The frontiersmen of the area now known as Vermilion Parish were exiled Acadians from Nova Scotia and settlers from France. Spanish settlers as well made their homes in this area as early as 1757. The Acadians and the native French settlers spoke the same language and were of the same religion, Roman Catholic.

In 1843, a Roman Catholic priest, Reverend Antoine Desire Megret left the church where he was pastor in Vermilionville (now Lafayette) and purchased land along the Vermilion River, where he established a new church and the settlement which was to become Abbeville.

Today, Abbeville has a population of just over 12,000 and is the Parish (County) Seat of Vermilion Parish, which has a population of 55,000.

Acadiana, situated in the central-southernmost region of Louisiana, is an area which surrounds Vermilion Parish. Acadiana is a beautiful and fertile region with a vast expanse of parishes interfused with moss-covered woodlands. Bayous and smaller waterways called “coulees” make their way to the Gulf of Mexico, which forms the southern coast of Vermilion Parish.

Abbeville is located some 20 miles southwest of Lafayette, home of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette; 80 miles from the state capital of Baton Rouge, home of the 2003 National Football Champion LSU Tigers, and just a little over two hours away from the Big Easy, New Orleans.

The oil and gas industry, a leading source of revenue and employment in the Abbeville area, is steadily being supplemented by new and progressive enterprise such as dry docks, shipping, and fish processing plants and allied petroleum services. Rice, sugar cane, soybeans, milo, crawfish, fruits and livestock are some of the commodities produced in Vermilion Parish.

The C.S. Steen Syrup Mill, one of the largest open-kettle mills in the nation, is located in Abbeville. Also, Vermilion Parish produces more rice than any other parish in the state. Vermilion Parish is also among the top five beef-producing area in the nation.

The emergence of crawfish as a second-use of rice acreage has greatly enhanced land values. The delicacy can be enjoyed throughout many months of the year.

Abbeville’s recreational facilities include nine parks and numerous youth sporting activities. A.A. Comeaux Park is the home of several youth baseball fields. A.A. Comeaux Youth is very proud to have hosted five Babe Ruth World Series, including the 1974 13-15 World Series, 1995 Bambino World Series, 1999 13-Year-Old World Series, 2001 16U Softball World Series,  the 2002 13-15 World Series, the 2005 13-15 Year-Old World Series and 2006 Cal Ripken 10 Year-Old World Series.

Among Abbeville’s many accomplishments over the years being involved with Babe Ruth League, Inc., is the fact that in 1995 the A.A. Comeaux Youth Bambino Program hosted the 1995 Bambino World Series, and became only second host program in the long history of Babe Ruth League, Inc. to win the World Series as a host city.

Ralph Sellers Field, one of the finest and most beautiful baseball/ softball facilities in the south, is the home of the 2008 10 Year Old Cal Ripken World Series. Sellers Field is very versatile as it has been transformed on many occasions from a baseball to a softball field.

A.A. Comeaux Youth takes great pride in being the host of the 2008 10 Year –Old World Series, and Host President Tommy Picard will be host president for the seventh consecutive World Series in Abbeville. Picard and his many volunteers promise to make this year’s series a great experience as the hospitality and host family experience in Abbeville will be second to none.

A.A. Comeaux Park is the home of the A.A. Comeaux Youth Program which serves as the parent youth athletic program and offers Babe Ruth Softball, Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball, Biddy Basketball and Soccer to the youth of Abbeville and Vermilion Parish. A.A. Comeaux Youth has not only served as host for many Babe Ruth World Series, but has also hosted numerous state and regional tournaments over the years.

The City of Abbeville and A.A. Comeaux Youth are also very proud to have two members in the Babe Ruth Hall of Fame. Mr. Ralph Sellers was inducted in 1982 and Mr. Irby Luquette was inducted in 1984. These two men have been very instrumental in making Babe Ruth League, Inc. one of the top youth programs in the country. Abbeville, as well as the surrounding Acadiana area, is known worldwide for its Cajun cuisine and traditional French/Cajun music. Visitors can enjoy a combination of the two at many restaurants in the Acadiana area. Excellent hunting, fishing, and hiking are easily accessible. The Gulf of Mexico is only a thirty-minute boat ride from Intracoastal City, located 20 miles south of Abbeville. Fishermen can find an abundance of tarpon, white and blue marlin, dolphin, red fish, trout and red snapper. Fresh water fishermen can enjoy perch, bass, sac-a-lait, and white perch fishing as well.

For additional information contact the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 898-6600.