Terrebonne Parish

Established in 1822, Terrebonne Parish, named from the French phrase “terre bonne” meaning “good earth,” was created from the larger Lafourche Interior Parish. Covering approximately 1,232 square miles, it is one of Louisiana’s largest parishes, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Assumption and St. Mary Parishes to the west and northwest, and Lafourche Parish to the north and east. Terrebonne is part of the Terrebonne Estuary, an area rich in natural resources, wildlife, and seafood, contributing significantly to the local economy. Houma serves as the parish seat and cultural center.

Terrebonne Parish has long been a center of Cajun culture, with early French and Acadian settlers making their home in this fertile region, where sugarcane plantations and fishing industries flourished. The discovery of oil and gas in the 1920s transformed the parish into a hub for offshore oil services. Today, Terrebonne’s economy is diverse, combining natural resource industries, seafood production, and tourism, with its proximity to New Orleans and its rich heritage making it an attractive destination for visitors.