The city of Opelousas is one of the oldest in Louisiana, and the city's history is not just the story of a small town, but a way of life. The city was founded in 1720, and its inhabitants were Native Americans, travelers, and traders. It was also the capital of Louisiana at one time, and was once a major trading port. Today, it has a population of approximately 57,000 people.
In 1970, the city celebrated its 250th birthday with a big downtown celebration. A large number of people attended the celebration, which was heavily promoted. There were many contests and other fun activities, and the celebration was a big success. Still, it was not enough to prevent residents from leaving town. The town's decline was exacerbated by other factors. As the population declined, so did business.
Opelousas City began accepting refugees after the Great Mississippi Flood in 1927. This flood caused severe flooding in the Mississippi Delta and other parts of Louisiana. The city's population is primarily Catholic, but there is a large presence of French, Spanish, and Canadian ancestry. Opelousas is home to the Opelousas Indians, and the town's history dates back to the 19th century.
The city was a boomtown in the early 1900s, but it wasn't an oil town. The oil boom days brought wealth to the city, and many of the locals relied on the industry for their livelihood. Unfortunately, the oil bust killed many of the small businesses that were dependent on the money made from oil. The city's downtown experienced its doom days.