Lafayette Parish () is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. According to the 2020 U.S. census, the parish had a population of 241,753, up from 221,578 at the 2010 United States census. The parish seat and largest city is Lafayette. The parish was founded in 1823. Since 1996, the city and parish have operated as a consolidated government.
Etymology
The city and parish of Lafayette were named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, the French general who took part in the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and financially aided it.
Geography
Lafayette Parish is a part of the region of Acadiana in southern Louisiana, along the Gulf Coast. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of , of which is land and (0.2%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest parish in Louisiana by land area and third-smallest by total area.
Major highways
- 25px Interstate 10
- 25px Interstate 49
- 25px U.S. Highway 90
- 25px U.S. Highway 167
- 25px Louisiana Highway 89
- 25px Louisiana Highway 89-1
- 25px Louisiana Highway 92
- 25px Louisiana Highway 92-1
- 25px Louisiana Highway 93
- 25px Louisiana Highway 95
- 25px Louisiana Highway 96
- 25px Louisiana Highway 182
- 25px Louisiana Highway 3025
- 25px Louisiana Highway 3073
- 25px Louisiana Highway 3184
Adjacent parishes
- St. Landry Parish (north)
- St. Martin Parish (east)
- Iberia Parish (southeast)
- Vermilion Parish (south)
- Acadia Parish (west)
National protected area
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (part, in Lafayette)
Communities
thumb|250px|Map of Lafayette Parish, with municipal labels
Cities
- Broussard (partly in St. Martin Parish)
- Carencro
- Lafayette (parish seat and largest municipality)
- Scott
- Youngsville
Town
- Duson (partly in Acadia Parish)<br />
Unincorporated areas
Census-designated places
- Milton
- Ossun
Other communities
- Billeaud
- Capitan
- Elks
- Judice
- Larabee
- Mouton
- Pilette
- Pont Des Mouton
- Ridge
- River Ranch
- Sadou
- Stekey
- Vatican
- Walroy