Lafayette Vermilionville | |
---|---|
Lafayette, LA metropolitan statistical area | |
Nickname: Hub City | |
Country | United States |
State | Louisiana |
Principal city | Lafayette |
Other cities | |
Area | |
• Land | 3,409 sq mi (8,828 km2) |
Population (2020) | |
• Metro | 478,384 |
GDP | |
• Metro | $24.996 billion (2022) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Website | http://www.lafayettela.gov/ |
Named for Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette |
Lafayette, Vermilionville, or the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area per the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, is the third largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Located in the south central Acadiana region, it covers five parishes. At the 2020 U.S. census, 478,384 people lived in the metropolitan area, [2] making it the 116th most populous in the United States and one of Louisiana's fastest growing metropolises; in 2010, its population was 273,738 and it outpaced the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area in 2015. [3]
The approximately 3,408.5 square miles (8,828 km2) metropolitan area centers on Lafayette Parish, which contains the city of Lafayette—the largest economic and cultural center of Acadiana—with a consolidated city-parish population of 244,390 in 2019; [4] the city proper's population was 121,374 in 2020. [5] Part of the larger Lafayette-Opelousas-Morgan City combined statistical area, it borders the Lake Charles metropolitan area to the west.
As of 2020, the metropolitan statistical area is home to Amazon, [6] IberiaBank, [7] Rouses Market, [8] Albertsons, [9] Petroleum Helicopters International, [10] and other statewide and international corporations generating a gross domestic product of over 24.9 billion dollars as of 2022. [11] The Lafayette metropolitan area is one of the most predominantly-Catholic metropolises in the Southern United States, [12] and home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. It is also home to a growing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population. [13] [14]
The Lafayette metropolitan area covers approximately 3,408.5 square miles (8,828 km2) in the region of Acadiana in Louisiana. [15] If it were a U.S. state or territory, it would be larger than Delaware and the Northern Mariana Islands. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines Metropolitan Lafayette as initially covering Lafayette and Saint Martin parishes; Acadia, Iberia, and Vermilion parishes were added to the metropolis in 2013. [16] The larger combined statistical area adds St. Landry Parish and St. Mary Parish.
Located along the Gulf Coast of the United States, it borders the Lake Charles metropolitan area, and is located south of the Alexandria metropolitan area, and west of Greater New Orleans and Greater Baton Rouge. Communities within the Lafayette area lie at a low elevation above sea level, though some portions extend to nearly 50 feet (15 m) above sea level.
In 2010, [17] the U.S. Census Bureau reported there were 273,738 people, 89,536 households, and 61,826 families residing within metropolitan Lafayette. From 2010 to 2015, the Lafayette metropolitan area outpaced the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area in North Louisiana by population, becoming the third largest metropolitan area in the state. [3] [18] In 2019, the Lafayette metropolitan area's population began a period of stagnation and slight decline. [19] At the publication of the 2020 United States census, its metropolitan population was 478,384. [2]
According to the 2010 census, the metropolitan racial makeup was 71.86% White, 25.46% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races; Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.56% of the population. At the 2021 American Community Survey's 1-year estimates, the racial and ethnic makeup for the metropolis was 66% White, 25% Black and African American, 0% Native American, 2% Asian, 4% from two or more races, and 4% Hispanic or Latino American of any race. [20]
The city and parish of Lafayette are the economic centers for Acadiana and the metropolitan region. Having been or currently economically established by Albertsons, Amazon, [21] [22] Brookshire Grocery Company, [23] CGI, [24] First Horizon Bank, JP Morgan Chase, LUSFiber, the Ochsner Health System, [25] Petroleum Helicopters International, Perficient, and Rouses Markets, the area is also stimulated by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and South Louisiana Community College.
Lafayette Regional Airport—located on U.S. Highway 90 (future Interstate 49), on the southeast side of the city of Lafayette with daily scheduled passenger airline services nonstop to Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and effective April 2, 2021 to Charlotte—is the primary airport for the metropolitan area and Acadiana. Charter services also depart Lafayette Regional as well as helicopter flights and cargo jets. A new airline passenger terminal at the Lafayette airport opened on January 20, 2022. [26]
Alongside its aerial transportation methods, Interstate 10 and Interstate 49 are the primary highways, with a passenger rail. The Amtrak Sunset Limited offers service three days a week from New Orleans and Los Angeles, California with selected stops in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Connections are available in New Orleans to Chicago and to the East Coast via Atlanta. Service eastward to Orlando, Florida remains suspended in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Greyhound also operates a station downtown on Lee Avenue with destinations east and west on I-10, north on I-49 and southeast on U.S. Hwy 90. The Lafayette Transit System (formerly City of Lafayette Transit (COLT)) provides bus service; public transportation is provided only within Lafayette's city limits.
U.S. Route 90 (co-signed with Evangeline Thruway, Mudd Avenue and Cameron Street within the city limits) and U.S. Route 167 (co-signed with I-49, Evangeline Thruway and Johnston Street). Ambassador Caffery Parkway, named for Jefferson Caffery, serves as a partial loop connecting I-10 at Exit 100 on the west and U.S. 90 on the south. Other arterial roads include Verot School Road (LA 339), West Congress Street, Kaliste Saloom Road (LA 3095), Ridge Road, Carmel Drive/Breaux Bridge Highway (LA 94), University Avenue (LA 182), Pinhook Road (LA 182), Camellia Boulevard, Guilbeau Road, Moss Street, Willow Street, Louisiana Avenue, Pont Des Mouton Road, Eraste Landry Road, and South College Road.
St. Martin Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, founded in 1811. Its parish seat is St. Martinville, and the largest city is Breaux Bridge. At the 2020 census, the population was 51,767. St. Martin Parish is part of the Lafayette metropolitan area in the region of Acadiana, along the Gulf Coast.
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.
Iberia Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 69,929; the parish seat is New Iberia.
Jeanerette is a city in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States. Known as "Sugar City", it had a population of 5,530 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 467 from the 2000 tabulation of 5,997. It is two thirds African American, many of them Creoles of color. Jeanerette is the part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area; its parish is also one of the 22 included in the Acadiana region, which has had a high proportion of Francophones.
New Iberia is the largest city in and parish seat of Iberia Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The city of New Iberia is located approximately 21 miles southeast of Lafayette, and forms part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area in the region of Acadiana. The 2020 United States census tabulated a population of 28,555. New Iberia is served by Amtrak’s Sunset Limited, operating between Los Angeles and New Orleans. New Iberia has a major four lane highway, being U.S. 90, and has its own general aviation airfield, Acadiana Regional Airport. Scheduled passenger and cargo airline service is available via the nearby Lafayette Regional Airport located adjacent to U.S. 90 in Lafayette.
Jefferson is a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the north side of the Mississippi River. Jefferson is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area. The population was 11,193 at the 2010 census, and 10,533 in 2020. It is often known by locals as "Old Jefferson", but should not be confused with Old Jefferson in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.
Lafayette is the most populous city in and parish seat of Lafayette Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located along the Vermilion River. It is Louisiana's fourth-most populous city with a 2020 census population of 121,374; the consolidated city-parish's population was 241,753 in 2020. The Lafayette metropolitan area was Louisiana's third largest metropolitan statistical area with a population of 478,384 at the 2020 census. The Acadiana region containing Lafayette is the largest population and economic corridor between Houston, Texas and New Orleans.
Youngsville is a city in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, and is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area. The population was 8,105 at the 2010 U.S. census, and 15,929 at the 2020 United States census.
St. Martinville is a city in and the parish seat of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on Bayou Teche, 13 miles (21 km) south of Breaux Bridge, 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Lafayette, and 9 miles (14 km) north of New Iberia. The population was 6,114 at the 2010 U.S. census, and 5,379 at the 2020 United States census. It is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area.
Franklin is a small city in and the parish seat of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,660 at the 2010 census. The city is located on Bayou Teche, southeast of the cities of Lafayette, 47 miles (76 km) and New Iberia, 28 miles (45 km), and 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Morgan City. It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area and the larger Lafayette-Acadiana combined statistical area.
Broussard is a city in Lafayette and St. Martin parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 8,197 at the 2010 U.S. census, and 13,417 at the 2020 United States census. Broussard is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area.
Acadiana, also known as Cajun Country, is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that has historically contained much of the state's Francophone population.
The New Orleans metropolitan area, designated the New Orleans–Metairie metropolitan statistical area by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, or simply Greater New Orleans, is a metropolitan statistical area designated by the United States Census Bureau encompassing seven Louisiana parishes—the equivalent of counties in other U.S. states—centered on the city of New Orleans. The population of Greater New Orleans was 1,271,845 in 2020, up from 1,189,166 at the 2010 United States census. Greater New Orleans is the most populous metropolitan area in Louisiana, and the 45th most populous in the United States. According to 2017 census estimates, the broader New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell combined statistical area (CSA) had a population of 1,510,562.
The Florida Parishes, on the east side of the Mississippi River—an area also known as the Northshore or Northlake region—are eight parishes in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana.
The Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux metropolitan area, officially the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux metropolitan statistical area, is a Metropolitan Statistical Area in the Acadiana region of southern Louisiana, United States that covers two parishes—Lafourche and Terrebonne. The metropolis had a 2020 census-tabulated population of 207,137.
The Lake Charles metropolitan statistical area is a metropolitan area in the Acadiana region of southwest Louisiana that covers three parishes—Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis. According to a 2023 census estimate, the MSA had a population of 240,082. It is also part of the larger Lake Charles–DeRidder combined statistical area which had a population of 276,909 in 2023. The Lake Charles MSA also shares borders with the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area to the west. Metropolitan Lake Charles, the principal city, is commonly referred to as the Lake Area.
Ochsner Health System is a not-for-profit health system based in the New Orleans metropolitan area of southeast Louisiana, United States. As of 2021 it is the largest non-profit, academic healthcare system operating in Louisiana, with 40 medical facilities across the state. Its flagship hospital, Ochsner Medical Center, has been ranked the number one hospital in Louisiana for the past decade. It also has other clinics and medical centers in Greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Monroe, Lafayette, and other locations across Louisiana and Mississippi.
The Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas combined statistical area is made up of six parishes in the Acadiana region of southern Louisiana. The statistical area consists of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and two micropolitical statistical areas (μSAs) – New Iberia, Louisiana Micropolitan Statistical Area, and Opelousas, Louisiana Micropolitical Statistical Area. The region consists of seven parishes: Acadia, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion Parishes. As of the 2010 census, the CSA had a population of 604,784.
Cade is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. At the 2014 census estimates, Cade had a population of 1,188; in 2019, the American Community Survey estimated its population was 1,655. With the 2020 U.S. census the population was 1874. The community is served by a single ZIP code: 70519.