Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette: The third most populous city in Acadiana, Louisiana.
About
Lafayette is a city located in the county of Lafayette Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its population at the 2010 census was 120,623 and a population density of 864 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 126,535 inhabitants.
The city was created 205 years ago in 1820.
Lafayette is a city in southwest Louisiana, located in the heart of Cajun Country. With a population of over 126,000, it is the fourth-largest city in Louisiana.
History
The first European settlement of Lafayette dates back to the 1700s when it was a French outpost. Over time, Acadians and Creoles migrated to the area, influencing local culture.
As a major regional hub, Lafayette served as the capital of Louisiana from 1821-1823. It later became a vital center for the oil industry beginning in the early 1900s.
Today, energy and medical services drive the economy, but Cajun traditions remain strong. The city embraces its slogan “The Heart of Cajun Country”.
Culture
Lafayette is renowned as the Cajun music capital of the world. Musicians like Alan Toussaint got their start here, and genres like Zydeco originated in the city's dance halls and clubs.
The annual Festival International de Louisiane draws over 300,000 attendees. Other major events include Mardi Gras celebrations like the King Gabriel Mardi Gras Parade.
Cajun cuisine thrives in Lafayette. Classic dishes like gumbo, boudin, and po’ boys can be found in local restaurants, like the famed Randol's Restaurant.
Economy
Major industries include oil and gas production, telecommunications, finance, technology, and health care. Significant employers are Stuller Inc, Acadian Ambulance Service, and Lafayette General Health System.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College, and several technical schools also boost the economy.
Things to Do
Popular attractions include the Acadiana Center for the Arts, the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park, and Vermilionville - a living history museum and folk life park.
Outdoor recreation abounds at sites like Girard Park, which has a golf course, tennis courts, and even a mini zoo.
With a unique culture, dynamic economy, and excellent quality of life, Lafayette represents the best of Cajun Country while progressing as a modern hub for business and education.
Quick Facts about Lafayette
| Population | 126,535 (2020) |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Louisiana (United States) |
| County | Lafayette Parish |
| Phone Area Codes | 337 |
| Area | 139.63 km2 |
| Latitude & Longitude | 30.2241,-92.0198 |
| Named for | Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette |
| Altitude | 36 feet / 11 meters |
| Capital | Acadiana |
| Capital city | Lafayette is capital of Lafayette Parish |
| Establishment | January 01, 1821 (205 years ago) |
| Time Zone | America/Chicago |
| Local time | 19:30:00 (22nd April 2026) |
| Postal code | 70501 |
| Density | 906 Pop. per km² as of 2020 |
| Population growth | 4.67% (2010-2020) |
| Weather | 79℉ Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 7-days weather |
Geography
Lafayette is located at 30°13'27"N 92°1'11"W (30.2240900, -92.0198400).
Lafayette map
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Weather
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 5 to...
7-Day Forecast- Le Cannet
- Namur
- Poitiers
Demographics
The population of Lafayette increased by 4.67% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 120,623 | - | census |
| 2011 | 122,674 | 1.67% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 123,587 | 0.74% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 124,873 | 1.03% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 126,036 | 0.92% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 126,922 | 0.7% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 127,221 | 0.24% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 126,526 | -0.55% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 126,371 | -0.12% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 126,185 | -0.15% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 126,535 | 0.28% | estimation process |
Demographic Facts
| Estimated population as of July 1, 2019 : | 9,558 |
| Based on demographic estimates as of April 1, 2010 : | 9,814 |
| Based on demographic estimates as of 1 April 2010 : | -2.6% |
| April 1, 2020 Population : | 9,597 |
| April 1, 2010 Population : | 9,815 |
| People under 5 years old, percentage : | 6.1% |
| People under 18 years old, percentage : | 23.4% |
| People over 65 (%) : | 22.1% |
| Female persons, % : | 50.7% |
| White only, percent : | 96.9% |
| Black or African American alone, percent : | 0.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native only, % : | 0.4% |
| Asians alone % : | 0.5% |
| Only Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, % : | Z |
| % of people who have participated in two or more races : | 1.3% |
| % of Hispanic or Latino : | 4.5% |
| White people, not Hispanic or Latino people, make up the majority of the population. : | 93.1% |
| 2015-2019 Veterans : | 668 |
| Percentage of foreign-born people, 2015-2019 : | 2.3% |
| Residential units, July 1, 2019 : | 4,748 |
Economic Facts
| Residential units, July 1, 2019 : | 4,748 |
| Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : | 74.2% |
| Owner-occupied housing unit median value, 2015-2019 : | $103,800 |
| From 2015 to 2019, the median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage : | $1,067 |
| Monthly owner costs, without a mortgage, at the median, 2015-2019 : | $440 |
| 2015-2019 median gross rent : | $568 |
| Permits for construction, 2020 : | 15 |
| 2015-2019 Households : | 4,174 |
| Population per household, 2015-2019 : | 2.26 |
| Living in the same house a year ago, percentage of people aged one year and up, 2015-2019 : | 89.8% |
| Languages other than English spoken at home, as a percentage of people aged 5 and up, 2015-2019 : | 4.8% |
| Households with computers, %, 2015-2019 : | 83.3% |
| Percentage of households with a broadband Internet subscription, 2015-2019 : | 77.0% |
| Percentage of people aged 25 and up with a high school diploma or higher, 2015-2019 : | 92.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher, proportion of people aged 25 and up, 2015-2019 : | 21.2% |
| Percentage of people under the age of 65 who have a disability, 2015-2019 : | 10.4% |
| Persons under the age of 65 who do not have health insurance, as a percentage : | 5.7% |
| Total civilian labor force, percent of population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : | 64.5% |
| Female labor force participation in the civilian labor force, as a percentage of the population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : | 58.2% |
| Total sales of lodging and food services in 2012 ($1,000) : | 8,832 |
| Total receipts/revenue for health care and social assistance in 2012 ($1,000) : | 27,133 |
| Manufacturers' total shipments in 2012 ($1,000) : | 228,726 |
| 2012 total retail sales ($1,000) : | 108,929 |
| 2012 total retail sales per capita : | $11,196 |
| Mean commute time to work (in minutes), workers aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : | 18.3 |
| 2015-2019 median household income (in 2019 dollars) : | $54,575 |
| Income per capita in the previous 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019 : | $30,480 |
| Percentage of people living in poverty : | 10.8% |
| Total number of employer establishments, 2019 : | 291 |
| 2019 total employment : | 3,409 |
| 2019 total annual payroll ($1,000) : | 140,651 |
| Total employment, change in percentage terms, 2018-2019 : | -3.2% |
| 2018 total non-employer establishments : | 767 |
| Total number of businesses in 2012 : | 981 |
| Men-owned businesses in 2012 : | 563 |
| Women-owned businesses in 2012 : | 320 |
| Minority-owned businesses in 2012 : | F |
| Non-minority-owned businesses in 2012 : | 933 |
| Veteran-owned businesses in 2012 : | 117 |
| Nonveteran-owned businesses in 2012 : | 819 |
| 2010 population per square mile : | 22.6 |
| 2010 land area in square miles : | 434.35 |
Services and Civic Places in Lafayette
1Lafayette Consolidated Government
705 W University Ave, Lafayette, LA 70506 View details
Phone: +13372918200 | Website available
2Milton Civic Center
100 Civic Ln, Lafayette, LA 70508 View details
Phone: +13372969464
3USDA Rural Development
905 Jefferson St # 320, Lafayette, LA 70501, United States View details
Phone: +13372626602 | Website available
4Acadiana Management Group
101 La Rue France Suite 100, Lafayette, LA 70508, United States View details
Phone: +13372699566 | Website available
5Lafayette Tax Department
705 W University Ave, Lafayette, LA 70506 View details
Phone: +13372918272 | Website available
6Lafayette Power Plant
1120 Walker Rd, Lafayette, LA 70506 View details
Phone: +13372915761
7Campaign To Elect Sarah Roy LLC - City Council District 1
145 E Butcher Switch Rd, Lafayette, LA 70507 View details
Phone: +13373492510
8Lafayette Chief Administration Office
705 W University Ave, Lafayette, LA 70506 View details
Phone: +13372918311
9Lafayette Water Distribution
1210 Walker Rd, Lafayette, LA 70506 View details
Phone: +13372915743
10Lafayette Emergency Prprdnss
800 S Buchanan St, Lafayette, LA 70501 View details
Phone: +13372685075
People born in Lafayette (165)
People born in Lafayette, including actress, model Danneel Harris, tennis player Chanda Rubin, actress Valarie Rae Miller, .
More notable people
- Walter Davis (American triple jumper) he was born in 02/07/1979
- Kevin Faulk (Player of American football) he was born in 05/06/1976
- Daniel Cormier (American sport wrestler and mixed martial artist) he was born in 20/03/1979
- Glen Provost (Catholic bishop) he was born in 09/08/1949
- Bobby Parker (American blues-rock guitarist, singer and songwriter) he was born in 31/08/1937
- Clifford Etienne (American boxer) he was born in 09/03/1970
- Ron Guidry (American baseball player and coach) he was born in 28/08/1950
- Jefferson Caffery (American diplomat) he was born in 01/12/1886
- Regan Hood (American volleyball player) she was born in 10/08/1983
- Buckwheat Zydeco (American accordionist) he was born in 14/11/1947
- Dan Reeder (American musician and artist) he was born in 01/01/1954
- Eric Griffin (American boxer) he was born in 03/11/1967
- Jimmy Hayes (American politician) he was born in 21/12/1946
- Nnamdi Asomugha (American football player, defensive back) he was born in 06/07/1981
- Liz Carmouche (American mixed martial artist) she was born in 19/02/1984
- James Domengeaux (Member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana (1907-1988)) he was born in 06/01/1907
- Dustin Poirier (American martial artist) he was born in 19/01/1989
- Rodney Mack (American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist) he was born in 12/10/1970
Nearby Schools and Colleges
Schools and campuses linked to Lafayette, LA. Select a name to open its map and contact details.
| Code | Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160658 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette (LA) | 70503 |
| 485564 | Infinity College | Lafayette (LA) | 70501-8833 |
| 487658 | Academy of Interactive Entertainment | Lafayette (LA) | 70506-4293 |
| 159522 | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Lafayette | Lafayette (LA) | 70503-3246 |
| 434061 | South Louisiana Community College | Lafayette (LA) | 70506-4109 |
Nearby Transit Stations (4)
Rail and bus stations connected to Lafayette, LA. Select a station to open its map and address details.
| Code | Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| LFT | Lafayette | 133 East Grant St. | RAIL |
| NIB | New Iberia | West Washington St. | RAIL |
| BTR | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 1253 Florida St. | BUS |
| LCH | Lake Charles | 100 Ryan Street | RAIL |
Closest post offices linked to Lafayette.
| Post Office Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Post Office | Lafayette (LA) | 70501 |
| Lafay Post Office | Lafayette (LA) | 70501 |
| Oil Center Post Office | Lafayette (LA) | 70503 |
| Bertrand Post Office | Lafayette (LA) | 70506 |
| Energy Center Post Office | Lafayette (LA) | 70508 |
Other places with the same name (13)
- Lafayette, Indiana The most populous city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. with a population of 71,484 people.
- Lafayette, Colorado city in Colorado with a population of 28,579 people.
- Lafayette, California city in California with a population of 25,992 people.
- LaFayette, Georgia city in and the county seat of Walker County, Georgia with a population of 7,508 people.
- Lafayette, Ohio village in Ohio, United States with a population of 5,927 people.
- Lafayette, Tennessee human settlement in Macon County, Tennessee, United States of America with a population of 5,271 people.
- LaFayette, New York city in Onondaga County, New York, United States of America with a population of 4,794 people.
- Lafayette, Oregon city in Oregon, USA with a population of 4,258 people.
- Lafayette, New Jersey township in Sussex County, New Jersey with a population of 2,352 people.
- Lafayette, Pennsylvania township of Pennsylvania with a population of 2,023 people.
- Lafayette, Minnesota human settlement in Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States of America with a population of 705 people.
- LaFayette, Kentucky human settlement in Christian County, Kentucky, United States of America with a population of 161 people.
- Lafayette, Illinois township in Ogle County, Illinois with a population of 161 people.
Other cities in Lafayette Parish
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Lafayette Parish , LA.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Youngsville | 15,262 | Suburb city of Lafayette, located in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States of America |
| Broussard | 11,303 | Suburb city of Lafayette, located in Lafayette and St. |
| Carencro | 9,945 | Suburb city of Lafayette, located in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States |
| Scott | 8,787 | Suburb city of Lafayette, located in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States |
| Duson | 1,761 | Town of the United States |
| Vatican | 882 | This unincorporated community in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, is situated at an elevation of 39 feet. |
Distance to Other Cities
Lafayette distances to largest Louisiana cities