Le Vieux Village is a park created from a collection of restored historic structures from Opelousas and surrounding areas of St. Landry Parish, portraying the unique and diverse historical and cultural heritage of Opelousas. The city takes its name from the Opelousa Indians, a small band of the historic Attakapa Tribe, whose people lived in the area for thousands of years and had been there since prehistoric times. As early as 1706, the Opelousas Country was known to Frenchman, and in 1719 France sent a military exploration team to establish a French governing presence there. By 1720, Opelousas had become the midway stopping point for travelers between Natchitoches and New Orleans, and it was founded that year as Louisiana's third oldest city. In 1763, Louis Pellerin, a French soldier stationed at Opelousas, received a land grant to establish a permanent settlement, and the original streets were laid out during that time. Acadians began arriving in the region in 1765, and a military garrison was established there while Opelousas was under Spanish control until 1801. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the County of Opelousas was created, with Opelousas becoming the seat of government in 1805. On March 31, 1807, the county was renamed St. Landry Parish after the Catholic church in Opelousas. Seven parishes were created from the original Opelousas County, and because of this the parish is often called Old Imperial St. Landry Parish. This territory extended from the Atchafalaya River on the east to the Sabine River on the west and from present-day Avoyelles and Rapides parishes on the north to the Gulf of Mexico on the south. During the Civil War, Opelousas served as the capital of Confederate Louisiana for almost a year, and the lieutenant governor's home on Liberty Street was used as the governor's mansion. The city survived the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Industrial Revolution and became a destination known for its history, culture, and joie de vivre.