According to their historic broken English sign:
“Known as Arpadhon, area is site of largest rural Hungarian settlement in US. Settlers attracted here in 1896 by Charles Brakenridge lumber mill. People bought cut-over timber land to farm and raise strawberries.”
In other words, Charles Brakenridge encouraged Hungarian immigrants to settle logged land in 1896. When you consider that New Orleans was founded in 1718(but had residents WAY before then), this Hungarian community is fairly fresh to Louisiana. Let’s hope they can preserve their unique culture for the next generations better than the Islenos have.
In 1935 the area contained 200 Hungarian families. Ever heard of Pontchatoula strawberries? That’s right, Hungarians brought strawberry agriculture to Livingston Parish(BRAIN EXPLODES)…
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always harbored a love for cloistered micro-cultures in the heart of the South(especially Lousisiana). The website MAGYARS.ORG has all the fascinating info and history, including the HARVEST DANCE(SO doing this.)
Betcha didn’t know the girls in 1937 Hungarian Settlement were BABES either?
The Harvest Dance is this fall. I’ll be there.
NO Adventure 
Awesome , I always wondered about the Hungarian settlement . I love my European blood and European history
By: Travis Bourgeois on June 25, 2012
at 1:23 am
Must be something in the air then, I’m half Hungarian and wow do I have an obsession with all things concerning the area. Never thought there’d be a significant Hungarian community to speak of there. Thanks for posting this!
By: helsinkilives on July 3, 2012
at 1:03 am
Very interesting. This is a bit of LA history I was unaware of.
K. Kovach
By: Ken Kovach on February 20, 2013
at 1:48 pm