Welcome to Perry
The community of Perry, located on Hwy 82 and just south of Abbeville, was named after Robert Perry, who built the first bridge to span the Vermilion River in the 1820’s. The present metal span bridge crossing the Vermilion in Perry is an aerial lift span common to our parish. This type of bridge makes both water and road transportation equally convenient and can allow for any height boat to pass through its opening.
Before Abbeville became the second and permanent seat of Vermilion Parish, Perry had the honors. Back in 1843, Perry’s Bridge was located in what was still Lafayette Parish. Vermilion Parish would not be carved from Lafayette parish until a year later. Tradition has it that the prominent men of Perry’s Bridge offered property which Father Megret could build a church, however Father Megret preferred another piece of prime property just north of Perry’s Bridge. Father Megret purchased 160 arpent of land along Vermilion Bayou for $900. Father Megret built a church on his new community, which he named Abbeville, and sought to have it named as the parish seat. After a ten-year battle between Perry and Father Megret, Abbeville was named the seat of Vermilion Parish.
