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| | Lafayette is home to the Cajun people. The word "Cajun" is a derivative of the original French pronunciation of Acadian: "A-ca-jan." The Cajun people are descendents of the Acadians who once settled in the French province of Acadia (Nova Scotia). Not long after they settled that area in the 1600s, the area became a British possession. In 1755, the British authorities demanded that the Acadians renounce their Roman Catholic faith and swear allegiance to the Crown. When they refused they were forced into exile, shipped to the New England colonies, the West Indies or back to France. Many wandered for years before they found out about the predominantly French territory of Louisiana. In 1784, when the exiles were allowed to settle in southern area Louisiana, small villages were established along the Mississippi River and the many bayous and swamplands. |
| Subtropical and typically warm, Lafayette's weather is nearly sunny year-round. Spring and fall temperatures hover around the 70s and 80s but shoot up to 90-100 degrees during the hot and humid summers. In close proximily to the Gulf of Mexico, Lafayette does get hit by hurricanes, and the season runs from June through November. Shorts and flip flops are proper attire for most of the year, but Lafayette does cool off in the winter months. The city only averages five days of freezing weather though, with 214 days of sunshine per year. |
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