(Lafayette, Louisiana) – Lafayette has some interesting street names, and sometimes confusing, depending on where you’re going. We have streets that change names when they cross a major road, like Guilbeau changing to Camellia as it crosses Johnston, along with Vital to Doucet, once again as it crosses Johnston.
At one point I was so confused as to why the Northeast and Northwest Evangeline Thruways were parallel, when my mind pictured a compass and basic geometry. It wasn’t until years later that I discovered the rationale behind the names. The sections of roads were quadrants with the north and south directions on the Y-axis and east and west directions on the X-axis. the zero point was at 3rd Street as it crossed the Thruway, at least the East side. The West side changes at Jefferson Street. Like I said, confusing.
Along with a list of presidential street names from Washington to Kennedy Dr., to multiple saints to the point we have a Saints Streets area, themes of street names abound. Streets have also been named after influential people from the area including Kaliste Saloom to Ambassador Jefferson Caffery, among others…