The area was settled by Acadian exiles who arrived in 1767 to help complete Fort St. Gabriel on Bayou Manchac. The bayou, at that time, was the boundary between the Spanish and English territory. St. Gabriel’s beautiful St. Gabriel Church was built by the Acadian settlers between 1774 and 1776 and is the oldest surviving church structure in the entire Mississippi Valley.

Incorporated in 1994, and receiving city designation in 2001, St. Gabriel is the newest city in Iberville Parish. Located in East Iberville, it includes the communities of Sunshine and Carville. St. Gabriel’s location adjacent to East Baton Rouge Parish provides easy access to LSU and many state government offices via La. Hwy. 30. This has resulted in a thriving community, with many residential developments and new business and industry throughout the years. Progressive government has made St. Gabriel a city on the move.