Acadia Parish (French: Paroisse de l'Acadie) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 61,773. The parish seat is Crowley. The parish was founded from parts of St. Landry Parish in 1886, and later an election was held to determine the parish seat, ending when Crowley beat Rayne and Prairie Hayes.
Acadia Parish is included in the Lafayette, LA Metropolitan 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).
The parish itself was formed from the southwestern portion of St. Landry Parish. On Wednesday May 19, 1886, a bill was introduced in the house entitled "An act to create the parish of Nicholls, and to provide for the organization thereof." The title was later changed to read: "An act to create the parish of Acadia." Father Joseph Anthonioz, the first pastor of the Catholic Church at Rayne, is credited with having suggested the name, Acadia Parish. The bill passed the house on June 11, the senate on June 28, and was approved by Governor Samuel D. McEnery on June 30. On October 6, an election was held to affirm the creation of the parish, with 2,516 votes for and 1,521 votes against the creation. The population of the new parish was anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000. Acadia Parish population in 1890 was 13,231.
After a close election held on March 1, 1887, Crowley was chosen as the parish seat, gathering 698 votes to Rayne's and Prairie Hayes' 560 and 519, respectively. The election also determined the first officers in the parish: Elridge W. Lyons, first sheriff of Acadia, and R. T. Clark, first clerk of court. The first courthouse was therefore constructed in Crowley and completed on June 30, 1888, and continued to be used until May 1, 1902, when it was destroyed to make way for the second building.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 657 square miles (1,700Â km2), of which 655 square miles (1,700Â km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0Â km2) (0.4%) 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
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 61,773 people residing in the parish. 79.5% were White, 18.1% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% of some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 1.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 43.7% were of French, French Canadian or Cajun, 10.8% American and 8.0% German ancestry.
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.
Education
Acadia Parish is served by Acadia Parish Schools [2].
Acadia Parish Library operates branches in the parish [3].
National Guard
C Company 3-156TH Infantry Battalion resides in Crowley, Louisiana. As part of the 256th IBCT this unit deployed to Iraq twice, 2004-5 and 2010.
Communities
Cities
- Crowley
- Eunice
- Rayne
Towns
- Basile
- Church Point
- Duson
- Iota
Villages
- Estherwood
- Mermentau
- Morse
Census-designated places
- Branch
- Egan
Other unincorporated communities
More information on these communities can be found at http://www.acadia.lib.la.us/newpage1.htm
Notable residents
- Bill Cleveland, Crowley real estate developer and member of both houses of Louisiana state legislature from 1944 to 1964; defeated for third term in state Senate in 1964 by Edwin Edwards
- Francis Dugas, state representative from Lafourche Parish from 1956 to 1960, was born in Rayne in Acadia Parish in 1919.
- 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
- George Stanley, sculptor 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
- Mary Alice Fontenot, journalist and author of children's books and books on Louisiana history
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Acadia Parish, Louisiana
References
External links
- Acadia Parish Clerk of Court
- Acadia Parish Tourist Commission
- Arcadia Parish history
- Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office
Geology
- Heinrich, P. V., J. Snead, and R. P. McCulloh, 2003, Crowley 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.