Chataignier, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chataignier, Louisiana
Village
Location of Chataignier in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Evangeline
Area
• Total	0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2)
• Land	0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	59 ft (18 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	259
• Density	412.42/sq mi (159.19/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	337
FIPS code	22-14450

Chataignier is a small village located in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. In 2020, about 259 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a rich history.

Geography of Chataignier

Chataignier is quite small in size. The United States Census Bureau says the village covers about 0.6 square miles (1.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.

History of Chataignier Village

What Does "Chataignier" Mean?

The name Chataignier comes from the French language. It means "chinquapin," which is a type of small chestnut tree. These trees used to grow everywhere in the prairies around the village. Sadly, a plant disease called chestnut blight made them disappear from the area.

Early Settlers and Their Lives

Records show that the first person to settle in Chataignier was Ursiana Manuel. She arrived around 1793 from Mexico, passing through New Orleans. At that time, Louisiana was a Spanish colony. George Washington was the President of the United States. Ursiana Manuel's family still lives on the land she first settled.

Other early settlers included Jacques Fontenot and Louis Redan. Valentine Savoy was another important early settler. He was the first person in this part of the country to make spinning wheels. He also owned a large farm, a cotton gin, and a saw mill.

Religion and Education in Chataignier

The people of Chataignier have always valued religion and education. Most early settlers were Catholic. The second oldest church in the Evangeline area was started here. It began as a mission of St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas in 1856. In 1869, it became its own church called Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Education also started early in Chataignier. The first known school was the Onezine Lafleur School, opened in 1858. This was before the American Civil War. During the war, the school closed for a short time. When it reopened in 1879, French was the main language taught. By 1887, Chataignier had one of the eight public schools in the parish.

Chataignier's Post Office and Growth

The Chataignier post office opened on November 20, 1879. Back then, it was part of St. Landry Parish. In 1910, St. Landry Parish was divided into smaller parishes. One of these new areas was Evangeline Parish. Chataignier is now in the southeastern part of Evangeline Parish.

The Village of Chataignier officially became an incorporated village in January 1973. At that time, it had 375 residents. Today, the local economy mainly relies on farming.

Population of Chataignier

Chataignier's Population in 2020

In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 259 people living in Chataignier. There were 142 households and 71 families in the village.

Education in Chataignier

Public schools in Evangeline Parish are managed by the Evangeline Parish School Board. Chataignier Elementary School is located right in the village. It serves students from pre-kindergarten up to eighth grade.

Notable People from Chataignier

• Sady Courville (1905–1988), a famous Cajun fiddler.

See also

In Spanish: Chataignier para niños