Cottonport was founded in the early 19th century and incorporated in 1888 along the banks of Bayou Rouge (French for "Red Bayou"). The bayou is actually is an ancient channel of the Mississippi River from thousands of years ago before the river was tamed with levees. Over the centuries, the overflow of the Mississippi valley brought rich nutrients to the soils around Cottonport, attracting early settlers to farm. 2nd edition with minor corrections. Dec. 3, 2013