ORGANIZATION OF CALCASIEU PARISH 
Submitted by Margaret Rentrop Moore

Source: Southwest Louisiana Biographical & Historical by William
Henry Perrin; published 1891 page 129-130.


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ORGANIZATION OF PARISH.-While settlements were not made so early in the
parish of Calcasieu as in some other portions of Southwest Louisiana, we have
seen that white people came here about 1815 and formed settlements along the
Calcasieu River. We have followed that little settlement until we find it spread
out over a large section of country, and the people began to think of being
organized into a parish to themselves. They had been for years going to
Opelousas to attend court and vote, if they voted at all, and they determined on
better accommodations.  This resulted in the organization of a new parish under
the following act:
    An act to create a new parish, to be called the parish of Calcasieu.
    SECTION I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
State of Louisiana, in General Assembly convened, That from and after the
passage of this act, all that territory in the parish of St. Landry, within
the following boundaries, to-wit: Commencing at the mouth of the River
Mermentau, thence up said river to the mouth of the Bayou Nez Pique, thence up
said bayou to the mouth of Cedar Creek, thence due north to the dividing line
between the parishes of St. Landry and Rapides, thence along said line to the
Sabine River, thence down the said river to the mouth, thence along the sea
coast to the place of beginning, shall form and constitute a new parish, to be
called the parish of Calcasieu.
    The act contains eighteen other sections, all of which it takes to legally
constitute the parish and provide for its legal machinery, and place it on foot
as an independent municipality. The act, when it finally reaches the end, is
signed by William Debuys, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Felix Garcia,
Lieutenant Governor, and President of the Senate, and A. B. Roman, Governor. It
is approved March 24, 1840.  The necessary steps were taken at once and the new
parish set to work.