Originally dubbed La Capitale Mondiale de l’Écrevisse, by its French-speaking residents, Breaux Bridge was officially designated the "Crawfish Capital of the World" by Bob Angelle, then serving as Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.

It is regionally noted for its practice of listing people by nicknames in the town's telephone directory.

[5] Firmin Breaux was a pioneer from Acadia, who settled here after expulsion by the British in what is now eastern Canada.

In 1799, Breaux built a footbridge across the Bayou Têche to help his family and neighbors make the passage.

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 .

In 1817, the couple replaced the Bayou Têche suspension footbridge built by Agricole's father Fermin with a vehicular bridge that allowed wagon passage and made way for the area's increasing commerce.

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.

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 7,513 people, 2,944 households, and 2,171 families residing in the city.