Nicknamed the "Rice Capital of America," Crowley, LA is most famous for its yearly International Rice Festival.
Crowley is a smallish city in Acadia Parish, Louisiana and used to be one of the major centers for rice farming in the United States throughout the years
Nicknamed the "Rice Capital of America," Crowley, LA is most famous for its yearly International Rice Festival.
Crowley is a smallish city in Acadia Parish, Louisiana and used to be one of the major centers for rice farming in the United States throughout the years. Although most farmers in the area still focus mainly on rice and Crowley has a couple of rice mills that are making good money, there is just so much more to the city (more and more crow- err crawfish seems to be joining the rice). When Crowley was founded back in the 1800's, one of the founders, W.W. Duson, must have been so happy with the business the new railroad depot would be bringing to the area that he named the town after Pat Crowley, the Irish railroad guy. The other founder, C.C. Duson, was the most famous, no-nonsense sheriff in Louisiana in his time. The Duson family stayed in the area and descendants of the founders continued the family legacy by helping to build the city to the dynamic place it is today. Crowley's fertile soil also hasn't only produced top quality rice, but many brilliant minds and artistic souls, such as best-selling author Frances Parkinson Keyes and composer J.D. "Jay" Miller found their roots and inspiration here. Hopefully you will also feel inspired in your search for apartments to rent in Crowley, LA. Just a tip: look for something with decent fans or air-conditioning, as summers in Crowley can be hellishly hot. On the upside, in winter you will be basking in the sunny weather in contrast to your freezing buddies up north. Regardless of the time of year, an umbrella or raincoat should be a constant companion.
Start Your Search Early
There is not a large abundance of rental units in Crowley. Slightly more housing units are occupied by owners than tenants, and according to the 2010 census only about 5% of these properties are available at a time. As tenants need to give at least a month or two notice before leaving, it is advisable for you to start your search at least two months before you are planning to move. Not only will it give you an idea of what is available, it is a great way to be sure you are first in line when you find the place of your dreams. If your move is a bit last minute and you are from up-state, consider taking a month-to-month lease while continuing your search for something better.
Go Bigger
As Crowley is a relatively small place, you won't find many apartment complexes, while housing to rent is more readily available. Forget about finding a cozy studio apartment to rent, as there are only a minuscule 127 of these units in the whole city. Your chances of finding 3 bedroom places to live in Crowley are way better, as they equate to over 40% of all units. This might be a bit more than you have bargained for, but even two bedroom apartments for rent are easier to find and they are not even that expensive. In fact, rent on average is lower in Crowley than in the rest of Louisiana and up to 30% less than you would expect to pay in the rest of the country. If you really don't have the dough, you can always shack up with a housemate and split the costs.
Ebenezer / Lyons Point: This is a large, rural area and the place to be if you ever decide to take on the skies, as a small airstrip is situated here. This area is also home to one of the older, most well-known rice farms in Crowley, Crystal Rice Plantation Heritage Farm. Apparently people from all over the world come here to learn more about how rice and crawfish can share a field and how to harvest them. If all of this has left you hungry, head to the Crawfish Tub, where you can sample some of the local produce.
Crowley Eunice Highway / Egan Highway: Two highways run through this area, bringing hordes of visitors to the town during the International Rice Festival once a year. If you crave good Cajun-style food, both the Rice Palace and Fezzo's Seafood, Steakhouse and Oyster Bar come highly recommended. If your fridge and kitchen cupboards need to be stocked, there is a great Wal-Mart Super center in the area that should meet all of your grocery shopping needs. For a breath of fresh air or a nice, relaxing picnic, you can either head to the Bicentennial Park or Levy Park. If you have your heart set on a one or two bedroom apartment, you can try the Northgate Apartment complex, which is situated in this area.
City Center: The sheriff's office is situated in Crowley's City Center, along with a variety of professional services. You can also try your luck here at Kathy's Apartments. The Acadia Food Mart is another favorite with shoppers and if you are planning on dating or hanging out with friends, you are sure to become a regular at Crowley Cinema IV. To pretty up your new place, a visit to Affordable Home Furnishings is a must. If you need a break or some green relaxation, the Martin Luther King Park and Hoffpauir Park will provide the much-needed peace you require.
W 2nd St / W 1st St: Golf fanatics will love this area and might just want to live in walking (or golf-cart) distance from the Bayou Bend Golf Course with its splendid greens. Rice farmers tend to frequent this area, with so many of the major mills situated in W. Mills street. Duson Park and Edwards Park offer the opportunity work on your fitness level by jogging or walking through the lovely green spaces.
You don't have to be a fan of the rice to love living in Crowley but it will certainly help to endear the city to you. After all, if you are hungry and you feel like eating two thousand of something, where better to do it than in the Rice Capital of America. Good luck and don't get discouraged if your search doesn't go as well, if you stick to it you might just find that special place. If you do, make sure that you are all over it like white on rice to prevent someone else from scooping it up before you.
