Opelousas
City in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Opelousas is a city in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, with 15,786 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 69 ft (21 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Lawtell, 6.1 miles W.
- 15,786residents (2020 Census)
- 69 ftelevation · 21 m
- 9.7 sq miland area · 25.1 km²
- 1,632 / sq mipopulation density
- 70570ZIP code
About Opelousas
Opelousas (; French: Les Opélousas; Spanish: Los Opeluzás) is a small city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190 were constructed with a junction here. The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2025 estimated population for Opelousas is 15,098. According to the 2020 census, Opelousas has a population of 15,786, a 6.53 percent decline since the 2010 census, which had recorded a population of 16,634. Opelousas is the principal city for the Opelousas-Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 80,808 in 2020. Opelousas is also the fourth largest city in the Lafayette-Acadiana Combined Statistical Area, which has a population of 537,947.
Historically an area of settlement by French and Spanish Creoles, Creoles of color, and Acadians, Opelousas is the center of zydeco music. It celebrates its heritage at the Creoles of Color Heritage Folklife Center, one of the destinations on the new Louisiana African-American Heritage Trail. It is also the location of the Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino.
The city calls itself "the spice capital of the world", with production and sale of seasonings such as Tony Chachere's products, Targil Seasonings, Savoie's cajun meats and products, and LouAna Cooking Oil.
During the tenure of Sheriff Cat Doucet, from 1936 to 1940 and again from 1952 to 1968, the section of Opelousas along Highway 190 was a haven of gambling and prostitution, the profits from which he skimmed a take.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Living in Opelousas
- Median household income
- $32,964
- Median home value
- $105,100
- Median rent
- $717/mo
- Median age
- 37.1
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Map of Opelousas
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Open in Google Maps ›Opelousas, LA population
Opelousas had 15,786 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 15,786 |
|---|---|
| Density | 1,632 per sq mi (630 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Opelousas at a glance
| State | Louisiana (LA) |
|---|---|
| County | St. Landry Parish |
| Type | City |
| Population | 15,786 (2020) |
| Land area | 9.67 sq mi (25.1 km²) |
| Water area | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km²) |
| Elevation | 69 ft (21 m) |
| Coordinates | 30.5249° N, 92.0817° W |
| ZIP code | 70570 |
| Official website | cityofopelousas.com |
| Census code (GEOID) | 2258045 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Opelousas
- Lawtell6.1 mi W
- Washington6.4 mi N
- Leonville7.3 mi SE
- Grand Coteau7.6 mi S
- Port Barre7.8 mi E
- Sunset8.4 mi S
- Church Point11.3 mi SW
- Arnaudville12.3 mi SE
- Cankton12.5 mi S
- Chataignier14.3 mi W
- Carencro14.9 mi S
- Lebeau15.8 mi NE
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Opelousas
What county is Opelousas in?
Opelousas is in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
What is the population of Opelousas, LA?
15,786 people lived in Opelousas at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Opelousas, LA?
The ZIP code of Opelousas is 70570.
What is the elevation of Opelousas?
69 feet (21 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Opelousas?
Lawtell (6.1 mi), Washington (6.4 mi), Leonville (7.3 mi), Grand Coteau (7.6 mi), Port Barre (7.8 mi).
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