It was finally rebuilt in 1908. The Louisiana Western Railroad reached Mermentau in 1880. In February of that year only of roadbed remained to be graded between Lafayette and Mermentau. Some 150 convicts were at work on the stretch near Bayou Blanc. By the end of July the road was completed from Mermentau westward to the Texas line. By the end of August 1880, the railroad line from New Orleans to Houston was open for freight business. Passenger trains with sleepers attached were running a regular schedule from New Orleans to Houston by the end of September. The trains, however, did not solve all transportation problems for the area. Produce, lumber, and cattle had to be transported to the rail line. Capt. George W. Caldwell began carrying freight on the Mermentau about 1890, eventually owning a fleet of small boats and 24 barges. The barges hauled rice, oil, cattle, cotton, wood, and general freight. Capt Caldwell also operated a commissary on the river front and issued metal tokens in denominations of 5,10, 25 and 50 cents and $1. These became known as "Mermentau Money". During the 1890s, the 96-ton "Olive" operated as a popular passenger and freight hauler on the Mermentau River, making round trips every other day from Mermentau to Lake Arthur. People from Crowley and elsewhere would take the train to Mermentau, then board the "Olive" for a weekend trip to Lake Arthur. The boat was described as "a splendid sternwheel packet". The Louisiana Press Association members and their wives, meeting in Crowley in 1894, were entertained on one such excursion. Fares were 50 cents one-way or 75 cents for a round-trip ticket. Mermentau achieved legal village status on November 11, 1899. Today, arrow points can be found here and there at the places where the Atakapa Indians once lived. Mermentau is especially known for where Captain James Campbell, pirate Jean Laffite's most trusted lieutenant, stashed $9,000 in gold coins. Mermentau is located at (30.187845, -92.582786). According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which is land and (7.39%) is water. Situated along the Mermentau River, Mermentau supplies freshwater for the Mermentau Basin. The basin contains about of wetlands, consisting of of fresh marsh, of intermediate marsh, and of brackish marsh.