Scott (Images of America)

Since its inception, Scott has grown from a small farming community to the second-largest city in Lafayette Parish. Early settlers provided land to the Louisiana Western Railroad Company for a new route to Texas that passed through Scott Station, named after a Mr. Scott associated with the railroad. The towns slogan, Where the West Begins, is based on the different train fare charged to passengers headed beyond Scott to the West. The murder of merchant Martin Begnaud by the Blanc brothers was news that traveled from Scott to New Orleans to France. The railroad enabled the community to transport cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, and other produce across the country and to Canada. Today, several renowned musicians and artists call Scott home. The city, which is located on Interstate 10, combines small-town hospitality with a growing center of commerce.