OPELOUSAS
Opelousas Clinic
1233 Wayne Gilmore Circle, Suite 450
Opelousas, LA 70570
337-942-3006 / 1-800-553-2394
Meet the CIS Opelousas Team
About Opelousas
The city of Opelousas is located in central St. Landry Parish about 20 miles north of the city of Lafayette. It is the largest city in St. Landry Parish with a total population of 22,860, and is considered one of the faster growing cities in the state of Louisiana. It is also rich in history and culture. The third oldest city in Louisiana, Opelousas is home to a diverse culture of Creole and Cajun ancestry. Sounds of Zydeco, Swamp Pop, and Cajun music fill the air. And, don't forget the food -- jambalaya, gumbo, boiled crawfish and shrimp. "Mmmmm, c'est bon!"
Education
The St. Landry Parish School Board consists of forty-one schools that seek to educate students through the use of technology and provide support to ensure success. The Opelousas school system includes eight elementary schools, one junior high school, two high schools and one specialty school. The school system's focus is on enabling academic innovation in teaching, learning, and research by providing access to online resources, networked and multimedia classrooms, and academic communication tools.
Higher Education
Opelousas is near the home of Louisiana State University at Eunice. LSU-Eunice is located just southwest of Eunice along Louisiana Highway 755 in Acadia Parish, near the boundaries of Evangeline and St. Landry Parishes. LSU-E is a two-year college that has a total enrollment of 2,954 students, and offers a wide range of courses each semester. Opelousas is also home to Louisiana Technical College - T. H. Harris Campus, a vocational and technical college that delivers courses and programs through on-campus instruction and the Internet. T. H. Harris provides individuals with quality and relevant learning opportunities consistent with identified student, business, and industry needs within a life-long learning environment. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a four-year university, is located only 30 miles from Opelousas.
Healthcare
Since 1957, Opelousas General Hospital has been dedicated to the provision of quality health care through its strong commitment and high standards. OGHS has grown to a 181-bed, full service medical center as complete and as inclusive as any referral hospital in the state. Central to the success of OGHS's commitment for excellence is the presence of an outstanding and highly qualified staff of physicians, nurses, technologists and other personnel who provide professional treatment in a caring environment. Doctors' Hospital is also located in Opelousas. Established in 1981, Doctors' Hospital is committed to delivering skillful, compassionate care while continuing to expand its specialized medical services with state-of-the art facilities and procedures. In addition to its 139 licensed beds, Doctors' Hospital also has a 32-bed Senior Care Center in Arnaudville. Both OGHS and Doctors' Hospital are fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of HealthCare Organizations.
Industry
The major industries of Opelousas and St. Landry Parish consist of agriculture, oil, manufacturing, wholesale and retail.
Arts and Festivals
Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center
The Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center is a general history museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting those objects and artifacts, which provide information about the history and culture of the Opelousas area from prehistoric times to the present. Exhibits cover prehistory, agriculture, home and family, business and professions, music, food and a Hall of Fame. One room is dedicated to the Civil War, and two other rooms house the Geraldine Smith Welch Doll Collection of over 400 dolls. The museum is also home to the Louisiana Video Collection Library and the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival Archives.
The Opelousas Museum of Art
Located in the Historic Downtown District of Opelousas is the Joseph Richard Wier Memorial Building, c. 1820, which houses the Opelousas Museum of Art. A unique cultural experience, the Opelousas Museum of Art features loan exhibitions from major museums and private art collections. All of this is a rare Louisiana example of classic Federal architecture.
Jim Bowie Display
Jim Bowie, the legendary adventurer and hero of the Battle of the Alamo, lived in Opelousas after moving from Kentucky. The Opelousas Tourist Center houses the display, which contains old manuscripts, pictures, guns and other relics.
Le Vieux Village
At the east entrance to Opelousas sits Le Vieux Village du Poste des Opelousas -- The Old Village of the Opelousas Poste. The Opelousas Tourism and Activities Committee created this little village in 1988. The old historical buildings were brought together from various places within St. Landry Parish to form this beautiful little village of the past. Le Vieux Village has everything a village could need -- from a schoolhouse and a store to a church and a doctor's office. No visit to south Louisiana is complete without a stop at "The Old Village."
Creole Heritage Folklife Center
The Creole Heritage Folklife Center was founded by Ms. Rebecca D. Henry to promote the rich African-American heritage and culture of her ancestry. Visit the center to hear stories and learn about the African-American culture in south Louisiana. See "Designs by Rebecca" including handcrafted gourds, homemade soaps and potpourri, and okra angels.
Recreation
Opelousas residents have the opportunity to enjoy the relaxed and peaceful outdoor North City Park, South City Park and the nine additional neighborhood parks and playgrounds. The parks include areas for family outings, company picnics, and church outings. The North and South Parks allow residents to participate in the many summer recreational programs such as baseball, softball, drama, music, dance, tennis and swimming lessons. The recreation center also has a Biddy Basketball league and a senior citizen program.
www.cityofopelousas.com | www.slp.k12.la.us | www.lsue.edu
www.opelousasgeneral.com | www.doctorshospital.com
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