For whom the town was named, Jennings McComb was an Irish contractor for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Prospering with Jennings’ growth, McFarlain was considered one of the town's prominent businessmen and civic leaders.

The Jennings area attracted numerous wheat farmers from Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and other Midwestern states.

The new settlers of southwest Louisiana were referred to as "Yankees" by the natives, who were of Acadian French and African-American descent.

He attracted fellow Midwesterners to southwest Louisiana by writing to friends in Iowa, extolling the area.

Seaman A. Knapp, president of the Iowa State College of Agriculture, was engaged in 1885 to demonstrate the region's suitability for rice production.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[16] Jefferson Davis Parish Library operates the Headquarters Branch at 118 West Plaquemine Street in Jennings.