1898 - State legislation passed allowing for creation of Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute (SLII). 1899 - Board of Trustees Establish and donation of 25 acres of land by Girard family. 1900 - Construction began and Dr. Edwin Stephens named President. 1901 - SLII opened September 18 with 100 students and eight faculty members. 1903 - 18 students were the first to graduate from SLII in two separate ceremonies. 1920 - Began a four-year course culminating with a bachelor of arts degree. 1921 - SLII was changed into the Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning (SLI). 1960 - SLI became the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL). 1984 - USL attempted to change its name to the University of Louisiana, which only lasted less than a month until overturned by an act of the state legislature. 1997 - University's privately held assets reach $75 million. 1999 - USL was renamed the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette)

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the largest member of the University of Louisiana System, is a public institution of higher education offering bachelor�s, master�s, and doctoral degrees. Within the Carnegie classification, the University is designated as a Research University with High Research Activity. The University�s academic programs are administered by the Colleges of the Arts, Education, Engineering, General Studies, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, B. I. Moody III College of Business Administration, Ray P. Authement College of the Sciences, and the Graduate School. The University is dedicated to achieving excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, in research, and in public service. - See more at: http://www.louisiana.edu/about-us/who-we-are/mission-vision-values#sthash.xEv1mcwJ.dpuf

Jake Delhomme, NFL quarterback who led the Carolina Panthers to their first NFC conference championship. Ali Landry, former Miss USA (1996), model and actress. Alex McCool, manager of the Space Shuttle Projects Office at the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Frank Ocean, Grammy award-winning artist, singer, songwriter. A. Hays Town, nationally celebrated Southern architect.

Urban 1,227 Acres (4.97 Km2)