VERMILION PARISH
Parish Offices
100 North State Street
Abbeville 337-898-4300
http://vermilionparishpolicejury.com
Chamber of Commerce
1907 Veterans Memorial Drive
Abbeville 337-893-2491
https://www.vermilionchamber.org
Home to a multicultural population and an equally diverse topography, picturesque Vermilion Parish connects winding bayous, rich farmland, and thriving industries with colorful Cajun communities. The strong local economy combines a variety of businesses with major employers in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, agriculture, and aquaculture. The latter two focus on sugarcane and rice, livestock, and fisheries for commodities that include alligators, crawfish, and shrimp. Just 20 miles from Lafayette, the parish is served by US Highway 167 for easy Interstate connections and access to regional destinations.
Services
State-of-the-art healthcare is ensured in Vermilion Parish by the presence of Abbeville General Hospital (AGH), providing parish residents with quality healthcare for nearly half a century. Continually expanding and improving, Abbeville General offers an Off-Site Imaging Center with advanced technologies and laboratory services. The Cancer Center of Acadiana at Abbeville General maintains a partnership with Lafayette General’s Cancer Center, enhancing local services. Along with comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, AGH provides many specialized units from Intensive Care to a Sleep Center. Rural health centers and specialty clinics like the Women’s Health of Vermilion enable Abbeville General Hospital physicians to reach into local communities. Should the need arise for highly advanced care, Lafayette is home to Lafayette General Health combining Lafayette General Medical Center with Lafayette General Surgical Hospital and University Hospital & Clinics. Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center offers a new state-of-the-art hospital and several Centers of Excellence. The Regional Medical Center of Acadiana features a Women’s & Children’s Hospital—both hospitals collectively named as Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by The Joint Commission.
Quality educational opportunities begin with responsive public school districts and options for a private education. In 2012, Acadiana Technical College merged with South Louisiana Community College to form one of Louisiana’s largest and most comprehensive community college systems. SLCC offers campuses in eight locations including the Gulf Area Campus in Abbeville to provide a regional population with options for a two-year transfer degree and a wide selection of career programs. Opportunities for a higher education begin close to home at Louisiana State University at Eunice, offering more than 100 two-year programs and maintaining transfer agreements with every state-supported university. The City of Lafayette is home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, combining a 145-acre main campus with specialty centers including University Research Park, New Iberia Primate Research Center, and the Center for Ecology and Environmental Technology. The second-largest university in the state, UL Lafayette enrolls nearly 18,000 students in bachelor’s and graduate degree programs including doctorates. Lafayette is also home to the main campus of Southern Louisiana Community College and the private two-year Remington College.
Lifestyle
The bilingual, coastal parish of Vermilion is steeped in history with a flamboyant dash of joie de vivre spirit that is authentically Cajun. Wonderful cafes, lively nightspots, and fascinating museums pay tribute to the French heritage and deeply rooted traditions that make this region so unique. Visitors join locals at restaurants that serve Cajun cuisine featuring crawfish, alligator, shrimp, and oysters pulled from regional waters. Many of the popular festivals center on food, from the 5,000-egg Giant Omelette Celebration to the Cajun Food Fest. Shopping in Vermilion is an adventure in itself, from Abbeville antiques to Vivian Alexander in the small town of Maurice—crafting the world’s most elite and distinctive egg-shaped evening purses. Cultural enrichment is available locally in historic downtown Abbeville with year-round performances by the Abbey Players, although world-class visual and performing arts are an easy drive from home in Lafayette. Recreational amenities are unrivaled in this water-rich region, from world-class fishing, boating, and water sports to camping, hiking, cycling, hunting, birding, and nature study in some of America’s most remarkable preserves. Golfers will find a number of challenging courses near home, including Abbeville Country Club.
Quaint reflections from the past and impressive modern operations share a home in Vermilion Parish, where every turn frames a postcard image. Many sleepy communities preserve remnants of a former prosperous time, like the beautifully restored home of Florence Club in Florence that was once an office for White Lake Land Company. The Bancker area features a cemetery with early 19th century markers and the Bancker Grotto, a relaxing spot for a picnic in sight of anglers on the banks of the Vermilion River. Rural communities like Cow Island and Forked Island near Little Prairie with its swing-span bridge over the old Intracoastal Waterway are ideal places for birding or dining on local cuisine. The drive to Pecan Island showcases the scenic Jean Lafitte By-Way through marshland teeming with wildlife from alligator and deer to native birds and abundant waterfowl. Oil and shrimping industries flourish at Freshwater City and Intracoastal City near Vermilion Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Residential settings vary widely, from small historic homes in the heart of town to handsome new construction on spacious lots. One of the best aspects of a Vermilion Parish lifestyle is the close proximity of Lafayette, brimming over with world-class attractions from visual and performing arts to famous entertainment centers, renowned museums, and some of the region’s largest festivals.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
Abbeville
City Offices
337-893-8550
http://cityofabbeville.net
Chamber of Commerce
337-893-2491
https://www.vermilionchamber.org
Taking for its slogan, “Someplace special on the bayou,” historic Abbeville was founded in 1843 and serves as the parish hub government, healthcare, education, cultural enrichment, and commerce. Wonderful neighborhoods, outstanding schools, a full-service hospital, beautiful churches, and a downtown district designated as a National Register of Historic Places are just a few of the advantages that draw newcomers. Scores of restaurants serve some of the area’s most delicious Cajun food, while the charming town square is lined with shops and galleries. History museums like The Depot and Abbeville Cultural and Historical Alliance Center display the city’s colorful past. Local guided walking tours showcase points of interest with guides speaking both English and French, passing by Steen’s Cane Syrup Mill, Abbey Theatre, the century-old St. Mary Magdalen Church, and the grand historic courthouse. Developed recreational facilities combine with premier regional attractions like Palmetto Island State Park on the Vermilion River, with river access for boaters and anglers, interior lagoons for canoeing and kayaking, rental cabins, and views of abundant wildlife. The annual celebrations in Abbeville are some of the region’s most well attended, including the Louisiana Cattle Festival, the Daylily Festival & Garden Show, and the wildly popular Giant Omelette Celebration.
Delcambre
Town Offices
337-685-4467
Chamber of Commerce
337-893-2491
https://www.vermilionchamber.org
Just 12 miles east of Abbeville, the rural community of Delcambre is located in an area that falls between Vermilion and Iberia parishes. From a past that centered on a traditional agricultural economy, the town has developed a strong shrimping industry along with other diverse enterprises. This water-oriented community blesses its fishing fleet each year as part of colorful and popular Delcambre Shrimp Festival. Each December, a truly stunning sight unfolds as decorated boats make their way down Bayou Carlin at the Annual Delcambre Boat Parade, creating a brilliantly lit display reflected in the shimmering water. Large dipped nets hanging from poles used for trolling are common sights in Delcambre, particularly near one of the many metal expansion bridges that cross the rivers. Residents enjoy the relaxed pace of rural life and picturesque waterfront scenes at every turn. At the same time they are just minutes away from expanded amenities in Abbeville.
Erath
Town Offices
337-937-8401
https://www.townoferath.com
Chamber of Commerce
337-893-2491
https://www.vermilionchamber.org
Historic Erath was founded in 1899 by French Acadians who settled in this beautiful area, creating a rich and distinctive heritage that is showcased today at the Acadian Museum. Erath is also famous for having one of the finest 4th of July Celebrations in the nation as featured on Good Morning America. Cajun cuisine and great music are other hallmarks of this small community, where the strains of everything from Swamp Pop to current hits are performed live by local and regional talents that include the legendary native son D.L. Menard. Erath has developed several community assets including City Park with a children’s playground, walking/jogging path, and picnic area as well as a fully equipped Community Center for meetings, special events, and social or family gatherings. Organizations like Cajun Youth Sports and Erath Softball League bring residents together for competitive play and outdoor enjoyment. Residents enjoy the intimacy of a small, rural community within an easy drive from Abbeville’s expanded amenities and the world-class urban attractions in the City of Lafayette.
Gueydan
Town Offices
337-536-9415
https://www.gueydan.org
Chamber of Commerce
337-893-2491
https://www.vermilionchamber.org
Home to the popular Gueydan Duck Festival, the rural town of Gueydan has become internationally famous for waterfowl. Nestled in a marshy land that is literally a natural bird sanctuary, the area is home to several locally owned clubs that provide guides and accommodations for seasonal hunters who arrive to take advantage of this north/south flyway area. The town’s past is showcased at Gueydan Museum in the former Gueydan Bank building circa 1902, displaying artifacts and memorabilia but also changing art exhibits. One of the unique operations northwest of the town is a company with a gourmet popcorn rice mill and crawfish ponds. The Gueydan Civic Center is situated next to a paved walking path for public enjoyment. The community is home to a health clinic, a public library, and a lovely park shaded by live oaks. Scenic cycling trails, abundant wildlife, the former Gueydan family plantation, and the Florence Club are other highlights in this area. Residents are proud of their French heritage, saying “Ici, nous parlons francais!” translated as “Here, we speak French!”
Kaplan
City Offices
337-643-7118
https://www.kaplanla.com
Chamber of Commerce
337-643-2400
Kaplan brings together a proud Acadian heritage and a progressive attitude toward modern development. Many residents speak French, particularly those who were born in this area with deep generational ties. Sometimes referred to as “the most Cajun place on earth,” the atmosphere is relaxed and filled with joie de vivre, moving from one colorful celebration to another around the year. The first settlers depended on agricultural activity, planting a variety of crops including cotton, sugarcane and rice. Today, the city enjoys a strategic location along Louisiana Highway 14 leading north to Interstate 10 and south to the Gulf of Mexico. The unusual attractions in this area and its status as a gateway to the wetlands have made Kaplan one of South Louisiana’s most unique and visited communities. Homegrown talent includes superstars like Sammy Kershaw, while Suire’s restaurant has been reviewed in New York Times and other publications. Major festivals include Le Musee de Kaplan, Krewe de Chick-A-La-Pie Mardi Gras, and Louisiana Cajun Food Fest. Recreational opportunities include world-class hunting, fishing, crabbing, and shrimping. Kaplan’s quaint Main Street is lined with locally owned stores and shops, reflecting the friendliness and warmth of a wonderful hometown.
