LAFOURCHE PARISH
Parish Offices
402 Green Street
Thibodaux 985-446-8427
https://www.lafourchegov.org
Chamber of Commerce
107 West 26th Street
Larose 985-693-6700
https://www.lafourchechamber.com
Nestled in southeastern Louisiana and bordered on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, Lafourche Parish is a region of marches, sandy ridges, bodies of water and natural levees. Newcomers will soon discover how closely this land and its residents are connected to the water. From the bayous in Thibodaux and Galliano to the nearby Gulf of Mexico in Port Fourchon, the element of water underlines the economy as well as the area’s rich cultural heritage. The motto of Lafourche Parish is “Feeding and Fueling America,” which is evident in a total farm value of nearly $100 million, a leading fishing industry, and the strategic role the region plays in supplying up to 18 percent of America’s oil supply.
Services
Wherever you settle in Lafourche Parish, first-rate healthcare services will always be close to home. Thibodaux Regional Medical Center in the parish government seat of Thibodaux is one of the fastest-growing centers in the South, recently recognized among the top one percent of healthcare facilities in America for patient satisfaction. TRMC provides a number of specialties from cardiology and cancer care to neurosurgery, obstetrics, and comprehensive rehabilitation services. The medical center has earned a long list of awards including the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Award for outstanding inpatient and outpatient experiences. Those who live in the southern section of the parish can look to Lady of the Sea General Hospital in the community of Cut Off for acute inpatient care as well as many other convenient services that are delivered in a patient-centered environment. In addition to its flagship hospital, the LOSGH healthcare system operates a full range of therapy treatment programs and clinics in the communities of Golden Meadow and Larose. Should the need for highly advanced care ever arise, the nationally famous teaching hospitals in the New Orleans area are available for leading edge diagnostics and treatment.
Educational resources are equally impressive in Lafourche Parish, where both public and private school are available from kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Those who are interested in career or technical programs with immediate real-world application will want to explore the degree and certification opportunities available at South Central Louisiana Technical College with campus locations in Thibodaux and Galliano. Thibodaux is also home to Nicholls State University, a major employer that ensures a growing population of educated professionals. Part of the University of Louisiana System of universities, NSU serves students in south-central Louisiana and beyond, offering more than 85 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Supporting the educational, cultural, and economic needs of its region, NSU is sometimes called “Our Harvard on the Bayou.” Recognized areas of excellence include the John Folse Culinary Institute, the only American member of the prestigious Institut Paul Bocuse. NSU adds another unique resource to this area, the MAX Charter School located on the university campus, dedicated to teaching students with dyslexia and related learning differences—the first of its kind in Louisiana. Many other renowned public and private institutions of higher education are located in the New Orleans area, including Strayer, Concordia, Dillard, and Loyola universities; the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Southeastern Louisiana University, Southern University at New Orleans, Tulane University, the University of New Orleans, and Xavier University of Louisiana. The campus for Louisiana State University is located in nearby Baton Rouge, which also offers a community college.
Lifestyle
The same unique features that endear Lafourche Parish to long-time residents continue to attract newcomers, from the charm of historic towns to the area’s natural beauty, recreational advantages, Cajun culture, and friendly neighbors. Often referred to as a paradise for sports lovers, the county provides a rich habitat for everything from deer to shellfish. Outdoor enthusiasts will find the ideal setting for fishing, hunting, boating, and golfing. The Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in downtown Thibodaux is part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, hosting exhibits and programs that interpret the history and culture of the wetlands region. The Cajun culture springs to life at the Bayou Country Children’s Museum in Thibodaux with educational displays covering agriculture, music, food and geography.
Historic treasures include Laurel Valley Village, America’s oldest working sugar cane plantation; the Edward Douglass White Home where the US Supreme Court Justice by the same name once resided; and the home of Francis T. Nicholls, a former governor of the State of Louisiana and namesake of Nicholls State University. Lafourche Parish is home to stunning architectural gems like St. Joseph Co-Cathedral Church, showcasing Renaissance Romanesque design features reminiscent of the churches in Paris and Rome. Other colorful reminders of a rich past include the Bayou Lafourche Folklife & Heritage Museum in Lockport, the Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building, and the Golden Meadow Historical Center. Festivals and celebrations are abundant throughout the parish, featuring Cajun food, music, dancing, carnival rides, fishing rodeos, holiday events, and glittering Mardi Gras parades. Along Bayou Lafourche, Mardi Gras is a family-oriented experience that ensures fun for all ages. Even the more sparsely populated, rural communities like Gheens and Chackbay draw large crowds to celebrations like the Gheens Bon Mange Festival and the Louisiana Gumbo Festival of Chackbay. Anchored by the leading City of Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish offers the finest blend of rural and urban living.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
Golden Meadow
Town Offices
985-475-7942
https://www.townofgoldenmeadow-la.gov
Chamber of Commerce
985-693-6700
https://www.lafourchechamber.com
The small, unincorporated Town of Golden Meadow is nestled in the southern section of Lafourche Parish, about 35 miles south of U.S. 90. The town is also situated along Bayou Lafourche as the waterway enters the Gulf of Mexico, a fact that drives the local economy and draws new residents who are employed in the seafood and petroleum industries. The name of Golden Meadow is most likely from the area’s fields of goldenrod but it may also refer to the golden hopes associated with the land. Many of today’s residents earn their living from the Gulf waters through commercial fishing or oil and gas exploration and development. The community supports a convenient mix of basic services and commercial development including a local health clinic. The Oak Ridge Pool and Oak Ridge Park are popular gathering places for local residents and their families as they enjoy a variety of outdoor and sports activities. Residents are proud of their close-knit community spirit but they also enjoy a quick and easy drive to the expanded amenities in Thibodaux.
Lockport
Town Offices
985-532-3117
https://www.townoflockport.com
Chamber of Commerce
985-693-6700
https://www.lafourchechamber.com
The Town of Lockport enjoys a centralized location in Lafourche Parish along scenic Bayou Lafourche where the old intracoastal canal meets the bayou. This friendly residential community features a pleasing mix of homes, neighborhoods, and convenient commercial development in an area that is completely surrounded by thriving and diverse industries. Covering both land and water, the diverse mix of economic activity includes shipbuilding, sugarcane and vegetable farms, oil and gas exploration ventures, cattle ranches, and fishing. The beautiful Bayou Side Park with its charming gazebo is a local treasure that brings friends and families together to enjoy outdoor activities. The park features sweeping open space for games and recreation and a walking trail that encircles a playground and several picnic pavilions. Just around the corner, the Bayou Lafourche Folklife and Heritage Museum preserves local documents, pictures, and artifacts. Across the street from the museum, the Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building displays historic wooden boats but also offers classes on boat building. The Bayou Playhouse is another popular community resource in this friendly, progressive town.
Thibodaux
City Offices
985-446-7218
https://www.ci.thibodaux.la.us
Chamber of Commerce
985-446-1187
https://www.thibodauxchamber.com
The heart of Lafourche Parish is the seat of government and the leading City of Thibodaux, ideally located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The “Queen City” of Bayou Lafourche is a study in southern charm and Cajun hospitality, welcoming newcomers with the motto, “Where Yesterday Welcomes Tomorrow.” The harmony of past, present and future is evident throughout the city, where a rich sense of history blends effortlessly with progressive amenities. Main Street Thibodaux features a charming downtown district with historic architecture, quaint boutiques, lively night spots, and fine dining. The presence of Nicholls State University infuses the community with the vitality, intellectual stimulation, and cultural enrichment of a college town. Thibodaux Regional Medical Center is equally well-respected as one of the finest healthcare resources in southeastern Louisiana. The city itself is recognized as a Louisiana Main Street Community and designated by the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor’s Office as a Louisiana Retirement Community. Money Magazine seconded that opinion by naming Thibodaux among the best places in the nation to retire. Bayou Lafourche flows through the downtown district, while the entire area is graced by moss-laden oaks, plantation homes, and lush sugar cane fields. Attractive, vibrant, and appealing to all ages and walks of life, Thibodaux provides an idyllic hometown environment.
