Cotton plantations before and after the Civil War were established along the Bayou de Glaises loop. Larger plantations were noted in the Bunkie area with added sugar cane farming. The parish is geographically located in the center of the state with a present-day population of approximately 40,000. The land area consists of 864 square miles. Agribusiness remains Avoyelles' major industry including forest products, sweet potatoes, cotton ginning, cattle sales, and fisheries sales.
Major crops are rice, sugar cane, corn, soybeans, and sweet potatoes.
Abundant in wildlife and fisheries, the parish boasts state wildlife management areas including Spring Bayou, Pomme de Terre, and Grassy Lake. National wildlife refuges include Lake Ophelia and Grand Cote. A number of historic properties have been entered on the National Register of Historic Places . Many historic markers are also noted throughout the parish. Back to the ACT Homepage 2001 Avoyelles Commission of Tourism Click here for contact info .