Primarily an agricultural center in its early history, the area was settled by the descendants of exiled, “French-speaking” Acadians in the late eighteenth century. The construction of a railroad line through the farming community in the early part of the twentieth century helped to spur the development of the area into a trading and retail hub.  

The development of petroleum mining activity off of the Louisiana gulf coast in the latter part of the twentieth century and the fact Broussard lies on a major north/south highway, namely US highway 90, once again advanced growth of commercial activity in the community into the oil and gas manufacturing and services industry. Today, Broussard has seen a boom in residential development as land once reserved for agriculture has given way to demands for new subdivisions to house owners, 

executives, and employees of a well-diversified commercial community consisting of businesses involved in retail, hospitality, food service, communications, mining services, manufacturing, medical, insurance, financial services, and real estate, among others.  

Broussard is a very unique city, which is known for “small town, big business.”