Evangeline Parish Economic Profile

The Cajun Prairie

Perhaps no parish in Acadiana is more possessive of its heritage than Evangeline. Its citizens will tell you (seriously, but with a humorous touch, too) that they have the best gumbo, the best boudin (a sausage-like local favorite), and other Cajun delicacies. When it comes to Louisiana French country flavor, no parish surpasses this parish in the northwest corner of central Acadiana.

The entire Evangeline Parish area was once a “vacherie” (grazing land for cattle) for early French and Spanish settlers. Huge roundups were held yearly on this great open range. As settlers homesteaded the area, fences were built; and as the area became settled, small towns sprang up and extended through this area. The Old Spanish Trail from Louisiana to Texas wound its way through the vacherie, and traces of this ancient, sunken road may still be seen off Highway 167 and in the Chicot State Park area. By the 1700s, colonization was well under way.

Rich Heritage

Originally part of St. Landry Parish, in 1911 the area was separated from St. Landry and Evangeline Parish was created. It was named for the heroine in Longfellow’s famous poem and Ville Platte was named the parish seat. Ville Platte means “Flat Town” in French, and the town was so named because it was the first settlement on level land that stagecoach passengers reached when traveling south from the rolling hills of north Louisiana.

Abundance of Assets

An experienced labor force, readily available land for business relocation or expansion and a strong commitment to economic growth make Evangeline Parish and it’s communities a place that offers amazing potential for growth and success.

Strategic access to rail, commodity pipelines, Interstate 49 and US Highway 167 are a unique draw for national and international companies, such as Union Tank, Cameron Valves & Measurement and Cabot Corporation.

Evangeline Ward One Industrial Park Expansion

This 96.5 acre site consists of 2 adjacent tracts measuring 62.1 acres and 34.4 acres. The site holds certification by McCallum Sweeney Consulting and Louisiana Economic Development.

The Cajun Prairie

There’s always something interesting, fun or exciting going on in Evangeline Parish. We love sharing our sense of community and fondness for food and Cajun music with our friends and neighbors.

Le Tournoi De La Ville Platte

This event is a tournament or joust, originally held in France. Its introduction here in the 1800s is credited to Major Marcellin Garand, known as the founder of Ville Platte. Garand had served in the French Army and in Napoleon’s Army as an adjutant general. The Tournoi was run until the late 1890s. It was revived in 1952 by a group of veterans as part of its July 4th celebration and continues to be held. The Tournoi, which means “tournament” in French, is run on horseback and requires speed, agility and accuracy on the part of both the rider and his mount. The rider carries a long, slender lance which he uses to put through each of seven small suspended iron rings (representing the seven enemies of cotton) as he races his horse around a quarter-mile circular track. Riders make three rounds of heats to decide the champion.

Courier De Mardi Gras a Cheval (Mardi Gras Run on Horseback)

Mamou is the site of this Cajun country-style Mardi Gras celebration. Riders dressed in colorful costumes ride on horseback throughout the countryside, collecting chickens and sausage and other “fixings” for the traditional gumbo served during the fais do do that night.

Chicot State Park

Located four miles north of Ville Platte, Chicot is Louisiana’s premier state park, its largest and finest! The park covers 6,000 acres of rolling hills and includes a fish-rich 2,000-acre reservoir filled with largemouth bass, crappie, blue gill and red-ear sunfish. Picnicking, swimming in the Olympic-sized pool, hiking, bicycling and birding are popular activities. Camping is available within the park and nature/hiking/backpacking trails encircle the lake, playgrounds and pavilions.

Louisiana State Arboretum

Established in 1961, the Arboretum was the first such area in the South and the first state-supported arboretum in the United States. The Arboretum is the home of a magnificent mature beech-magnolia forest and features an outdoor classroom and several miles of nature trails with labeled plant life native to Louisiana. Individuals can tour the 600-acre site on quiet, tree-shaded pathways that wind across ravines and over rustic bridges, past centuries-old beech, magnolia, oak and ash.

Crooked Creek Recreation Area

This piney woods area in the northern part of the parish features a 400-acre lake with boat launch for boating, fishing, skiing, a swimming beach, fishing pier, camping area, nature trail and picnic area.

Contact

William Ward
President, Evangeline Industrial Development Board No. 1
tojoward1947@gmail.com
337-831-1449

The Right Location is Waiting for You

Evangeline Ward 1 (evangeline) Site Photo

We’ve got acres of opportunity

Evangeline Parish Partners

Industrial Development Board No. 1

The Industrial Development Board No. 1 is a public, state-chartered authority that serves as the primary facilitator of Economic Development Activities for the Parish of Evangeline, Louisiana and the communities of Ville Platte, Mamou, Pine Prairie, Turkey Creek, Chatagnier and Basile as well as the Evangeline Ward One Industrial Park.

Evangeline Chamber of Commerce/Evangeline Parish Tourism

Along the Cajun Prairie in the southern part of Louisiana exists a tiny piece of heaven where neighbors still visit, call each other “Chere”. Residents are proud to speak French…as Evangeline Parish speaks more French on a daily business basis than all the other parishes in Louisiana.

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Explore Our Region

Vermilion Parish

Vermilion Parish is known for its fresh seafood, bountiful agriculture, great access via road and waterways, and a rich history of cultural and eco tourism. This bilingual (English/French), coastal parish is large and diverse with wandering bayous and farmlands, authentic local cuisine, family-friendly festivals and Cajun towns connecting it all. Vermilion is centrally located in the southern part of Louisiana immediately adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. This proximity to the Gulf makes the parish an ideal location for the numerous companies needed to serve this region’s oil and gas industry.

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St. Mary Parish

In St. Mary Parish – or “The Cajun Coast” – the blending of French, Italian, Spanish, English, African, Native American, and Cajun traditions created a rich and flavorful “gumbo” of communities. The Atchafalaya River basin and the Gulf of Mexico serve as the lifeblood for the parish, which is composed of five municipalities: Morgan City, Berwick, Patterson, Franklin, and Baldwin, as well as the Chitimacha Nation in Charenton.

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St. Martin Parish

With a population of approximately 53,000, St. Martin Parish is part of the Lafayette MSA and sits at the corridor of both Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 90.  St. Martin Parish is the only parish to have non-contiguous parts, in that, there are three major geographical areas dividing the 740 square mile parish, including the Atchafalaya Basin, the prairie, and the Bayou Teche area, on which several noteworthy cities, including the parish seat of St. Martinville, are located.

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St. Landry Parish

St. Landry Parish is moving forward. Located in the heart of Cajun and Creole heritage, this culturally diverse parish (county) in Southern Louisiana is a unique place both to live and do business – where hard-working people “live their culture” and are building a thriving economic base along with a high-quality trained workforce.

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Jeff Davis Parish

People from all over the world visit Jefferson Davis Parish to enjoy and experience rich Cajun and Indian culture. Jeff Davis Parish’s location, natural beauty, climate and small-town atmosphere offer a unique place for your family or business. The parish’s economic base includes health care services, shipbuilding, construction, agriculture, and oil field services. The parish has many industrial sites including the Lacassine Industrial Park on I-10.

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Iberia Parish

Iberia Parish, Louisiana and its progressive communities are the place for exciting opportunities. Iberia Parish offers a unique mix of southern fun and hospitality nestled in the heart of “Cajun Country.” Moss-draped Live Oak trees and beautiful antebellum homes serve as the backdrop for a hard-working labor force, cutting edge medical and industrial technology along with worldwide leaders in the exploration of oil and natural gas.

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Evangeline Parish

Perhaps no parish in Acadiana is more possessive of its heritage than Evangeline. Its citizens will tell you (seriously, but with a humorous touch, too) that they have the best gumbo, the best boudin (a sausage-like local favorite), and other Cajun delicacies. When it comes to Louisiana French country flavor, no parish surpasses this parish in the northwest corner of central Acadiana.

Learn More

Acadia Parish

Perfectly located along the I-10 corridor with major US Highways, railways, waterways, a port and airports, Acadia Parish offers the transportation resources needed for productive commerce. Cost of living and sites for business are affordable. This humble community is home to a culturally diverse and devoted population whose work ethic is as strong now as it was when their Cajun forefathers first settled here. Acadia Parish’s quaint charm makes it a great place to live, work and retire.

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Lafayette Parish

Affectionately known as the "Hub-City" of Acadiana, Lafayette, LA offers the essential elements needed to ensure the growth and development of its business community. Lafayette is set apart by its strategic location, a world-class workforce, a pro-business climate, and an unmatched quality of life. These attributes, complemented by a high-tech infrastructure and quality real estate, make Lafayette a unique place to live, work, play and do business.

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