Population: 4,248 In the closing years of the 19th century, the Pittsburgh and Gulf railroad company built a new station in Caddo Parish and a village grew up around it. In 1898 it was named Vivian, after a railroad official's daughter. In 1912 Vivian was incorporated as a town. Timber and agriculture were the major industries until the early 20th century when the petroleum industry erupted.

The Louisiana Redbud Festival is held in Vivian the third weekend in March and the old-fashioned Country Christmas Festival on the second weekend in December. Christmas lights are turned on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The old train depot is now the Louisiana Redbud Museum, which is filled with memorabilia of earlier days. It's at 100 NW Front St.