Galvez is an unincorporated area in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States, 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is surrounded by the larger unincorporated community of Prairieville, Louisiana, with which it shares the 70769 ZIP code.

Historic Villa de G??lvez

United Kingdom refugees and early North Americas first developed the area just below the junction of the Amite River and Bayou Manchac in the second half of the 18th century. In 1778, Count Bernardo de G??lvez, the Spanish Empire of Louisiana and viceroy#Under the monarchs of Spain of New Spain (Mexico) sent immigrants from the Canary Islands, hoping...

Galvez is an unincorporated area in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States, 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is surrounded by the larger unincorporated community of Prairieville, Louisiana, with which it shares the 70769 ZIP code.

Historic Villa de G??lvez

United Kingdom refugees and early North Americas first developed the area just below the junction of the Amite River and Bayou Manchac in the second half of the 18th century. In 1778, Count Bernardo de G??lvez, the Spanish Empire of Louisiana and viceroy#Under the monarchs of Spain of New Spain (Mexico) sent immigrants from the Canary Islands, hoping to establish a military stronghold against the British in West Florida, who controlled nearby Baton Rouge at the time. The area became known as'Villa de G??lvez'', or'Galveztown'. It was built in traditional Spanish villa#Post-Roman villas layout, including a military fort.

After the British defeat in 1779, Galvestown lost its importance as military post and began to decline. Diseases such as smallpox and scabies spread in the area. Floods, hurricanes, and droughts destroyed agricultures. Due to the somewhat remote location from Baton Rouge, supplies were expensive to ship in.

In 1785, the population was down to 242. By 1804, only 28 families and less than 25 slaves remained. Although the Spain fort, streets, sidewalks, and park#Public parkss remained as ruins for well over a century, no efforts were made to preserve the site, and today only a state marker honoring the Canary Islander immigrants remains to mark the spot.

Modern Galvez

The modern location of Galvez is to the west of the original settlement, somewhat closer to Baton Rouge.