kids encyclopedia robot

Ascension Parish, Louisiana facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Not to be confused with Assumption Parish, Louisiana.
Quick facts for kids
Ascension Parish
Parish
Ascension Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville
Ascension Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville
Flag of Ascension Parish
Flag
Map of Louisiana highlighting Ascension Parish
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Map of the United States highlighting Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Louisiana
Founded 1807
Named for Ascension of Jesus Christ
Seat Donaldsonville
Largest city Prairieville
Area
 • Total 303 sq mi (780 km2)
 • Land 290 sq mi (800 km2)
 • Water 13 sq mi (30 km2)  3.75%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 126,500
 • Density 417.5/sq mi (161.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 2nd, 6th

Ascension Parish (French: Paroisse de l'Ascension; Spanish: Parroquia de la Ascensión) is a special type of county called a parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. In 2020, about 126,500 people lived there. The main town, or parish seat, is Donaldsonville. This parish was created in 1807. Ascension Parish is also part of the larger Baton Rouge city area.

Ascension Parish is one of 22 parishes that make up Acadiana. This area is known as the home of the Cajun people and their unique culture. You'll often hear French or Cajun French spoken here. The people celebrate many fun festivals. These include the Boucherie Festival, the Lagniappe Music and Seafood Festival, and the Crawfish Festival. The biggest city in Ascension Parish is Gonzales. It's even called the "Jambalaya Capital of the World" because of its famous Jambalaya Festival!

History of Ascension Parish

The first European settlers in the Ascension and Gonzales areas were mostly from France and Spain. They settled alongside the Houma Indians who already lived there.

Between 1769 and 1777, Governor Luis de Unzaga helped create new settlements. He encouraged French Acadians and people from Malaga, Spain, to move to the rich Mississippi River region. Ascension Parish grew from these early European settlements.

In 2016, Louisiana experienced major floods. About one-third of all homes in Ascension Parish were flooded. Around 15,000 homes and businesses were affected. Most of the damage happened in the Galvez-St. Amant area.

Exploring Ascension Parish Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ascension Parish covers about 303 square miles. Most of this area, 290 square miles, is land. The remaining 13 square miles (about 4.2%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest parish in Louisiana by total area.

Important Waterways

Ascension Parish has many rivers, bayous, and canals. These waterways are very important to the area's environment and history. Some of the main ones include:

Major Roads and Highways

Several important highways pass through Ascension Parish. These roads connect the parish to other parts of Louisiana and beyond.

  • I-10.svg Interstate 10
  • US 61.svg U.S. Highway 61
  • Louisiana 1 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 1
  • Louisiana 16 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 16
  • Louisiana 18 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 18
  • Louisiana 22 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 22
  • Louisiana 30 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 30
  • Louisiana 42 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 42
  • Louisiana 44 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 44
  • Louisiana 70 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 70
  • Louisiana 73 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 73
  • Louisiana 308 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 308
  • Louisiana 3127 (2008).svg Louisiana Highway 3127

Neighboring Parishes

Ascension Parish shares borders with several other parishes:

Towns and Communities

Ascension Parish has several cities, towns, and smaller communities.

Cities

Town

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.

Other Communities

Many smaller, unincorporated communities are also part of Ascension Parish.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1810 2,219 —
1820 3,728 68.0%
1830 5,246 40.7%
1840 6,951 32.5%
1850 10,752 54.7%
1860 11,484 6.8%
1870 11,577 0.8%
1880 16,895 45.9%
1890 19,545 15.7%
1900 24,142 23.5%
1910 23,887 −1.1%
1920 22,155 −7.3%
1930 18,438 −16.8%
1940 21,215 15.1%
1950 22,387 5.5%
1960 27,927 24.7%
1970 37,086 32.8%
1980 50,068 35.0%
1990 58,214 16.3%
2000 76,627 31.6%
2010 107,215 39.9%
2020 126,500 18.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2019

The population of Ascension Parish has grown a lot over the years. In 1810, there were just over 2,200 people. By 1990, the population had reached over 58,000. The 2010 census showed 107,215 people. In 2020, the population grew to 126,500 people.

Historically, many people in Ascension Parish were of French and Spanish descent. In 2020, about 63% of the population was non-Hispanic white. About 24% were Black or African American. Around 8% were Hispanic or Latino, and 1.3% were Asian.

Many people in Ascension Parish are Christians. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian group. There are also many non-denominational Christian churches and Baptist churches.

Education in Ascension Parish

The Ascension Parish School Board runs the public schools in the area. There are also private schools for students. Since 1998, the parish has been home to River Parishes Community College. This college offers higher education opportunities.

Local Media

Ascension Parish has two local newspapers. The Gonzales Weekly Citizen is published twice a week. It was formed when two older newspapers merged. Donaldsonville Chief started in 1871. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the parish.

National Guard Presence

The 922nd Engineer Company (Horizontal) is located in Ascension Parish. This unit is part of the 769th Engineer Battalion. The 1021st Vertical Engineer Company is also in Gonzales, Louisiana. These units are part of the National Guard.

Images for kids

  • Flag of Ascension Parish, Louisiana

    The official flag of Ascension Parish.

  • DonaldsonvilleCourthouse

    The Ascension Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Parroquia de Ascension para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Ascension Parish, Louisiana Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.