was named after the Greek poet Homer. The town was laid out around the courthouse in 1850 by Frank Vaughn.
Hornbeck- Settled in the 1830's, F.A. Hornbeck started to develop the area in 1897.
Houma- Named for the Houma Indians who inhabited the area. "Houma" means red in Houma indian language, and their war emblem was the crawfish. It was incorporated in 1848.
Independence- Known as "Little Italy" because of its large Italian community that began settling in the area in the 1880's. This town was originally called "Rabbit Town" and then "Uncle Sam". Welch immigrant Christopher Evans eventually changed the undignified name to Independence.
Iota- Originally called "Point Aux Loups" (Wolves Point) and then Cartville before being changed to Iota.
Iowa- Named after the large number of Iowa natives that were lured to the area with promises of excellent rice producing land.
Jackson- Originally called Bears Corner for the large numbers of bears that crossed Thompson's Creek. It was eventually changed to Jackson to honor General Andrew Jackson who was said to have camped in the area on a return trip to the north after his 1815 Battle of New Orleans.
Jeanerette- Named after John W. Jeanerette. He came to the area in the 182o's as a tutor and later opened a store and a saloon.
Jennings- The area was settled in the 1880's and named after Jennings McComb, a contractor for the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Kaplan- Named after Abrom Kaplan who bought a plantation the area in 1901.
Kenner- Founded by Minor Kenner in 1885 on land that consisted of three plantations.
Kentwood- The town was founded by Amos Kent in 1893.
Kinder- Actually named after Yankee soldier James A. Kinder who returned to the area after the Civil War in the late 1800's.
Krotz Springs- Originally called Latania (fan palm), it was later renamed after Ohio native C.W. Krotz who came to the area at the turn of the 19th century and set up a sawmill. Krotz thought he bought property on top of oil, but when he drilled a well, all he hit was water. The water was used to power the sawmill.
Labadieville- Originally called "Brulee Labadie", it gets its name from French pioneer and resident Jean Louis LaBadie.
Lacassine- There are two theories as to how the town was named. The first is that the area was named after Comanche Indian Chied Lacassine who migrated to the area in the early 1800's to hunt and fish. Another theory is that its name derives from the Choctaw word for hunting ground which was "La Cassine". Many agree the name sounds more French than Indian though.
Lafayette- Originally founded in 1821 as Vermilionville by Acadian Jean Mouton. It was later renamed to Lafayette in honor of Marquis de Lafayette.
Lafitte- Named after the infamous Pirate Jean Lafitte.
Lake Arthur- The areas south of the Lake were originally called Lakeside and Shellbeach. In the late 1700's Acadian families started moving into the area and called it Petit lac Mentau, after the Attakapas Indian chief who lived in the area. Arthur Leblanc was one of those early Acadians to settle the area and people begain referring to it as le lac d'Arthur.
Lake Charles- The first Europeans to settle the area were Martin LeBleu and his wife Dela Marion of Bordeaux, France. They settled the area what is now Lebleu Settlement. Charles Sallier, one of the areas first settlers married LeBleus daughter and they settled on the shores of the lake of what is now Lake Charles. People began referring to the area as Charlies Lake and later Charles' town or Charleston in Sallier's honor.
LaPlace- Named after early settler Basile LaPlace.
LeCompte- The town was named after a famous race horse owned by the Wells family named LeComte. When the railroad painted their depot sign, a "P" was added and it has been there ever since.
Livingston- The town was named after Livingston Parish, which was named after Edward Livingston. The town was incorporated in 1955.
Lockport- Founded in 1835 and incorporated in 1899. It is named after the locks that separate Bayou Lafourche from the Old Intracoastal canal.
Loreauville- A town of many names. It was originally called Fausse Point, then Dugasville for the Dugas family in the area. It then changed to Picouville in 1871 and then to Loreauville for Ozaire Loreau who donated land for the Old Catholic Church and Cemetary.
Lottie- Located about five miles west of Livonia, this rural community had to come up with a name when it was given a post office in 1900. The story goes that Lottie Raby's name was chosen and it was named just that.
Luling- Originally named St. Denis, then referred to as Old Town or Cajun Town. It was the site of numerous sugar plantations which gave their names to many of the subdivisions in the area. Luling finally received its final name from Florenz Albrecht Luling, a cotton merchant from Bremen Germany who married Marie Georgina Hermann in New Orleans.
Lutcher- Named after sawmiller and businessman, Henry J. Lutcher, who built a sawmill in the area after purchasing fifty square miles of virgin cypress swamp. Originally from Williamsport, PA, he also helped establish Orange, TX as the timber processing capital of the south.
Madisonville- Nestled on the banks of the Tchefuncte River. It was settled by Jean/Juan Baham who originally called it Cocquille or Cokie because of the abundance of sea shells in the area. It was later renamed in honor of President James Madison.
Mamou- Mamou's name origination has many explanations. One is that a large wooly mammoth tusk was found in the area and the French people referred to it as "mamouth," or mamou. Another is that it is simply named after the french surname Mamou. The area was called Mamou Prairie as early as the 1800's and C.C. Duson subdivided the property and began selling property there. The term "mamou" could also refer to the vast prairie which derives from the word "mammoth," or vast and expansive. Yet another is that there was an Indian chief in the area called "Chief Mamou."
Mandeville- A once popular destination for wealthy New Orleanians wishing to escape the heat, it was named after Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville, a French-Creole American from New Orleans.
Mansfield- Named after the Mansfield Railway Transportation Company which operated in the area in the late 1800's and early 1900's.
Many- Named after James B. Many, the popular Colonel serving at nearby Fort Jesup.
Maringouin- French for "mosquito," it was named after it.
Marion- Small town in Union parish named after the Alabama hometown of many of its first settlers.
Marksville- Named after the traveling Italian, Marc Eliche, who's wagon broke down in the area. After recognizing the areas beauty and marrying a Julie Carmouche from nearby point Coupee, he set up a trading post. From then the area has been referred to as"Marc's Ville."
Marrero- Named after Louisiana politician and founder of the Marrero Land Co.
Marthaville- An unincorporated area in Natchitoches Parish. The areas founder named it honor of his wife, Martha Rains.
Maurice- Originally referred to as "Mauriceville". It was named after Maurice Vellien, a native of Savoy France who sold goods in New Orleans, New Iberia, and Milton. His wife was from the area and they built a home and a grocery store there.
Mer Rouge- Named for the "wavy red soil" of the hill separating Bastrop and Mer Rouge.
Mermentau- Originally named after Indian Chief Nementou. Through clerical error it was misspelled as Mementou, and then later mispelled by the French as Mermentau, sinch "Mer" is french for water.
Metairie- Derived from the french term "moitie," meaning one half and the french term "moitoire." A motoire derives from the 12th century feudal days of Europe to describe a particular type of French farming relationship where a landowner would lease a portion of property to a farmer for 50% of the crops or produce grown by the tenant and no money as rent. A couple hundred years ago, all farms along Bayou Metairie began being referred to as Metairie.
Milton- Named after Dr. Milton R. Cushman, and son Milton S. Cushman, who came to the area in 1855 to practice medicine. Cushman petitioned for a post office at the Desire Broussard place and became the first postmaster. When local postal officials asked for a name, the wife of Dr. Cushman chose Milton.
Minden- Established in 1836 by New York native, Charles H. Veeder, who named it after Minden, Germany.
Monroe- Originally named Fort Miro, the town was named after the powered paddle-wheeler, James Monroe, which of course was named after the fifth president of the United States.
Morgan City- Originally named Tiger Island, because of a wild cat often seen in the area, and later Brashear City, after the Kentucky physician Walter Brashear, who bought large land tracts in the area. It was later renamed Morgan City after rail and steamship magnate Charles Morgan, who first dredged the Atchafalaya Bay Ship Channel to accommodate ocean-going vessels.
Morganza- Named after the plantation owned by Charles Morgan, the first American Sheriff of Point Coupee Parish.
Morse- Originally settled by farmers from Illinois and Iowa, it was named after a railroad official in the area.
Napoleonville- Originally named "Canal," in reference to the canal that connected the town to Lake Verret. The town was later named by a soldier who served under Napoleon Bonaparte. That soldier is buried in the nearby town of Plattenville.
Natchitoches- Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as a French outpost, and incorporated in 1819, it was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe in the area. It is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase.
Negreet- There a couple of explanations regarding the origin of its name. The first is that the town was simply named after and Indian chief from the area. The second, and more probable, is that the town was named after the plentiful Black Haw trees in the area. In Spanish, "Negrito" is translated as "Black, hence the name "Negreet." Early maps show the area as Black Haw Creek, which the Spanish renamed as Bayou Negreet.
New Iberia- Settled by the Spanish around 1779, it was originally named "Nuevo Iberia" by the Malagueno Spaniards in honor of their homeland. Translated, it meant, "New Land", since they were from the Iberian Peninsula region. It has since been renamed New Iberia, reflecting both English and Spanish words.
New Orleans- Named after Phillippe d'Orleans, Duke of Orleans, who reigned as regent for King Louis XV from 1715-1723. On land taken from the Chtimachas who told the French the area flooded, it was originally named La Nouvelle-Orleans in 1718 by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville who headed the French Mississippi Company.
New Roads- Dating back to 1822, a six block settlement was built at the end of a "New Road" connecting False River to the Mississippi River. It was originally called "Poste de Pointe Coupee'. "
New Sarpy- Named after plantation owner Leon Sarpy of Tennessee who settled the area.
Newellton- Named for Edward Newell by his son, John David Stokes Newell, Sr., a lawyer and planter. Edward Newell settled in the area in 1834 and hailed from North Carolina.
New Llano- originally called Stables, LA, it was renamed to New Llano, when in 1917 a group of 200 members of the Llano Del Rio Cooperative Colony from California settled in the area. It continued to operate as a Socialist commune until 1939.
Norco- Named for the New Orleans Refining Company which was located there in 1926.
Norwood- Incorporated in 1948, it was named for Mr. Abel J. Norwood who donated the original 75 acre tract that formed the town.
Oakdale- Originally named "Dunnsville" after William T. Dunn, it was renamed to "Oakdale" when the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad came to the area.
Oberlin- Named after Johann Friedrich Oberlin.
Oil City- When oil was discovered in the area in 1905, Howard Hughes was instrumental in bringing a post office in and giving the city its name
Olla- Named for Dr. Frank Mills' daughter, Olla Mills, who set aside forty acres for the town-site in 1891.
Opelousas- Originally called le Poste de Opelousas, it was a stopping point for travelers between Natchitoches and New Orleans. It's named for the indigenous Opelousas Indian tribe and is Louisiana's third oldest city.
Paincourtville- The town supposedly got its name from an early visitor who was unable to buy a single loaf of bread. In French this translates to "short of bread town." The town was originally settled by French and Islenos, or Canary Islanders of Spanish descent, and later exiled Acadians.
Paradis- French for "Paradise," this town is located southwest of New Orleans.
Patterson- In 1832, Captain John Patterson from Indiana settled his family there. Originally named Dutch Prairie, Dutch Settlement, and Dutchtown, the name was changed to Pattersonville and later Patterson after the Captain.
Pearl River- Originally named "Haloo," because of the many loggers shouting at each other across the Pearl River. it was eventually changed to Pearl, Pearlville, and then Pearl River.
Perry- Located in Vermilion Parish. The town was named after Kentuckian Robert Perry who was contracted to build the bridge over the river.
Pilottown- Located about ten miles from the the now vanished town it replaced, La Balize, which is French for "seamark." Pilottown serves as a base for river pilots across the bar and up and down the Mississippi River.
Plaquemine- Settled in 1775 and named for the Indian word Plakemine, which means persimmons.
Pleasant Hill- Located in Sabine parish, it is the location of "The Battle of Pleasant Hill," which was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, west of the Mississippi.
Point a la Hache- Named by the early Franch settlers, its name means "Axe Point or Cape."
Pollock- Named in honor of the Manager of the Big Creek Sawmill and Lumber Company in the area, James W. Pollock.
Ponchatoula- Named by the Choctaw Indians after the Spanish moss hanging from the trees. The name means flowing hair.