The area around Ville Platte appears to have been first settled during the last half of the eighteenth century, when Louisiana was under Spanish rule.

Popular legend states the founder of Ville Platte was Marcellin Garand, an adjutant major in the Army of the French Empire during the reign of Napoleon.

[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, Ville Platte has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.4 km2), of which 0.25 acres (0.001 km2), or 0.01%, is water.

The park covers 6,400 acres (26 km2) of rolling hills and water and has large numbers of deer, raccoon, and other wildlife.

It lies at the northern point of the "French Triangle" with a significant francophone population residing in the city as well as the parish.

Ville Platte and the surrounding areas participate in the traditional Mardi Gras held in Mamou.

He has one of the most recognized voices in Acadiana and hosted "This is Mamou Cajun radio" from location at Fred's Lounge for many years.

[15][16] Former U.S. Representative T. Ashton Thompson of Louisiana's 7th congressional district, since disbanded, was born in Ville Platte in 1916.