The region's first railway opens through New Iberia. This makes New Iberia a powerful center for trade as it was connected to other railways and the steamboat traffic on the Teche. Soon the railroad become more important than the Bayou. St. Martinville did not fare as well and ceased being the important commercial center it was previously. This was due to the town's being bypassed by the railroad construction and the end of the steamboat trade.
Fire devastates the downtown area of New Iberia.
They were attracted by the flourishing lumber industry and the bountiful mineral resources of the region. First evidence of oil found in Iberia Parish which coincided with the invention of the internal combustion engine and helped to make the region prosperous. First Tarzan movie filmed in Morgan City. Furthermore, timber, oil and tourism become important assets to the region's economy. The story of Evangeline begins to draw tourists from all over the world.