Vermilion Parish, LA

Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
Parish
	Location within the state of Louisiana
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Founded	1844
Parish seat	Abbeville
Area
• Total	1,540 sq mi (3,990 km2)
• Land	1,170 sq mi (3,020 km2)
• Water	370 sq mi (970 km2)
Population (2020)
• Total	57,999
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)

Vermilion Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 57,999. The parish seat is Abbeville. The parish was founded in 1844.

History[edit | edit source]

Vermilion Parish was created on March 25, 1844, from parts of Lafayette Parish and St. Martin Parish. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Attakapas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 3,990 square kilometers, of which 3,020 square kilometers is land and 970 square kilometers (24.3%) is water. The parish is part of the Acadiana region, known for its Cajun culture and heritage.

Adjacent parishes[edit | edit source]

Acadia Parish (north)
Lafayette Parish (northeast)
Iberia Parish (east)
St. Mary Parish (southeast)
Cameron Parish (west)
Jefferson Davis Parish (northwest)

National protected areas[edit | edit source]

Demographics[edit | edit source]

As of the 2020 census, there were 57,999 people, 21,000 households, and 15,000 families residing in the parish. The population density was 19 people per square kilometer. The racial makeup of the parish was 80% White, 15% African American, 1% Native American, 1% Asian, and 3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5% of the population.

Economy[edit | edit source]

The economy of Vermilion Parish is largely based on agriculture, fishing, and oil and gas. The parish is known for its rice and crawfish production. The Port of Vermilion is a significant hub for commercial fishing and seafood processing.

Education[edit | edit source]

The parish is served by the Vermilion Parish School Board, which operates several public schools in the area. Higher education is provided by nearby institutions such as University of Louisiana at Lafayette.