Crowley

City in southern Louisiana, USA, 32 km/20 mi west of Lafayette, on Interstate 10; seat of Acadia Parish; population (2000) 14,200. Founded in 1886, it is the trade centre for a major rice growing region. Its primarily agricultural economy is augmented by the production of burlap bags, fertilizer, clothing, and machine shop and concrete products. Seafood is packed here, and market-garden farming is also important. Petroleum and gas deposits lie in the vicinity.

Crowley is home to a joint state and Federal rice experiment station, and to an annual International Rice Festival. The city is noted as a Cajun cultural centre.