Buras, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buras, Louisiana
|
|
|---|---|
New water tower in Buras
|
|
 Buras, Louisiana
Location in Louisiana
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Plaquemines |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.35 sq mi (8.67 km2) |
| • Land | 2.30 sq mi (5.95 km2) |
| • Water | 1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,109 |
| • Density | 482.59/sq mi (186.35/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70041
|
| Area code(s) | 504 |
| GNIS feature ID | 558181 |
Buras is a community in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. It is called a "census-designated place" (CDP) because the U.S. Census Bureau uses it for counting people. In 2020, about 1,109 people lived there. Before 2010, Buras was part of a larger area called Buras-Triumph.
Contents
History
When Was Buras Founded?
Buras was founded in the 1840s. About 20 years later, during the American Civil War, important battles happened nearby. These battles took place at Forts Jackson and St. Philip. Today, the Buras area is well-known for catching many of the oysters sold in Louisiana.
How Did Hurricane Katrina Affect Buras?
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Buras was the first place in Plaquemines Parish where the hurricane made landfall. The community felt the full power of the storm. There were very strong winds and a huge storm surge, which is when ocean water rushes onto land. This caused a lot of damage to buildings and the area.
After the hurricane, it took a long time for Buras to recover. In 2006 and 2007, reports showed that there was still not much progress in rebuilding the town. Many homes and businesses needed to be fixed or rebuilt.
Demographics
How Many People Live in Buras?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 945 | — | |
| 2020 | 1,109 | 17.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Before the 2010 U.S. Census, Buras was part of a larger area. It was then separated to be counted on its own.
What Are the Different Groups of People in Buras?
The table below shows the different racial and ethnic groups living in Buras. The U.S. Census counts Hispanic/Latino people as an ethnic group, and they can be of any race.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 564 | 471 | 59.68% | 42.47% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 63 | 118 | 6.67% | 10.64% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 19 | 16 | 2.01% | 1.44% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 210 | 344 | 22.22% | 31.02% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 5 | 18 | 0.53% | 1.62% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 53 | 82 | 5.61% | 7.39% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 31 | 60 | 3.28% | 5.41% |
| Total | 945 | 1,109 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Before Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Buras had many Cambodian shrimpers. There were about 30 to 40 of them. This showed that the area had a large Asian American population. After the hurricane, most of these shrimpers returned to Buras.
In the 2020 United States census, Asian people made up the second-largest group in Buras, with 344 residents. Non-Hispanic white people were the largest group, with 471 residents. Black and African Americans were the third-largest group.
Education
What Schools Are in Buras?
The Plaquemines Parish School Board is in charge of the public schools in the parish. Students from Buras attend South Plaquemines High School. This school is located in Empire, which is right next to Buras. It also uses a Buras postal address.
Before 2005, Buras had its own schools: Buras Middle School (for grades 6–8) and Buras High School (for grades PK-5 and 9–12). However, Hurricane Katrina badly damaged these school buildings. For a while after the hurricane, no new schools opened in Buras. This made some people worry about the future of the community.
Later, the new South Plaquemines High School was built where the old Buras Middle School used to be. Teacher housing was built on the land where Buras High School once stood.
What Other Educational Resources Are Available?
Plaquemines Parish is also served by Nunez Community College. This college offers different programs for higher education. The Plaquemines Parish Library also has a branch in Buras, which provides books and other resources for the community.
See also
In Spanish: Buras (Luisiana) para niños
