In the 16th century, the area between the
Atchafalaya River, in Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico and Trinity River, in
Texas, was occupied by numerous Indians tribes or subdivisions of the Attakapan
people. The Indian Territory was not closed to outsiders, and several traders
roamed through it on business. However, it only began to be settled by
Europeans after Louisiana was founded in 1699. The territory between
Atchafalaya River and Bayou Nezpique, where Eastern Atakapa lived, was called
the Attakapas Territory. The French colonial government gave land away to
soldiers and settlers.
