Charenton, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charenton, Louisiana
Census-designated place
Charenton, Louisiana Location in Louisiana
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	St. Mary
Area
• Total	5.22 sq mi (13.51 km2)
• Land	4.97 sq mi (12.86 km2)
• Water	0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,699
• Density	342.06/sq mi (132.07/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	337
FIPS code	22-14310

Charenton is a small community in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that looks like a town but isn't officially governed as one.

In 2020, about 1,699 people lived in Charenton. The community is part of the larger Morgan City area. A local story says that Charenton got its name from an early settler, Alexandre Frere. He was from Paris, France. The legend says he joked that anyone who moved to this part of Louisiana must belong in "Charenton." This was because there was a famous mental hospital called Charenton near Paris.

History of Charenton

Charenton is the home of the Chitimacha Indian tribe. In 1855, a serious disease outbreak greatly reduced the number of Chitimacha people. By 1900, only about 55 Chitimacha people lived in six families.

Protecting Tribal Land

For many years, the Chitimacha tribe's land kept getting smaller. This happened because the land was divided among tribal members. Sometimes, they couldn't pay yearly taxes, and their land was sold. In 1903, the last 505 acres (about 2 square kilometers) of their reservation were divided. But lawyers' fees took away 280 acres (about 1.1 square kilometers) of that land.

In 1915, a kind person named Miss Sarah Avery McIlhenney helped the tribe. She bought the land at a special sale. Then, she immediately gave it to the United States government. The government agreed to hold the land in trust for the tribe. This meant the land was protected for the Chitimacha people.

Federal Recognition and Growth

Because of this help, the Chitimacha tribe received official recognition from the federal government in 1917. They became the only tribe in Louisiana to get this special status. This recognition and the protected land came at a very important time. During World War I, oil companies wanted to explore the region for oil. With their land safe, many Chitimacha people found jobs in the new oil fields. They worked as drillers and foremen.

In 1934, after a law called the Indian Reorganization Act, the Chitimacha created a new tribal government. Even though their numbers were small, they were successful. In 1971, they created a constitution and bylaws that they still use today.

Modern Chitimacha Community

Today, the Chitimacha tribe runs a museum, a fish processing plant, and a school on their reservation. They also have a successful casino called Cypress Bayou. The money from the casino has helped the tribe buy back land that was historically part of their reservation. Their land, which had shrunk to about 260 acres (about 1 square kilometer), has now grown to over a thousand acres (about 4 square kilometers). The Chitimacha people are a very important part of Charenton's history and its current community.

Geography of Charenton

Charenton is located at 29°53′01.47″N 91°31′37.78″W / 29.8837417°N 91.5271611°W / 29.8837417; -91.5271611.

The community covers a total area of about 5.2 square miles (13.5 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 4.97 square miles (12.86 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.25 square miles (0.65 square kilometers), is water.

Population Information

2020 Census Details

The 2020 United States census counted 1,699 people living in Charenton. There were 665 households and 414 families.

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Charenton in 2020:

Education in Charenton

Charenton is home to the Chitimacha Tribal School. This school teaches students from kindergarten through 8th grade (K-8). It is connected with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).

History of Chitimacha Tribal School

In 1937, a public school building was moved to Charenton. It had two classrooms and became a school for grades 1-8. Over 60 students attended. In 1968, a kindergarten class was added.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) built a new school building in 1978. It replaced the older one. In its first year, 38 students attended. However, the number of students dropped in the early 1980s. In 1982, the school faced budget cuts, which caused worries about it closing.

Local public schools in Charenton are managed by the St. Mary Parish School Board.

See also

In Spanish: Charenton (Luisiana) para niños