Delcambre, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delcambre, Louisiana
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Town
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| Town of Delcambre | |
Location of Delcambre in Vermilion and Iberia parishes, Louisiana
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parishes | Iberia, Vermilion |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.17 sq mi (3.03 km2) |
| • Land | 1.17 sq mi (3.03 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,793 |
| • Density | 1,532.48/sq mi (591.94/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70528
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| Area code(s) | 337 |
| FIPS code | 22-20155 |
Delcambre is a small town in Louisiana, a state in the United States. It is located in both Iberia and Vermilion parishes. You can find Delcambre about 9 miles (14 km) east of Abbeville on Louisiana Highway 14. This area is known as the Cajun Heartland of Acadiana, famous for its unique culture.
A waterway called Bayou Carlin, also known as the Delcambre Canal, flows through the town. This bayou is very important for the local fishing industry. In 2020, about 1,793 people lived in Delcambre. The town is also part of the larger Lafayette metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Delcambre
How Delcambre Started
Long ago, the King of Spain gave Louisiana to his brother-in-law, the King of France. This led to many French-speaking settlers moving to the area. Two brothers, Charles and Louis Delcambre, came from Belgium and settled near where Delcambre and New Iberia are today.
Louis's son, Poufette Delcambre, settled a bit further west. Later, Poufette's son, Desire Delcambre, became the founder of the town we now call Delcambre. The town got its first post office on May 17, 1877. It officially became an incorporated town on November 27, 1907.
Hurricane Rita's Impact
In 2005, a big storm called Hurricane Rita caused a lot of flooding in Delcambre. Water rose up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) deep in many parts of the town. The mayor at the time said that almost all of the town's 900 homes were affected by the floodwaters.
Geography of Delcambre
Delcambre is located right on the border between Vermilion and Iberia parishes. Its exact location is 29°57′1″N 91°59′20″W / 29.95028°N 91.98889°W. Louisiana Highway 14 runs through the northern part of the town. This highway connects Delcambre to New Iberia (about 12 miles or 19 km east) and Abbeville (about 9 miles or 14 km west). The town of Erath is also nearby, about 3 miles (4.8 km) west on Highway 14.
Just 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Delcambre is Lake Peigneur. This lake is at the beginning of the Delcambre Canal, which is important for the town. The United States Census Bureau says that Delcambre covers a total area of about 1.17 square miles (3.0 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
People of Delcambre
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 308 | — | |
| 1920 | 443 | 43.8% | |
| 1930 | 640 | 44.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,255 | 96.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,463 | 16.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,857 | 26.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,975 | 6.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,216 | 12.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,978 | −10.7% | |
| 2000 | 2,168 | 9.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,866 | −13.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,793 | −3.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population and Heritage
The first people to settle in the Delcambre area were Acadians. These were French-speaking people who were forced to leave Nova Scotia in the mid-1700s. They brought their unique culture and language to Louisiana, which is why the area is known as "Cajun Heartland."
In 2006, most people in Delcambre spoke English (about 74.2%). A significant number (24.2%) spoke French, including Cajun, which is a special kind of French spoken in Louisiana. A smaller group (1.5%) spoke Spanish.
Diversity in Delcambre
The town of Delcambre is home to people from many different backgrounds. According to the 2020 United States census, there were 1,793 people living in the town.
Here's a look at the different groups in Delcambre:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,327 | 74.01% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 248 | 13.83% |
| Native American | 18 | 1.0% |
| Asian | 1 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 97 | 5.41% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 102 | 5.69% |
In 2000, there were 2,168 people living in Delcambre. The town had 826 households, with many families living together. About 27.7% of the population was under 18 years old, and the average age was 33 years.
Education in Delcambre
Students living in Delcambre attend schools run by the Iberia Parish School System. This is true even for students who live in the Vermilion Parish part of Delcambre.
The schools in Delcambre, like Delcambre Elementary School and Delcambre High School, are actually located on the Vermilion Parish side of town. The Vermilion Parish school district pays the Iberia Parish district to educate these students. They have agreements to make sure all students in Delcambre get their education.
See also
In Spanish: Delcambre para niños
