Warren A. Perrin Books

Vermilion Parish is a region with fascinating history and culture. From the settlement of the area--beginning as early as 1757, predominately by French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, and Acadian colonists and the native Attapakas people--Vermilion Parish has evolved to become recognized as "the most Cajun place on earth," as noted by its motto. Today it is still common to hear Cajun French spoken on the streets of its villages, towns, and hamlets. Vermilion Parish people are a lively multicultural blend marinated in history and infused with a unique joie de vivre. Cajuns make up a significant portion of its population and exert a huge impact on its culture. They are family-friendly, predominantly Catholic, and known far and wide for their lively Cajun music--as well as their spicy Cajun cuisine using local ingredients, such as okra, rice, pecans, seafood, and wild game.

In St. Landry Parish, Native American, European, African, and Acadian cultures have melded for three centuries to produce zydeco music, great food, and welcoming people. St. Landry Parish, one of the oldest European settlements in Louisiana, has a fascinating history and culture. By the 15th century, the Appalousa Indians were known to be in residence. In 1720, the French established le Poste des Opelousas. Traditionally an area of settlement by French Creoles and Acadians, the parish was named for St. Landry, an early bishop of Paris. In the late 1700s, les gens de couleur libres (free people of color) began arriving to take advantage of Spanish land grants. Soon, the government post developed into a commercial center. In the present-day parish, Native American, European, African, and Acadian cultures have melded for almost three centuries to produce world-famous zydeco music, great food, and welcoming people. It celebrates its heritage at the Creole Heritage Folklife Center, one of the destinations on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.