By Elizabeth Triche and Bridget Guilbeau,
1996 Bear Tracks (CHS Yearbook)
On a clear August night as the sounds of crickets in the air, the scent of boiled crawfish
can be smelled for miles around. In the distance, a drum beat can be heard. The faint whining of
the accordion follows it. Where is this place? In the heart of Cajun country lies a small
community thriving with history and culture. These smells and sounds can be found in Carencro.
There are at least three theories of how Carencro, pronounced (Karen Crow) was named.
The history of the name dates back to the Indian days. It was thought that a huge animal died in
the vicinity of Beau Basin. A huge number of "Carrion Crows" (buzzards) took such a long time
to devour the animal that this region became known as Carencro. Another theory states that it
was named after an Indian tribe, the Karulcraw, who once lived in this region. The final theory
states that the name was derived from the Spanish word "Carnero" meaning pile of bones, a word
that when used in Cajun French became Carencro.
Carencro was first settled in 1770, John and Marian Mouton along with Traville Bernard,
Rosemond Breaux, and Ovignac Arceneaux were the first to travel over the territory where
Carencro now stands. The town soon experienced growth with settlers from the Acadian descent.
The Acadians came from Nova Scotia, Canada. Other settlers came directly from France and
Spain.
The Civil War was also fought on this territory. On November 3, 1863 the Battle of
Bayou Bourbeau was fought between the Confederates and the Union. The Confederates were
victorious.
St. Peter's Catholic Church, a historical monument, was built in 1874. This church
burned down, and the second one was also destroyed by fire. The third church was blown down
by a cyclone before completion. The fourth church was destroyed by a storm. The fifth church is
still in use today. It has been changed from a wooden structure to a brick building. Our Lady of
Assumption Catholic Church, also a historical monument, was built in 1925. The church still stands and is in use today. The
first Baptist Church was built in 1959.
Carencro has always been an area for agricultural growth. Carencro ranked second in the
world for the shipping of sweet potatoes. After the sweet potato era, cotton became an important
crop. In 1866, the first cotton gin was built. Two other gins were built after that. These three
gins were able to produce over fifty bales of cotton. Around 1900, a sugar cane refinery was
built. It was closed down when the growth of sugar cane decreased. Today the chief agricultural
crops are soybeans, cattle, crawfish, and corn.
There is so much more history about this small community. Through the course of time,
landmarks were destroyed and places changed. Stories were passed down from generation to
generation. The only people who know what life was like in the early days of Carencro were
those who worked so hard to develop it. Without them, Carencro would not be such a timeless
treasure.
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