Blackhawk, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blackhawk, Louisiana
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 Blackhawk, Louisiana
Location in Louisiana
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| Country | United States |
| States | Louisiana |
| Parish | Concordia |
Blackhawk is a small, quiet community located in Louisiana, a state in the southern United States. It's found in Concordia Parish, right by the Mississippi River. For a long time, Blackhawk was one of the last places in Louisiana to get good phone service, but that changed in 2005 when a new cell tower was built. Farmers in Blackhawk grow crops like sugarcane. The United States Army Corps of Engineers also works here to make sure the levees along the Mississippi River are strong.
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How Many People Live Here?
Blackhawk used to be a small village. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, its population changed quite a bit.
- In 1890, about 323 people lived in Blackhawk.
- By 1900, the number dropped to 125 residents.
- In 1910, the population grew again to 340 people.
- By 1940, only 29 people lived there.
As of 2004, around 100 households were reported to be living in the combined area of Blackhawk and nearby Shaw.
A Look Back at Blackhawk's History
Blackhawk has a history that goes back many years. In 1897, a person named A. J. McCearly was the postmaster for the Blackhawk post office. This means he was in charge of the mail for the community.
Around 1905, a Catholic church from nearby Vidalia had a special mission station in Blackhawk. This was a place where church services or activities could be held for people living in the area.
In 1966, a road connecting Blackhawk and Shaw was improved. This was part of a bigger project called the Mississippi River Parkway, also known as the Great River Road. This road helps people travel along the Mississippi River.
More recently, in 2017, farmers in Blackhawk were growing a lot of sugarcane. One farmer, Matt Frey, and his brothers were growing 150 acres of this important crop.
Flooding and Levees
Because Blackhawk is so close to the Mississippi River, it has faced challenges with flooding. Levees are like big walls built to hold back river water and protect communities.
- On May 2, 1912, Blackhawk was flooded with nine feet of water. This happened when a protection levee broke. Luckily, people had enough warning to move their belongings and farm animals to safety.
- In 1922, Blackhawk and nearby areas were flooded again. This time, the water was almost twenty feet deep. Other towns like Ferriday and Waterproof were also affected.
To help prevent future floods, the Fifth Louisiana Levee Board and the United States Army Corps of Engineers worked together in the 1980s. They made the Acme–Blackhawk levee system stronger and bigger.
Getting Phone Service
For a long time, Blackhawk was one of the few places in Louisiana that didn't have reliable phone service. This changed in 2005. A company called Centennial Wireless built a new cell phone tower near the Red River levee. This tower helped Blackhawk finally get good phone service, connecting its residents to the rest of the world.
Blackhawk Plantation
Blackhawk Plantation was a large piece of land in the area. In 1972, this plantation was sold to J. C. "Sonny" Gilbert. It was a very big sale, reportedly for over $1 million.
