The community was originally named Côte Gelée (Frozen Hill) because of its hilly ridge area and the severe winter of 1784.
It was named after Valsin Broussard, a prominent local merchant, who formed the first vigilante committee when his own store was robbed.
He was a direct descendant of Joseph Broussard de Beausoleil, one of the first 200 Acadians to arrive in Louisiana on February 27, 1765, aboard the Santo Domingo.
[5] Primary agricultural resources include sugarcane, soybean and hay production as well as horse and cattle farming.
Principal industries consist of oil and gas service companies, food distributors, real estate developments and manufacturing.