PROGRESS

Welcome to Independence, Louisiana

Independence, "Little Italy" of Louisiana, was created as a result of the New Orleans to Jackson route of the Great Northern Railroad in the 1880's.  It was first called "Rabbit Town" and later called "Uncle Sam".  Feeling a lack of dignity in the name, a Welch immigrant named Christopher Evens gave the settlement the name of Independence.

Italian families searching for a place to settle in the 1880's  were attracted by the thriving strawberry industry of the area.  Independence slowly became a predominately Italian community.  It is more diverse culturally today but is still characterized by its excellent Italian cuisine and its hard working and friendly people.