Excerpt from: Downtown Opelousas: The way it was before by Carola Lillie Hartley, Daily World

[Draggingtree]

Excerpt from: Downtown Opelousas: The way it was before by Carola Lillie Hartley, Daily World

On June 21, 1805, the first land office for the Western Land District of the Territory of New Orleans was established in Opelousas. And soon the parish had a judge when Gov. Wm. C.C. Claiborne appointed George King in 1806. Postmaster William Shields’ appointment followed in 1807. These appointments led to more growth in the courthouse area of the town. The parish formed its first governing body, the Police Jury, and it also had a sheriff. Eventually, the town had a governing body, as well, called the Opelousas Board of Police. By the time Opelousas was officially incorporated in 1821, the town had grown and had many commercial and professional establishments. Some of the early Opelousas merchants included Col. Francois Neda, Col. William Moore, Thomas H. Bledsoe, Miramond-Vanhille Co., Pierre Wartelle, Jean Estorge — who partnered with Etienne Fouillade to form Fouillade & Estorge — and Antoine King. In 1823, Ludger Lastrapes and Jean Miramond of Opelousas formed a partnership in the mercantile line, called Jean Miramond Co.:snip: 

https://www.dailyworld.com/story/news/2017/04/27/downtown-opelousas-way-before/100975286/