Hayes (pronounced heɪz) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States.

Cattle could be kept here without supervision because the area was bounded on the east by the Lacassine Bayou, on the north and west by swampland, and on the south by marsh.

Using a team of oxen, he moved an old slave cabin onto his properly, and he hired his friend Tom Cannon as the teacher.

Prior to that, as far back as 1835, Methodist circuit riders had come into the area on horseback and held meetings in the Hayes and Holland homes.

Louis Lorrain built a school in the settlement about 1860 and hired a teacher from France named Pierre Lenoir.

Then the school was moved to Hayes; early teachers there were Helen Bienvieu, Veva Stribling (Thom), J.R. Logan, Irma Howarton and Misses Freeman, Landreneaux, and Roy.

Mr. and Mrs. George Gibbs moved to Hayes from Lowry and opened a general store, with living quarters upstairs.

Others settling in the area in the earliest days included families named Brown, Atkinson, Moore, Mitchell, Duhon, Verret, Lemelle, Andrus, and Trahan.

They were followed, after the turn of the century, by Gossett, Morgan, Gravelle, Carmouche, Fruge, Kent, Derouen, Theriot and Walker.

Groups of northern farmers were brought down by J.B. Watkins'[6] extensive advertising of the "Garden of Eden" in the Deep South.

A Cherokee "medicine woman" used concoctions prepared from herbs and plants to treat everything from snake bites to toothaches.

In March 1906, a new saw mill was established by Frank Dearborn and Jesse Thom called Hayes Cypress and Lumber Co. Less than two years later, J.M.

[12][13] 1930 Talking and sound picture equipment was installed in the Magnolia Theater by Felix Hebert, owner.

Mr. Hebert reported to the Lake Charles American Press he was convinced that Hayes, with a population of only 80 persons, is the smallest town in the U.S. to have this up-to-date type of entertainment.

[18] 1950 Researcher Eloi Primeaux documented[19] 300 registered voters among the 1,200 people living in Hayes.

[24] Residents of Hayes always stay aware of the possibility of evacuations during the official hurricane season from June 1 to November 30.

The breakdown of this total is: Retired workers $73,000, Widow(er)s $28,000, Aged 65 or older $95,000 Hayes has a strong Cajun culture and retains a unique dialect of the Cajun-French language and numerous other cultural traits that distinguish them as an ethnic group.

The FFA teamed up with several community partners for the project, including the Calcasieu Parish Ward Recreation Board.

Hunting in Bayou Lacassine and area rice fields can be found within a five-minute drive of Hayes.

Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge - Lacassine Pool, photo[30] a 16,000-acre (6,500 ha) freshwater impoundment and major feature of the refuge, is at the end of Illinois Plant Road, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of Highway 14 and 3 miles (5 km) south of Hayes.

Nesting colonies of wading birds, alligators, mink, otter, and raccoon are found on the refuge.

The ABT Tournament is a local competition where sportsmen may fish any public body of water within 25 miles (40 km) (driving) of the registration site, located at Aucoin's Cajun Restaurant in Hayes.

During the 2009 tournament the regulation was set to allow three bass, 11 in (28 cm) minimum catch and release, with a penalty for any dead fish.

These fish were released back into a local public body of water by the tournament director.

This open fishing team tournament takes place in March starting at the registration site, Aucoin's Cajun Restaurant.

[32] Voting Precinct: 262 As per state law, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has the authority to appoint special districts, boards, commissions, etc.

In 1990, the Lake Charles chapter of the Cajun French Music Association inducted DeRouen into its Hall of Fame.

In 1950, he started playing for Jimmy Newman and recorded his first single "Diggy Liggy Lo" in Nashville.

After 40 years in Nashville, Rufus returned to Louisiana and joined Rodney Miller and Cajun Born Band.