Rynella, Louisiana

Rynella is an unincorporated community in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, that consists of a few residential dwellings and a volunteer fire department along Highway 329 (also known as the Avery Island Highway). The name "Rynella" allegedly is an acronym deriving from the last two letters of the first names of three local women, Rosema"RY", Pauli"NE", and Lei"LA" McIlhenny (someone eventually adding an extra L to the resulting word). They were daughters of Edward Avery McIlhenny, a noted Louisiana conservationist who presided over McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco brand pepper sauce at nearby Avery Island. [Shane K. Bernard, "Tabasco: An Illustrated History" (Avery Island, La.: McIlhenny Company, 2007).] (At one time McIlhenny operated a general store at Rynella and he owned much of the land that now comprises and surrounds the community.)

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