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Evangeline Parish, Louisiana

Coordinates: 30°44′N 92°25′W / 30.73°N 92.41°W / 30.73; -92.41
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Evangeline Parish
Parish
Parish of Evangeline
Evangeline Bank and Trust Co. Building, Ville Platte, Louisiana
Evangeline Bank and Trust Co. Building, Ville Platte, Louisiana
Map of Louisiana highlighting Evangeline Parish
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Map of the United States highlighting Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°44′N 92°25′W / 30.73°N 92.41°W / 30.73; -92.41
Country United States
State Louisiana
Founded1910
Named forAcadian heroine of the poem "Evangeline"
SeatVille Platte
Largest cityVille Platte
Area
 • Total
680 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Land662 sq mi (1,710 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  2.5%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
33,984
 • Estimate 
(2018)
33,443
 • Density50/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district5th

Evangeline Parish (Template:Lang-fr) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,984.[1] The parish seat is Ville Platte.[2]

History

The parish was created out of lands formerly belonging to St. Landry Parish in 1910.[3] The majority of the area was originally settled by French colonists, and formerly colonial Canadian marines (coureurs de bois) previously from Fort Toulouse, Alabama to Fort Kaskaskia in the Illinois country and including later Napoleonic and 19th-century French and European French-speaking soldier and immigrant families.

The early generations were born in colonial French colonies, which included the enormous Louisiana Territory ('Upper and Lower' Louisiana) known as "la Nouvelle France", then under Spanish rule, and whose citizens were originally called Isleños.

Many people of Evangeline are primarily of French, English, and Spanish descent in Colonial Louisiana. Some of the major families included Fontenot, Brignac, Ardoin, Bordelon, Vidrine, LaFleur, Chataignier, Dupre, Berza, Manuel, Ratelle, Fuselier, Landreneau, Andrepont, LeBas, and Gobert, along with many others.

People of Canary Islands Spanish heritage can be found to have settled in the Parish, bearing names like Aguillard, Casaneuva, De Soto, Ortego, Rozas, and Segura. Many English-American colonists from the East that came to collect Louisiana territory married into French families. Some prominent English surnames include Young, Reed, Langley, and Buller.

A few Acadians such as Francois Pitre and his wife had settled the area between Evangeline and St. Landry parishes, preferring the rich pre-American and pre-Civil War era Cajun planter's lifestyle over that of the humble and isolated existence of their Acadian Coast cousins.

The parish was named Evangeline in honor of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's narrative poem, Evangeline. It was from this poem that founding father, Paulin Fontenot was to propose the namesake of "Evangeline" for this parish, allegedly foreseeing an emerging American tourism centered upon the Acadian saga. (See Ville Platte Gazette, Sept. 2010) In 19th-century American literature, she would gain popularity through Hollywood's interest, and thus began the embryonic 'Acadian-based' tourism which sprang up in St. Martinville. Evangeline Parish is mentioned in the Randy Newman song "Louisiana 1927", in which he described the Great Mississippi Flood which covered it with six feet of water.

Ville Platte, Louisiana, the capitol seat of Evangeline Parish, was itself so named by one of Napoleon Bonaparte's former soldiers, Adjutant Major, Marcellin Garand (1781-1852), of Savoy, France. (See Napoleon's Soldiers In America, by Simone de la Souchere-Delery, 1999).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 680 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 662 square miles (1,710 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (2.5%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent parishes

National protected area

State parks

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
192023,485—
193025,4838.5%
194030,49719.7%
195031,6293.7%
196031,6390.0%
197031,9320.9%
198033,3434.4%
199033,274−0.2%
200035,4346.5%
201033,984−4.1%
2018 (est.)33,443[5]−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 33,984 people living in the parish. 69.0% were White, 28.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 2.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 40.0% were of French, French Canadian or Cajun ancestry and 9.1% identified as having American ancestry.[10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 35,434 people, 12,736 households, and 9,157 families living in the parish. The population density was 53 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 14,258 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 70.42% White, 28.57% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.71% reported speaking French or Cajun French at home, the highest percentage of any Louisiana parish.[12]

There were 12,736 households out of which 38.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the parish the population was spread out with 29.60% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $20,532, and the median income for a family was $27,243. Males had a median income of $30,386 versus $16,793 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $11,432. About 27.20% of families and 32.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.10% of those under age 18 and 31.00% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public Schools in Evangeline Parish are operated by the Evangeline Parish School Board.

  • Bayou Chicot Elementary School (Grades PK-8) (Ville Platte)
  • Chataignier Elementary School (Grades PK-8) (Chataignier)
  • James Stephens Montessori School (Grades PK-6) (Ville Platte)
  • Mamou Elementary School (Grades PK-4) (Mamou)
  • Vidrine Elementary School (Grades PK-8) (Ville Platte)
  • Ville Platte Elementary School (Grades PK-4) (Ville Platte)
  • W. W. Stewart Elementary (Grades PK-4) (Basile)
  • Basile High School (Grades 5-12) (Basile)
  • Mamou High School (Grades 5-12) (Mamou)
  • Pine Prairie High School (Grades 9-12) (Pine Prairie)
  • Ville Platte High School (Grades 5-12) (Ville Platte)
  • Evangeline Central School (Grades 4-12) (Ville Platte)

Evangeline Parish is also served by the Diocese of Lafayette with one school:

  • Sacred Heart School (Grades K-12) (Ville Platte)

Additionally, Evangeline Parish is served by one unaffiliated private school:

  • Christian Heritage Academy (Grade K) (Ville Platte)

Evangeline Parish is served by one institutions of higher education:

Communities

Map of Evangeline Parish, with municipal labels

City

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Notable people

Politics

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 69.6% 10,360 28.3% 4,208 2.1% 314
2012 64.6% 10,181 33.8% 5,330 1.6% 259
2008 61.3% 9,793 36.6% 5,853 2.1% 330
2004 56.9% 7,949 41.2% 5,757 2.0% 273
2000 53.6% 7,290 42.3% 5,763 4.1% 559
1996 35.5% 5,278 52.8% 7,847 11.6% 1,729
1992 31.4% 5,147 52.3% 8,564 16.3% 2,665
1988 48.3% 7,437 50.0% 7,693 1.8% 270
1984 54.8% 8,680 44.1% 6,981 1.2% 183
1980 51.3% 7,412 46.5% 6,722 2.3% 327
1976 32.1% 3,715 65.6% 7,578 2.3% 265
1972 60.0% 5,523 31.7% 2,919 8.3% 759
1968 13.4% 1,549 22.9% 2,647 63.7% 7,362
1964 39.2% 3,975 60.8% 6,163
1960 11.3% 1,105 80.6% 7,865 8.1% 794
1956 38.2% 2,170 58.7% 3,336 3.1% 174
1952 41.8% 2,445 58.2% 3,398
1948 3.6% 206 19.9% 1,149 76.5% 4,418
1944 8.3% 275 91.7% 3,029
1940 5.8% 220 94.2% 3,569
1936 8.7% 331 91.3% 3,484
1932 1.6% 52 98.4% 3,115
1928 13.8% 300 86.2% 1,873
1924 20.2% 153 79.7% 603 0.1% 1
1920 52.0% 587 48.0% 542
1916 3.0% 26 92.8% 808 4.3% 37
1912 5.7% 31 83.7% 457 10.6% 58

See also

Sources

  • Title: The Cajunization of French Louisiana: Forging a Regional Identity.

Authors: Trepanier, Cecyle Source: 'Geographical Journal'; Jul 91, Vol. 157 Issue 2, p161, 11p, 2 charts, 10 maps

  • French, Cajun, Creole, Houma : a primer on francophone Louisiana / Carl A. Brasseaux.
  • https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/old_time_time/many.htm&date=2009-10-25+23:58:31
  • A history of Evangeline : its land, its men and its women who made it a beautiful place to live, Robert Gahn, Sr. ; edited by Revon John Reed, Sr. Baton Rouge, LA : Claitor's, c 1972
  • La Voix des Prairies, Evangeline Genealogical and Historical Society.
  • Bonnes Nouvelles : good news about people, places and things in Evangeline Parish. Ville Platte, La. : Bonnes Nouvelles, 1993-
  • Fort Toulouse : The French Outpost at the Alabamas on the Coosa, Gregory A. Thomas
  • Louisiana's French Creole Culinary & Linguistic Traditions: Facts vs. Fiction Before And Since Cajunization, John laFleur II, Brian Costello w/ Dr. Ina Fandrich 2013
  • Louisiana's Creole French People, Our Food, Language & Culture: 500 Years of Culture copyright 2014, John laFleur II

National Guard

The 1086th Transportation Company of the 165th CSS (Combat Service Support) Battalion resides in Ville Platte, Louisiana. This unit belongs to the 139th RSG (regional support group).

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ "Evangeline Parish". Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  5. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  10. ^ "American FactFinder"
  11. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ^ "Language Map Data Center". www.mla.org. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  13. ^ "H. Bernard LeBas". house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved May 7, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-09.

Geology

30°44′N 92°25′W / 30.73°N 92.41°W / 30.73; -92.41

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