Known as the heart of the Cajun Prairie, Acadia parish was created from the southwest corner of St Landry parish in 1886 by the Louisiana Legislature. It was assumed that Rayne, then the most populated city would be named the parish seat, but when the people voted a year later, a then under construction town named Crowley was chosen.

Like most of south Louisiana, it's first residents were native Americans from the Attakapas tribe. The first Anglo settlers were the French Acadians expelled from Nova Scotia. They were lured by the Spanish, the then owners of Louisiana. There were no roads, and the nearest larger settlements were Opelousas and St Martinville. In 1880 the railroad arrived making transportation easier.

Acadia also calls itself the Frog Capital and Rice Capital of the world, and large festivals are held each year to celebrate these honors. Rice is the major agricultural crop, along with crawfish but sugar cane is being grown more and more.

For more information about Acadia parish, see http://www.acadiatourism.org/