Until the 1970s, gumbo was primarily popular on the Gulf Coast of the United States.

Gumbo is a dish that originated in southern Louisiana from the Louisiana Creole people during the 18th century.

Gumbo may have been based on traditional West African or native dishes, or may be a derivative of the French dish bouillabaisse .

The new laborers introduced new foods, including the African vegetable okra, and hot pepper plants which likely came from Haiti.