Belle Chasse, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belle Chasse
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Census-designated place
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Belle Chasse Auditorium
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 Belle Chasse
Location in Louisiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Plaquemines |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.10 sq mi (26.16 km2) |
| • Land | 8.17 sq mi (21.16 km2) |
| • Water | 1.93 sq mi (5.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,579 |
| • Density | 1,295.18/sq mi (500.04/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
70037, 70093
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| Area code(s) | 504 |
| FIPS code | 22-06120 |
Belle Chasse is a community in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is located on the west side of the Mississippi River. Belle Chasse is part of the larger Greater New Orleans area. In 2020, about 10,579 people lived there. It is the biggest community in Plaquemines Parish. It is also home to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. This is a special base for the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Contents
History
People are not sure how Belle Chasse got its name. In French, belle chasse means "beautiful hunting." Many believe it was named this because the first French settlers saw lots of wildlife there. Others think it was named after a Colonel Joseph D. Bellechasse. He lived in New Orleans a long time ago. Another idea is that it was named after a large farm called a plantation. This plantation belonged to Deville de Goutin Bellechasse.
Judah P. Benjamin was a famous owner of the Belle Chasse plantation. He was a leader for the Confederate side during the American Civil War. The plantation house became old and empty by the 1930s. It was taken down in 1960. But its bell was saved. Today, you can see it in front of the Belle Chasse Public Library.
The Naval Air Station started in 1920 near Lake Pontchartrain. In 1957, it moved to its current spot in Belle Chasse. It is now a base for different military groups. These include Navy air units, an Air Force Reserve fighter group, and a Marine Corps Reserve helicopter group. In 2009, a Navy Reserve squadron moved its E-2C planes to Belle Chasse. The pilots are Navy Reservists. Northrop Grumman Field Services takes care of the planes.
Geography
Belle Chasse is located at 29°51′48″N 89°59′54″W / 29.86333°N 89.99833°W.
The community covers about 28.4 square miles (73.6 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 24.9 square miles (64.5 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 3.5 square miles (9.1 square kilometers), is water.
Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 9,848 | — | |
| 2010 | 12,679 | 28.7% | |
| 2020 | 10,579 | −16.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Belle Chasse had a population of 10,579 people. This was a decrease from 12,679 people in 2010.
Most people in Belle Chasse are non-Hispanic white. In 2020, about 75.85% of the population was non-Hispanic white. Other groups include African American (5.98%), Asian (3.34%), and Hispanic or Latino (9.47%). About 4.55% of the people were of two or more races.
In 2019, the average age of people in Belle Chasse was 35 years old. About 70.7% of the people were 18 or older. About 10.7% were 65 or older. Most people speak English at home. Spanish is the second most common language spoken. The average income for a family was about $66,653 per year.
Culture and Arts
Belle Chasse is known for its fun festivals. These include the "Orange Fest," "Crawfish Fest," and "Gamers Fest." It also hosts the Plaquemines Parish Seafood Festival.
Education
The Plaquemines Parish School Board runs the public schools in the area.
Schools in Belle Chasse include:
- Belle Chasse Primary
- Belle Chasse Middle
- Belle Chasse High School
- Belle Chasse Academy
- Plaquemines Parrish Alternative School
Belle Chasse High School first opened in 1928. It used to teach all grades from kindergarten to 12th grade. In 1977, Belle Chasse Middle School opened for the middle grades. Belle Chasse Primary opened in 1994.
There is also a Catholic school called Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The Plaquemines Parish Library has a branch in Belle Chasse. The main library office is in the F. Edward Hebert Building.
National Guard
Belle Chasse is a main base for the Louisiana Air Force National Guard. It is home to the 159th FW (Fighter Wing). This base was very important during Hurricane Katrina. It was used as the main place for helicopters to take off for rescue missions.
Notable People
- Billy Nungesser – He used to be the Parish President. Now he is the Lt. Governor of Louisiana.
- Chris Henry – He was a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals football team.
- Benny Rousselle – He was a member of the Louisiana House. He also used to be the president of the Plaquemines Parish government.
- Ernest Wooton – He was a state representative. He also served as the Plaquemines Parish sheriff.
- Bella Blue – She is a burlesque dancer.
See also
In Spanish: Belle Chasse para niños
