B. Jo Branch is the Parish coordinator
If you have any records or photos to add to this site please contact me.

In 1890, there were almost no roads and few bridges causing the distance 
of 30-40 miles to the parish seat of Opelousas, St. Landry Parish,
a hardship for many people to travel to pay their taxes, attend court, etc. 
Talk began of forming a new parish from St. Landry. 
In 1908, one of the political issues was the formation of a new parish. P. L. Fontenot, from Ville Platte, LA, introduced a bill  requesting the formation of this new parish.  This new bill passed the house and on  January 1, 1911 the new parish was created from St. Landry Parish.

The parish seat is Ville Platte, which means "Flat Town" in French. 

Ville Platte was founded by Major Marcellin Garand,  a veteran of Napoleon's Army who established a tavern  for thirsty travelers headed for Natchitoches  along the old Camino Real ("Royal Road"),  also known as the Spanish Trail. 

Ville Platte has been officially designated by the Louisiana Legislature
as the "Swamp Pop Capital of the World". This is in recognition of the town's long, rich history of developing swamp pop music including artists such as  the Boogie Kings, Rod Bernard, Tommy McLain, Joe Barry, Jivin Gene, Johnnie Allan, and Warren Storm.

Home Pages:

Danahy Family

Duplissey Family

A Catholic Cajun Family

St. Landry

Acadia

 Jefferson Davis

Allen

Rapides

Avoyelles

Lookup Volunteers

How to Subscribe to the Evangeline Parish Mail List

Read and Post to the Evangeline Parish Message Boards

Fleur de Lis background and banner by: http://www.pinette.net/genealogy/clipart/