During the early 19th century, a group of Pennsylvania Dutchmen boarded a sailing vessel in New Orleans and ventured into the Bayou Teche.

The town was renamed Pattersonville after the captain successfully moved the post office to Dutch Settlement.

[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2), all land.

[2] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,931 people, 2,217 households, and 1,235 families residing in the city.

On January 15, 2009, Kenny Hilliard was named ESPN RISE Sophomore Player of the Year.