Editing Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana (section)

=== European and African settlers ===
Most of the European settlers who came to Terrebonne migrated from along the [[Mississippi River]], down [[Bayou Lafourche]] to Bayou Terrebonne. There was an influx of French colonists from [[New Orleans]] to the bayou country in 1762 after the Spanish took over rule of the colony following the French defeat by the British in the [[Seven Years' War]] (known as the French and Indian War in North America). The district Spanish commandant granted concessions of [[Title (property)|title]] to not more than 630 acres of land for each newcomer to the bayou lands. While many Frenchmen came into the area prior to this, British and Spanish colonists also recorded claims.

Other settlers in the area in 1760 were French colonists from [[Acadia]] (modern [[Nova Scotia]]), who had been expelled by the British in 1755 during the [[Seven Years' War]]. They became known as "Cajuns" ([[Acadian]]s). Many settled along the bayous in Terrebonne Parish. They chose this area because of its isolated geographic location, a minimum of government control, fertile land, and an abundance of fish and wildlife. These people lived in relative cultural seclusion for generations and continued their family traditions of living off the land. Today they celebrate their heritage through their festivals and church fairs.

In 1848, Houma was incorporated as a city by an act of legislature. By this time, industry in the Houma area consisted largely of [[Plantations in the American South|plantations]] for [[sugar cane]], dependent on the labor of enslaved African-Americans. Also important were harvesting seafood, fur trading, and logging industries. The cultivation of sugar cane was the principal agricultural industry in the parish. The first plantation in the parish was established in 1828. By 1851, Terrebonne had 110 plantations with 80 sugar houses (small sugar cane mills). Thousands of enslaved Africans were brought to the parish through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

[[Southdown Plantation]] was founded in 1828 by the Minor family. They held hundreds of enslaved Africans for sugar cane cultivation and processing. Stephen Minor had served as the Secretary to the Spanish [[Manuel Gayoso de Lemos|Governor Gayoso]] of Louisiana. Today, the Minor family home, built in 1858 and enlarged in 1893, serves as the parish [[museum]]. The sugar mill was sold in 1979, dismantled and shipped to [[Guatemala]], where it was reassembled. It is still in use today.

Settlers had canals dug between the bayous to decrease travel time within the parish and make trade more efficient. In 1872, a railroad that linked [[Schriever, Louisiana|Schriever]] to Houma was instrumental in increasing trade and travel within and outside the parish.

In 1923, the construction of the [[Intracoastal Waterway]] led to the abandonment of the canals. The Intracoastal was later extended to Lafourche Parish and to Bayou Lafourche, increasing Houma's importance as a portal city.