Vermilion Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States, in the Acadiana region along the Gulf of Mexico. It had a population of 57,359 at the 2020 census and covers 1,542 square miles (3,990 km2), of which 1,173 square miles is land and 369 square miles is water, centred near 29°49′N 92°19′W.
Abbeville is the county seat, and its postal code is 70510. The parish has 6 incorporated cities and towns, 1 census-designated place, and dozens of unincorporated communities. It observes Central time. The parish FIPS code is 22113.
Towns & Villages in Vermilion Parish
Vermilion Parish’s settlement pattern runs from the market towns strung along Louisiana Highway 14 and the Vermilion River south to scattered fishing and oilfield camps along the marsh and Gulf coast. Five places carry municipal charters; Perry is a census-designated place; everything else below is unincorporated. “Unincorp.” below means the place has no city or town government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | City · seat | 11,186 | 70510 |
| Kaplan | City | 4,352 | 70548 |
| Delcambre | Town | — | 70528 |
| Erath | Town | 2,028 | 70533 |
| Gueydan | Town | 1,165 | — |
| Maurice | Town | — | 70555 |
| Perry | CDP | — | 70570 |
| Andrew | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bancker | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Boston | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Camille | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Charon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cheniere au Tigre | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cossinade | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Esther | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Florence Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forked Island | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grosse Isle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Henry | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Indian Bayou | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Intracoastal City | Unincorp. | — | 70552 |
| Laurents Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leleux | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leroy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mack | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marceaux | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Meaux | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mouton Cove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mulvey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nunez | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pecan Island | Unincorp. | — | 70575 |
| Riceville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rose Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Theall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Erath | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodlawn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wright | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Youngs | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 70510 — Abbeville (also serves the parish’s eastern communities)
- 70548 — Kaplan
- 70528 — Delcambre
- 70533 — Erath
- 70555 — Maurice
- 70570 — Perry
- 70552 — Intracoastal City
- 70575 — Pecan Island
Most of the small unincorporated settlements scattered through the marsh and along the rice-and-crawfish prairie use one of the ZIP codes above, addressed through the nearest post office town rather than carrying their own postal code.
Geography
Vermilion Parish is Louisiana’s fifth-largest parish by total area, and roughly a quarter of that area is water. Its northern half is coastal prairie given over to rice and crawfish farming; its southern half dissolves into marsh, chenier ridges, and open water along Vermilion Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Water erosion, worsened by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, has claimed much of the parish’s southern coastline in recent decades. The Vermilion River runs south through Abbeville to Vermilion Bay, and the Intracoastal Waterway crosses the parish’s south end.
Vermilion Parish borders Acadia Parish to the north, Lafayette Parish to the northeast, Iberia Parish to the east, Cameron Parish to the west, and Jefferson Davis Parish to the northwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 57,359 residents, giving the parish a density of about 49 people per square mile of land. Abbeville and Kaplan are its two largest communities. Vermilion Parish’s median household income runs below the Louisiana median of $58,229, reflecting its mix of small-farm agriculture, fishing, and oilfield-services employment. Most residents are of Cajun French descent, and French surnames dominate the parish’s settlement names.
Economy & Local Life
Rice and crawfish farming anchor the parish’s northern prairie, while oil-and-gas services, commercial fishing, and shrimping run through Intracoastal City and the coastal communities. Abbeville’s downtown and its historic Magdalen Square host the parish’s civic and commercial center, and Kaplan calls itself the “Most Cajun Place on Earth.” Gueydan, the “Duck Capital of America,” holds an annual Duck Festival tied to the parish’s waterfowl-hunting tradition on the coastal marsh.
History
Vermilion Parish was created in 1844 from portions of Lafayette Parish, and it takes its name from the Vermilion River and Vermilion Bay, both named for the reddish clay along their banks. Acadian settlers moved into the prairie and bayou country through the 18th and 19th centuries, establishing the farming and fishing economy that still defines the parish. Hurricanes Rita (2005) and Ike (2008) both drove significant storm surge into the parish’s low-lying southern communities, reshaping the coastline and displacing residents from Pecan Island and other marsh settlements.
Getting There
U.S. Route 167 and Louisiana Highway 14 are the parish’s main roads, linking Abbeville and Kaplan north to Lafayette and the interstate system.
- Lafayette — 20 miles northeast
- Iberia (New Iberia) — 25 miles east
- Crowley — 20 miles north
- Lake Charles — 60 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), about 20 miles from Abbeville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Vermilion Parish?
It is in south-central Louisiana’s Acadiana region, along the Gulf of Mexico, part of the Lafayette metropolitan area.
What is the population of Vermilion Parish?
57,359 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Vermilion Parish?
1,542 square miles (3,990 km2), of which 369 square miles is water — Louisiana’s fifth-largest parish by area.
What is the Vermilion Parish seat?
Abbeville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Vermilion Parish?
Five incorporated cities and towns (Abbeville, Kaplan, Delcambre, Erath, Gueydan, Maurice) plus the Perry CDP and dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Vermilion Parish?
Including 70510 (Abbeville), 70548 (Kaplan), 70528 (Delcambre), 70533 (Erath), 70555 (Maurice), 70570 (Perry), 70552 (Intracoastal City), and 70575 (Pecan Island).
What is Vermilion Parish known for?
Rice and crawfish farming, Cajun French heritage, and Gueydan’s annual Duck Festival.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Louisiana.