Erath, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erath, Louisiana
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Town
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| Town of Erath | |
Location of Erath in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Vermilion |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.76 sq mi (4.55 km2) |
| • Land | 1.76 sq mi (4.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,028 |
| • Density | 1,154.24/sq mi (445.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70533
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| Area code(s) | 337 |
| FIPS code | 22-24180 |
Erath is a small town in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2020, about 2,028 people lived there. It is part of the larger Abbeville and Lafayette city areas.
Contents
History of Erath
Erath is named after a man named August Erath. He was born in Switzerland in 1843 and moved to New Orleans in 1860. He worked as a bookkeeper for breweries.
August Erath's Businesses
In 1876, August Erath moved to New Iberia and started his own brewery. He later became the mayor of New Iberia. He also bought land in the area where Erath is now located. August Erath was good friends with railroad officials, which helped him with his business plans. He also built a seltzer water factory and an ice plant in nearby towns. In 1884, he started a hardware business.
Hurricane Rita's Impact
In 2005, a big storm called Hurricane Rita caused a lot of flooding in Erath. Most of the town was underwater, with some areas having water up to six feet deep.
Geography of Erath
Erath is located at 29°57′36″N 92°2′7″W / 29.96000°N 92.03528°W. The town covers an area of about 1.5 square miles (4.55 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
Location and Nearby Towns
Erath is about 20 miles (32 km) south of Lafayette. Lafayette is the main city of Lafayette Parish. Erath is also about 7 miles (11 km) east of Abbeville, which is the main city of Vermilion Parish. To the west, it's about 15 miles (24 km) from New Iberia. The town of Delcambre is right next to Erath on its eastern side.
Population and People
The number of people living in Erath has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 215 | — | |
| 1910 | 575 | 167.4% | |
| 1920 | 713 | 24.0% | |
| 1930 | 895 | 25.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,408 | 57.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,514 | 7.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,019 | 33.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,024 | 0.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,259 | 11.6% | |
| 1990 | 2,428 | 7.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,187 | −9.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,114 | −3.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,028 | −4.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Erath?
In 2020, the 2020 United States census showed that 2,028 people lived in Erath. Most people (about 83.5%) were White. About 6.4% were Black or African American, and about 4.4% were Asian. Other groups included Native American, people of two or more races, and Hispanic or Latino individuals.
There were 830 households in Erath. About 35.8% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.5 people.
Economy of Erath
Erath is important for the energy industry because it is home to the Henry Hub.
What is the Henry Hub?
The Henry Hub is a very important place where many natural gas pipelines meet. It's like a central station for natural gas. The prices for natural gas in North America are often decided based on what happens at the Henry Hub.
History of Henry Hamlet
The "Henry" part of Henry Hub comes from a small area in Erath called Henry hamlet. This area was named after the Henry High School, which used to be there. The school was named after William Henry, who helped support it. He came from Denmark around 1840.
The Henry school was founded in 1877 and became a high school in 1896. In 1992, the school district changed things around. Students from Henry High went to Erath High, and Henry High became an elementary school.
Hurricane Damage to Henry School
In 2005, Hurricane Rita badly damaged the Henry school. Three years later, Hurricane Ike also hit the area hard. The main school building was eventually torn down in 2009. The land where the school stood was given for education a long time ago. If it wasn't used for education, it was supposed to go back to the original family. The school's gym was saved and is still used by the school district today for sports and other activities.
Notable People from Erath
- Dudley J. LeBlanc – He was a politician who served in the state legislature. He also ran for governor of Louisiana several times.
- Doris Leon "D. L." Menard – A famous songwriter, performer, and recording artist.
- Randy Romero – A jockey who was inducted into the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame.
- Roy R. Theriot – He was the mayor of Abbeville and also worked as the state comptroller for Louisiana.
- Elijah Mitchell – A professional football player who plays as a running back for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL.
See also
In Spanish: Erath (Luisiana) para niños
