Edgard, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edgard
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St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Edgard
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 Edgard
Location in Louisiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | St. John the Baptist |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.82 sq mi (35.81 km2) |
| • Land | 11.38 sq mi (29.49 km2) |
| • Water | 2.44 sq mi (6.32 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,948 |
| • Density | 171.12/sq mi (66.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70049
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| Area code(s) | 985 |
| FIPS code | 22-22815 |
Edgard is a small community in Louisiana, United States. It is the main town, or parish seat, of St. John the Baptist Parish. In 2020, about 1,948 people lived there. Edgard is part of the larger New Orleans area. It is also part of a historic region known as the German Coast of Louisiana.
Contents
History
Edgard is one of the oldest communities in its parish. It was a popular spot for the famous privateer Jean Lafitte. Since 1848, Edgard has been the parish seat.
How Edgard Got Its Name
The town was first called St. John the Baptist. This name came from the Catholic church at the center of the community. In 1850, the town was renamed Edgard. It was named after Edgar Perret, who was the local postmaster.
The Church's Story
The first St. John the Baptist Catholic Church was built in 1772. Sadly, it was destroyed by a flood in 1821. A new church was built soon after. In 1918, a fire badly damaged this building. But the people of the parish gave money to rebuild it. When the new church opened, all the building costs were paid off.
Edgard's Economy
For many years, Edgard's economy was based on farming and industry.
- A sawmill was run by Severin Tassin.
- A brick factory started in 1878.
- Many sugar plantations operated between 1794 and 1894.
By 1899, more than fifty family-owned sugar houses (places where sugar was made) were still working.
Most people in Edgard worked in the sugar industry. They worked in the sugar houses, in the fields, or supported the sugar businesses. Many families also rented land from the Caires and Graugnards on Columbia Plantation. They grew their own crops to sell.
River Life
The Mississippi River has always been important to Edgard. In 1899, something exciting happened. Ice could be seen floating down the river in late winter. The ice blocked the river, stopping ship traffic for several days.
A favorite event for many townspeople was the arrival of the showboat. These boats would dock at Caire's Landing. People never knew when the next boat would arrive. When it did, its calliope (a musical instrument) could be heard far away. Even today, modern ships still pass by on the river.
Geography
Edgard is located on the west side of the Mississippi River. It is about 13 feet (4 meters) above sea level.
The community covers about 17.9 square miles (46.4 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 15.5 square miles (40.1 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 2.3 square miles (6.0 square kilometers), is water.
Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 1,948 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 1,948 people living in Edgard. There were 571 households and 348 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 90 | 4.62% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,741 | 89.37% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.05% |
| Asian | 1 | 0.05% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 102 | 5.24% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12 | 0.62% |
In 2000, Edgard had 2,637 people. About 36.3% of households had children under 18. The average household had about 3 people.
Education
Public schools in Edgard are managed by the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board.
Notable People
Many interesting people have come from Edgard:
- Dave Bartholomew: A musician and songwriter. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
- George E. Burch: A medical school professor and heart doctor known around the world.
- Robert R. Burch: A doctor, writer, and inventor.
- Etienne J. Caire: A sugar cane farmer and businessman. He owned a store in Edgard for many years. He also ran for governor of Louisiana in 1928.
- Gerard Walton Caire: A judge in Edgard. He is the grandson of Etienne J. Caire.
- Sidonie de la Houssaye: A writer from the 1800s.
- Dave Malone: A guitarist and singer for the band The Radiators.
- Tommy Malone: A guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the band The Subdudes.
- Steve Amedee: A percussionist (drummer) for The Subdudes.
- Terry Robiskie: A former American football player. He later became a coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
- Tyson Jackson: An American football player. He was picked third in the 2009 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. This was a very high pick for a defensive player from Louisiana State University at that time.
- Quinn Johnson: An American football player. He was picked by the Green Bay Packers in the 2009 NFL Draft. He also went to Louisiana State University.
- Juan Joseph: An American football player. He was picked by the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League in 2009. He won the Conerly Trophy in 2008 while at Millsaps College.
See also
In Spanish: Edgard para niños
