Breaux Bridge

On August 25, 1829, Scholastique Picou Breaux founded Breaux Bridge, Louisiana at the age of 33.

Scholastique was born Scholastique Melanie Picou on July 25, 1796. At a young age, she married Agricole Breaux; together, they had five children. In 1817, the couple replaced the Bayou Têche suspension footbridge built by Agricole’s father with a vehicular bridge that allowed wagon passage and made way for the area’s increasing commerce. At the age of 32, Scholastique became a widow.

A determined Acadian woman, Scholastique drew up Plan de la Ville du Pont des Breaux (“Plan for the City of Breaux Bridge”), which included a detailed map of the area and a diagram of streets. She developed the area by selling land lots to other Acadian settlers. In 1847, a church parish was created; and 12 years later, the area was officially incorporated. After founding the town, Scholastique remarried and birthed an additional two children.

Agricole’s father was the Acadian pioneer Firmin Breaux. Breaux first arrived in the area during early 1765. By 1774, his branding iron was registered, and by 1786 he was one of the largest property owners in the Bayou Têche country. In 1799, Breaux built a footbridge across the Bayou Têche to help ease the passage across for his family and neighbors. This first bridge was a suspension footbridge, likely made of rope and small planks. It was stabilized by being tied to small pilings located at each end of the bridge as well as to a pair of huge live oak trees on both sides of the bayou. When traveling directions were given, residents would often instruct people to “go to Breaux’s bridge . . .” This was later adopted as the city’s name.

Public schools in St. Martin Parish are operated by the St. Martin Parish School Board. The city of Breaux Bridge is zoned to Breaux Bridge Primary School (Grades PK-2), Breaux Bridge Elementary (Grades 3-5), Breaux Bridge Junior High School (Grades 6-8), and Breaux Bridge High School (Grades 9-12).

Private schools include St. Bernard Elementary (Grades PreK-8) and Louisiana Christian School (Grades PreK-12).