Early years In the 18th century, French colonist Pierre Zerangue acquired the land where Jeanerette developed from the Spanish government. Zerangue received an "order of survey and settlement" from
Spain for . Under Spanish law, if a person occupied a piece of property for two years, they could apply for title to the land under an "order of survey settlement." Colonist Nicholas Provost acquired property extending from the present-day experimental farm to the
St. Mary Parish line. He engaged in sugar cultivation, based on the labor of enslaved Americans and African Americans, until his death in 1816. The town derived its name from John W. Jeanerette, a native of
South Carolina who had moved to the developing area in the 1820s. First he worked as a tutor for a planter's family, as did numerous educated young adults from northern states in the antebellum period. He opened a store and
saloon. Having saved some money, Jeanerette purchased Pine Grove Plantation
circa 1830, which was formerly known as
Beau Pré (meaning "lovely meadow/pasture"). Jeanerette offered a portion of his house to be used as a mail depository for local residents. Later Jeanerette was appointed as the town's first postmaster (he dropped his middle initial in official records). The name Jeanerette was later adopted for the post office and town. During the 19th century, to the north along the Bayou Teche a settlement was developed by
free Créoles of color; it is now known as Grand Marais. These free people of color were descended from African and European ancestors. They had largely adopted French culture, Catholicism and language, and were often still French speakers into the 20th century.
Incorporation Jeanerette was incorporated as a town in 1878 and Joseph E. Provost became the first mayor; its economy was based on the
cypress lumber and
sugar industries. Its nickname has been "Sugar City". Although its major growth was after the Civil War, it has some surviving
antebellum houses in the city and region. Sugarcane continues as a key factor in the economy. There were until the 21st century three active sugar mills. The one located in the city was closed, dismantled, and its equipment sold in the first decade of the 21st century. Jeanerette is the home of manufacturers of equipment for the cultivation, harvesting and processing of sugarcane. Today, additional sources of income include
oil and
natural gas,
salt,
carbon black, a garment distribution center, and fishing. Jeanerette was the home of dentist and politician
Paul N. Cyr,
Huey P. Long's
lieutenant governor and political opponent. Cyr had a dental office there. ==Geography==