Acadia Parish, Louisiana

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Acadia Parish, Louisiana
Location in the state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location in the U.S.
Founded	1887
Named for	The Acadians
Seat	Crowley
Largest city	Crowley
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	658 sq mi (1,703 km²) 655 sq mi (1,697 km²) 2 sq mi (6 km²), 0.35%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	61,773 90/sq mi (35/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Acadia Parish (French: Paroisse de l'Acadie) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Crowley. According to the 2010 census, the population of Acadia Parish is 61,773. The parish was founded from parts of St. Landry Parish in 1887 after an election to determine the parish seat, ending when Crowley beat Rayne and Prairie Hayes.

Acadia Parish makes up the entire Crowley Micropolitan Statistical Area as well as part of the Lafayette–Acadiana Combined Statistical Area.

History

The name of the parish is derived from the former French colony of Acadia in Canada (which consisted of the modern provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and much of Maine) many of whose French-speaking inhabitants were deported to France and then migrated to Louisiana in the Great Upheaval (see Cajuns).

Geography

The parish covers 658 square miles (1,700 km²), of which 655 square miles (1,700 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.35%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 10
• U.S. Highway 90
• Louisiana Highway 13
• Louisiana Highway 35

Adjacent parishes

• Evangeline Parish (north)
• St. Landry Parish (northeast)
• Lafayette Parish (east)
• Vermillion Parish (south)
• Jefferson Davis Parish (west)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	13,231		—
1900	23,483		77.5%
1910	31,847		35.6%
1920	34,820		9.3%
1930	39,326		12.9%
1940	46,260		17.6%
1950	47,050		1.7%
1960	49,931		6.1%
1970	52,109		4.4%
1980	56,427		8.3%
1990	55,882		−1.0%
2000	58,861		5.3%
Est. 2006	60,457		2.7%
Acadia Parish Census Data

As of the census of 2000, there were 58,861 people, 21,142 households, and 15,666 families residing in the parish. The population density was 90 people per square mile (35/km²). There were 23,209 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 80.73% White, 18.25% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.04% reported speaking French or Cajun French at home.[1]

There were 21,142 households out of which 38.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 14.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the parish the population was spread out with 29.80% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $26,684, and the median income for a family was $31,812. Males had a median income of $29,353 versus $17,179 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $13,424. 24.50% of the population and 21.00% of families were below the poverty line. 30.30% of those under the age of 18 and 25.20% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Cities, towns, and villages

Map of Acadia Parish, Louisiana With Municipal Labels

Church Point Crowley Duson

Estherwood Eunice

Iota Mermentau

Morse Rayne

Other Unincorporated Communities

Branch Egan Ellis Evangeline Ebenezer Lyons Point Maxie Midland Mire (formerly Marais Bouleur and Bosco) Mowata Richard Robert's Cove

More information on these communities can be found at http://www.acadia.lib.la.us/newpage1.htm

Education

Acadia Parish is served by Acadia Parish Schools [2].

Acadia Parish Library operates branches in the parish [3].

Notable natives and residents

• Paul B. Freeland coauthored Acadia Parish, Louisiana: A History to 1900. His collection of photographs and memorabilia of the Crowley area can be accessed from the archives of the Acadia Parish Library in Crowley.
• Sculptor George Stanley, famous for the design of the Oscar statue and the Muse Sculpture at the Hollywood Bowl
• Eugene Wilton Frémaux, Acadia Parish native and successful Alexandria, Louisiana businessman, entrepreneur, and civic leader.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Acadia Parish, Louisiana

External links

• Acadia Parish Clerk of Court
• Acadia Parish Tourist Commission
• Arcadia Parish history

Geology

• Heinrich, P. V., J. Snead, and R. P. McCulloh, 2003, Crowley 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.