Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, located along the Vermilion River in the southwestern part of the state. The city of Lafayette is the fourth-largest in the state. Lafayette and the surrounding area is a mix of American Indian, African American, English, French and Spanish culture. The area is situated in the region known as Southwest Louisiana. The Vermilion River runs through the city. Today, the city and parish are at the heart of Acadiana. Before 1765, few Europeans settled in the area, mostly trappers and smugglers. By 1765, Acadians were arriving in New Orleans and the Spanish governor began settling them in the Lafayette area. Both the French and Spanish officials granted lands freely along the bayous Carencro and Vermilion (Wikipedia, 2019).
Citation
Wikipedia. (2019, Jan. 10). History of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org.
How it all Began 