Cankton, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cankton, Louisiana
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Village
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| Village of Cankton | |
Location of Cankton in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | St. Landry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.04 sq mi (5.28 km2) |
| • Land | 2.04 sq mi (5.28 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 583 |
| • Density | 285.92/sq mi (110.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 337 |
| FIPS code | 22-12420 |
Cankton is a small village located in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2010, about 484 people lived there. It is part of the larger Opelousas–Eunice area.
Contents
Geography of Cankton
Cankton is found at coordinates 30°20′57″N 92°6′42″W / 30.34917°N 92.11167°W. This means it's in the northern hemisphere, west of the Prime Meridian.
The United States Census Bureau says the village covers about 2.0 square miles (5.2 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.
The Story of Cankton's Name
Cankton became an official village in 1960. It got its unique name from a well-known person in the community, Dr. Lois Aristide Guidry. Everyone called him "Dr. Cank."
How Dr. Cank Got His Name
When Dr. Guidry was a boy, he loved to hunt ducks in the woods near his home. After a hunt, he would use a duck call that made a sound like "cank, cank, cank." When the older people heard this sound, they would say in French, "Cank est revenue." This means "Cank is back." He kept this nickname his whole life.
Dr. Cank's Work in the Community
After finishing medical school at Tulane, Dr. "Cank" decided to practice medicine in his hometown. Back then, the community was known as "Coulee Croche." His first office was on Guidry Street. Later, he built a bigger office on Main Street, next to his home. Dr. "Cank" passed away in 1951 when he was 69 years old.
Becoming an Official Village
In early 1960, people started the process to make Cankton an official village. This was completed in October 1960. The community included an elementary school, a Catholic church, a grocery store, and many homes. Everyone agreed that naming the village after their beloved Dr. "Cank" was the perfect choice.
Freddie Miller was chosen as the first mayor. George Elmo Broussard and Jerome Guidry were the first board members. In 1961, the first elections were held. Wilhelmina Savoie was elected mayor, making her the first female mayor in all of St. Landry Parish. The Cankton City Hall was built in 1979. It holds the clerk's office, the police department, and a community center.
People Living in Cankton
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 260 | — | |
| 1980 | 303 | 16.5% | |
| 1990 | 323 | 6.6% | |
| 2000 | 362 | 12.1% | |
| 2010 | 484 | 33.7% | |
| 2020 | 583 | 20.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2010 United States Census, there were 484 people living in Cankton. Most residents were White (86.0%), with a smaller percentage of Black residents (9.1%). Some people were from other races (0.8%) or from two or more races (1.4%). About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, there were 362 people in the village. The population density was about 178.7 people per square mile (69.0 per square kilometer). The majority of residents were White (94.20%), and 5.25% were African American.
The average household in Cankton had about 2.35 people. The average family had about 2.93 people. In 2000, about 24.6% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 34 years.
See also
In Spanish: Cankton para niños
