What's flat? Besides a pancake, that is? Ville Platte, Louisiana, whose name comes from the French words "ville platte," meaning flat town. You won't find mountains here.
The parish seat of Evangeline Parish, Louisiana - a little of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem Evangeline might make good reading material - Ville Platte has a population of around 7,400 residents
What's flat? Besides a pancake, that is? Ville Platte, Louisiana, whose name comes from the French words "ville platte," meaning flat town. You won't find mountains here.
The parish seat of Evangeline Parish, Louisiana - a little of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem Evangeline might make good reading material - Ville Platte has a population of around 7,400 residents. Ville Platte has a fascinating heritage and culture, with Creole and Cajun cultural associations offering up awesome cuisine, music, and history. Located off I-49 about 45 minutes from Lafayette, the community offers a small town feel not far from larger city amenities.
Summers are steamy and winters are mild in central Louisiana, so you won't need to bring your snow shovel if you're moving here from a wintery climate. You will need a car - over 81 percent of residents drive to work, but take under fifteen minutes to do so.
To find a place to live you shouldn't need long, there are many vacancies here year-round. However, as always, a month is a sound investment to make in finding the right spot among the many available properties. You can look any time of year - there's no wrong time to look, and weather is as noted, mild. Whether you're looking for a one bedroom apartment, 3 bedroom houses for rent, a studio apartment, or even all bills paid housing, you can find them fairly easily in Ville Platte.
Where should you look? Stroll neighborhoods on foot or roll by in your car and look for those all important "for rent" signs - many properties in this community may require you to ask about rentals rather than having them listed online or in local newspapers. However, look there too, particularly the Sunday classified section of the Ville Platte Gazette.
What should you bring when you're ready to rent? ID, proof of income, rental history - these are all important items or information to have available. Some landlords may require your tax returns or W2s, so keep them handy as well.
Parks, lakes, shopping -- you have it all in Ville Platte. But depending on which area of town you live in, you'll have easier access to these amenities. Take a look at the list of neighborhoods in the city to see where you fit in.
Tate Cove / Belair Cove: Located near to Chico State Park's expansive green space, this neighborhood has a rural feel, and is made up of mostly medium to small sized single family homes and mobile home properties. While most homes are owner occupied here, you can find rentals if you look.
Ville Platte City Center: This suburban neighborhood by density offers single family homes and apartment complexes like the Park View or Ville Platte Village complexes. Owners and renters alike live here in homes that date from between 1940 and 1999 primarily. Vacancies are quite high so you should be able to find the right place for you, possibly just down the street from a small cafe serving up awesome gumbo. The many shops at Parkview Shopping Center are also located here.
W Main St / N Soileau St: Conveniently closed to Highway 167 and easily accessible to large Miller Lake nearby, this suburban neighborhood consists mostly of medium sized to small sized single-family homes and small apartment buildings. Owners and renters alike reside in homes built primarily between 1940 and 1999.
Ville Platte was first settled when Louisiana was under Spanish rule, in the 1780s. since that time the community has grown into a comfortable community that lies at the northern portion of what's called the "Cajun Triangle." That means plenty of tasty Creole and Cajun restaurants, the sounds of vibrant Afro-creole Zydeco music - which may have begun here - and the cadences of the French language are often heard spoken here.
Ville Platte is also the location of Louisiana's largest state park, Chicot State Park. At over 6400 acres, there are hills, bodies of water, and deer, raccoons, and plenty of native plants like cypress trees. It's a popular spot to visit for people all across the country, and it's fishing piers offer you plenty of spots to sit back, relax, and roll out the old rod and reel. Maybe you'll catch your own dinner!There's plenty of history here, too. One particular landmark is The Alexis LaTour House or Old Homeplace, built in 1835 in traditional Creole Architectural style. You may not find a rental with as interestingly ornate carved moldings, panels, and mantels, but you will find many comfortable residences in a town where Spanish moss clings to trees and the pace of life is laidback.The community isn't entirely mellow however - sporting events are a big draw, and community football, flag football, and basketball leagues are a big draw whether you're participating or just watching. Summer sports camps and reading programs for kids are another part of community life.The holiday season finds at 37 foot tall tree and festive lights strung throughout the downtown area, and a recent project to beautify neighborhood parks with daffodil bulbs has been a blooming success.Dining is an important part of life in this region, with its own inventive cuisines a part of the lifestyle. Try the Crawfish Barn for of course, crawfish, and a fresh oyster bar. Cafe de Lasalle offers a seafood buffet and many tasty home cooked meals like Chicken & Tasso fettuccine, Shrimp Ettouffee', Crawfish Ettouffee', and Stewed Catfish. If you have a hankering for pizza and drinks, try Nick's on Main, another popular gathering place. You're going to want to work off all those calories by taking a jog around nearby Miller Lake or the pleasant in-town green space of Chief Romeo Hargrove City Park.From classic shops like Floyd's Record Shop to the national discounts available at the towns Wal-Mart, you'll find all the things you need to furnish your new home.And then, if you're longing for some big city excitement, just take that drive down to Lafayette. There you can check out the reconstructed Cajun village of Acadian Village, the historic Alexandre Mouton House Museum, or catch a local or national touring act at the Heymann Center for the performing arts. At the 70,000 square foot Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise, you'll find the worlds first six sided digital cube - now that's virtual reality! Take the kids to the Children's Museum of Acadiana or enjoy a visit to the Lafayette Natural History Museum & Planetarium.
