History of Baton Rouge - Acadian Settlement (1755)

Acadian Settlement (1755)

In the Great Expulsion of 1755, British colonial officers expelled around 11,000 Acadians from Acadia; many were transported to France and secondarily resettled in La Louisiane; many settled in an area near Baton Rouge that would come to be known as Acadiana. Eventually the settlers began calling themselves Cajuns, a name derived from Acadians (French: Acadiens.) They maintained a separate culture from that of Anglo-American Protestants, continuing their traditions of distinct clothing, music, food, and dedication to the Catholic faith. They are part of the rich cultural stew of the Baton Rouge area.