Lafayette, Louisiana is a city on the Vermilion River in Lafayette Parish. It was originally named Vermilionville in 1821 by a French-speaking Acadian named Jean Mouton. It was renamed in 1884 for the Marquis de Lafayette, who helped the United States during its Revolutionary War. It is a place of innumerous historic attractions, majestic plantation homes, lively gardens, swamp tours, year-round festivals and exciting museums. Lafayette also offers spicy Cajun and Creole cooking, zydeco music and vast marshy lands.
Lafayette has a warm and moist climate with plenty of rainfall because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico Lafayette receives 214 days of sunshine each year with only five days of sub-freezing weather. Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th

Elevation: 41 feet

Land area: 47.6 square miles

Latitude: 30.21 N,

Longitude: 92.03 W

Population: 112,030 (as on July 2005)

Lafayette average annual rainfall is 61 inches per year

The average winter temperature is 51.9 degrees F.

The average summer temperature is 81.9 degrees F.

Festivals

• Festivals Acadiens - Oct. 13-15, 2006
• South Louisiana Bluegrass Association's Festival - Oct. 6-7, 2006
• Festival International de Louisiane - April 26-30, 2006

Attractions

• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
•  Lafayette Museum
• Vermilionville
• Acadian Village