La Cote' Francaise
The
Village of French Settlement is located in the southwestern
portion of Livingston Parish.
In its earliest years, French Settlement residents depended
heavily on the Amite River not only as their sole means of
Transportation to other areas, but as a vital source of fish.
Nearby swamplands yielded an abundance of quail, deer, turkey,
rabbit, and squirrel.
Originally known as Londell, the name of the community evolved
into French Settlement after the name of a general store owned
by Joseph Salassi, steamers from New Orleans bound for Salassi's
store and cotton warehouse began calling their destination
point "French Settlement."
Thus, the name became commonly used to describe the entire
community.
Early settlers traveled the Amite River to Lake Maurepas,
then crossed the narrow pass into Lake Pontchartrain in order
to get to New Orleans.
Industry at that time centered primarily on farming, lumbering,
and harvesting fish and seafood from the waterways.
Today most residents commute to the larger cities for employment.
Incorporated on June 13, 1965 French Settlement has a mayor,
three aldermen and an elected police chief.