Ivan Gillis

Active Retirement Communities

State:     Louisiana

City:       Lafayette

Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States,  on the Vermilion River. The population was 110,257 at the 2000 census; a 2007 census estimate put the metropolitan area's population at 256,494.  It is the fourth largest city in the state. It is the larger principal city of the Lafayette-Acadiana, LA Combined Statistical Area, which, in 2007, had an estimated total population of 538,470.

This city should not be confused with one of the same name in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and which was absorbed into New Orleans. It was founded as Vermilionville in 1821 by a French-speaking Acadian named Jean Mouton. In 1884, it was renamed for General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the American Army during the American Revolutionary War.  The city's economy was primarily based on agriculture until the 1940s, when the petroleum and natural gas industry became dominant. In recent years, the medical profession has taken a more predominant role in the area economy.

Lafayette is the center of the Cajun culture in Louisiana and the US. Lafayette has a strong tourism industry because of the Cajun and Creole cultures of the surrounding region. The cuisine of the region, Cajun cuisine, is one of the most famous regional cuisines in the US.

Lafayette has one university, one community college and two vocational colleges.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is part of the University of Louisiana System. It's the second largest university in the state, with an enrollment of approximately 16,000. The university has been a part of Lafayette since 1900. It is one of the top-ranked universities in the south. It has nationally-ranked nursing, architecture, and computer sciences colleges.

South Louisiana Community College (Lafayette campus) is one of the newest college systems in Louisiana. SLCC partnered with Acadian Ambulance to form the National EMS Academy. The academy offers EMT-Basic and EMT-Paramedic certification. SLCC is part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

Lafayette is also home to the United States Marine Corps Reserve Unit, F. Co. Anti-Terrorism Battalion commanded by Captain Cole Clements. This unit has been on several deployments, many involving the Iraq War.

Lafayette is known in the region for its nightlife. On weekend nights, Downtown Lafayette turns into a nightlife hub in the Acadiana region. Downtown Lafayette offers a diverse range of clubs and sports bars like The Green Room and Marley's, live music venues like Grant Street Dancehall and The Blue Moon Saloon, dance clubs like Stan's Downtown and Nitetown, and the Miami-style nightclub, Karma. Outside of the downtown area, Lafayette offers many other types of establishments, like The Taproom, a beer specialty bar, The Bulldog, a sports bar very popular with UL students, Fast Eddie's, a poolhall, and Buffalo Wild Wings, a restaurant and bar.

Income & Housing Costs Numbers:

Estimated median household income in 2008: $45,099 (it was $35,996 in 2000)

Lafayette:	$45,099
Louisiana:	$43,733

Estimated per capita income in 2008: $28,030

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $163,600 (it was $99,800 in 2000)

Lafayette:	$163,600
Louisiana:	$132,400

Median gross rent in 2008: $701.

Dec. 2009 cost of living index in Lafayette: 84.6 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

In-Depth Facts and Figures as listed below, plus other information:

·        Climate Charts

1.      Average Temperature

2.      Precipitation (Rain)

3.      Humidity

4.      Wind Speed (MPH)

5.      Snowfall

6.      Sunshine

7.      Cloudy Days

·        Tornado Activity History

·        Hospitals & Medical

·        Airports

·        Colleges/Universities

·        High Schools

·        Locations of Interest

·        Shopping Centers

·        Churches

·        Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Creeks/Parks

·        Tourist Attractions

·        Banks

·        Housing Costs Information

·        Crime Statistics

·        Radio Stations AM/FM

·        TV Broadcast Stations

·        Discussion Forums

For the above information and photos, click this link:

http://www.city-data.com/city/Lafayette-Louisiana.html

Total Tax Burden--Data for Calculation

http://www.retirementliving.com/RLstate2.html#LOUISIANA

Listing of Active Retirement Communities:

http://www.retirenet.com/location/communities/87-louisiana/1-active-lifestyles?city=70506-lafayette

Visit our Senior Cruising Site at: http://seniorcruisers.org

Other sites of interest:

World of Collectibles

http://www.collectibleshg.info

Information on: Architectural Collectibles, Art Collectibles, Artist Trading Cards , Books & Paper Collectibles, Brand Name Products Collectibles, Clothing Fabric & Textiles Collectibles, Collectibles UnLimited, Doll Collectibles, Household & Furnishings Collectibles, Militaria Collectors, Movies & TV Collectibles, Music Collectibles, Musical Instruments Collectibles, Nature And Animal Collectibles, Numismatics (Currency Collecting), Pottery & Glass Collectibles, Technology Collectibles, Theme Collectibles

DOGS

http://www.zcanines.com

Information on:  Overview Of Dogs, Sporting Dogs, Hounds Dogs, Terrier Dogs, Toy Dogs, Non-Sporting Dogs, Herding Dogs, Miscellaneous Class Dogs, Foundation Stock Service® Breeds Dogs

CATS

http://www.zcats.com

Information on: Cats Overview, Abyssinian Cat, America Cat Bobtail, American Curl Cat, American Shorthair Cat, American Wirehair Cat, Balinese Cat, Birman Cat, Bombay Cat, British Shorthair Cat, Charteux Cat, Colorpoint Shorthair Cat, Cornish Rex Cat, Devon Rex Cat, Egyptian Mau Cat, European Burmese Cat, Exotic Cat, Havana Brown Cat, Japanese Bobtail Cat, Korat Cat, LaPerm Cat, Maine Coon Cat, Manx Cat, Norwegian Forest Cat, Ocicat Cat, Oriental Cat, Persian Cat, Himalayan Cat, Ragamuffin Cat, Russian Blue Cat, Scottish Fold Cat, Selrik Rex Cat, Siamese Cat, Siberian Cat, Singapura Cat, Somali Cat, Sphynx Cat, Tonkinese Cat, Turkish Angora Cat, Turkish Van Cat

BIRD WATCHING

http://www.zavians.com

Information on:  Overview Of Birds, Ostriches-Emus-Kiwis, Gulls, Plovers, Loons, Grebres, Albatrosses, Penguins, Pelicans, Tropical Birds, Storks, Flamingos-Birds, Falcons-Birds, Eagles-Birds, Hawks-Birds, Cranes-Birds, Doves And Pigeons, Parrots,Cuckoos, Owls, Nightjars, Hummingbirds, Kingfishers-Birds, Woodpeckers, Mousebirds, Passerines 

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