Moving To Acadiana: A New Resident Guide
Welcome to Lafayette and the Acadiana region. We’re glad you’re here! Whether you are new to Lafayette or have returned to the area after spending some time away, Bayou State Operations is here to help your transition go as smoothly as possible.
The world says Cajun Country and locals say Acadiana. They’re all referring to one place: South Louisiana.
Lafayette is the hub of Acadiana, a region of southern Louisiana that was settled by French-speaking Acadians, also known as Cajuns, in the 18th century. The city is known for its Cajun and Creole culture, its music, food, and festivals.
Lafayette is a growing city with a strong economy. The city is home to a number of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.
Lafayette is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The city has a low cost of living, a strong sense of community, and a variety of things to do.
Happiest City
Lafayette residents are the happiest in the US according to a study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Researches measured life satisfaction of each city’s residents based on data collected from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey.
Friendliest City
Lafayette, Louisiana was named the 10th friendliest city in the United States by Southern Living Magazine.
Best College Town
Travel & Leisure named Lafayette the 17th Best College Town in America. Towns were nominated via social media, then voted on in 55 categories. Lafayette beat out more than 700 towns to secure its spot on the list. According to the magazine, if there was a “most well-rounded” category, Lafayette would have swept the competition.
Most Beautiful Towns and Small Cities
Acadiana is home to four of Louisiana’s top 10 beautiful towns and small cities according to the CultureTrip.com – Breaux Bridge, St. Martinville, and Opelousas.
Education
Here, you will find Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, more than 100 “A” and “B” rated schools, charter and magnet-style options, exceptional private schools, a nationally recognized university, and thriving community colleges. In addition, many districts support Schools of Choice and/or gifted programs with specialized academies that allow families to select the right fit for their child. Many publish schools also provide language immersion programs.
Healthcare
As a regional medical center, Acadiana offers first-class comprehensive healthcare with ever expanding specialized medical services and state-pf-the-art facilities. The cutting-edge high=speed fiber-optic network as supported a medical sector boom in Lafayette, with Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, and Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital anchoring the region’s healthcare and hospital options.
Festival International
The largest music and arts festival in the US with over 300,000 festival goers each year and an annual economic impact of $49 million.
The Festival International De Louisiane is an annual music and arts festival held in Lafayette, Louisiana celebrating the French heritage of the region and its connection to the Francophone world. The festival was first held in 1987 and has become very popular, attracting musicians, artists, and craftsmen from around the world. The festival is held outdoors in Downtown Lafayette on the last full weekend of April and is free to the public. Estimates for attendance include 400,000 in 2016. The festival was voted the “Best World Music Festival” by About.com readers in their 2012 and 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards. 2020 saw a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The stated mission of the festival is to:
Enrich the community with a celebration of its native cultures through performing arts.
Educate the public of the historical achievements and artistic expressions of related global cultures while developing an appreciation for the arts.
Develop culture and tourism, as well as enhance economic development by expanding Louisiana’s reputation as an arts center and a destination for artistic events.
French speakers live in the south central area of Louisiana known as Acadiana, and much of the local traditional music by Cajun and Creole musicians use French lyrics. Bi-lingual radio and television announcers underscore the prevalence of French speakers in older, rural areas among both Cajun and Creole residents. The French Immersion programs in the area promote the language in charter schools while increasing connections to the rest of the French-speaking world. Festival International underscores Acadiana’s connection to the Francophone world.
Organizations such as Radio Canada, TV5Monde, Radio France, and Afropop Worldwide have reached out to Festival International officials to cover the event. In addition, the 2016 lineup of Francophone artists has attracted several government officials from the French-speaking world.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_International)
Best Place to Live
Lafayette was recognized as one of the 50 Best Places to Live for Families by Fortune magazine.
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Sources: oneacadiana.org lafayettetravel.com