Galvez, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Galvez
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 Galvez
Location in Louisiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Ascension |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 225 |
Galvez is a small place in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States. It's not a city with its own government, but rather an unincorporated community. It's about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Baton Rouge. Galvez is surrounded by a larger community called Prairieville. They even share the same ZIP code, 70769.
Contents
The Original Galveztown Settlement
In 1778, a group of people called Loyalists asked for a special favor. They were English settlers living near the Amite River. They wanted to move to the Spanish side of the river. This was to escape problems from people who supported the American Revolution.
The Spanish Governor of Louisiana, Count Bernardo de Gálvez, agreed to their request. To honor him, the settlers named their new home "Galveztown."
Building a New Town
In 1779, Governor Gálvez sent more settlers to Galveztown. These were Isleños, people from the Canary Islands. He hoped to build a strong military base there. This base would help protect against the British, who controlled nearby Baton Rouge at the time.
The plans for Galveztown showed a traditional Spanish villa layout. This included a military fort or presidio. However, we don't have much proof of how the town actually looked.
Challenges for the Settlers
Life in Galveztown was very hard from the start.
- Diseases: Sicknesses like smallpox and scabies spread quickly.
- Natural Disasters: Floods, hurricanes, and droughts often destroyed their crops.
- High Costs: Getting supplies was expensive because the town was far from New Orleans. There were no steamboats back then to make travel easier.
By the end of 1779, Galveztown became less important as a military post. This happened after Spain took control of Baton Rouge, Mobile, and Pensacola from the British. Four years later, Spain controlled all of Florida again. This was confirmed by the Treaty of Paris.
Decline of Galveztown
The town began to shrink because of all the problems. Diseases, natural disasters, and a lack of supplies made life very difficult. By 1785, only 242 people lived there. By 1804, there were only 28 families left.
The next year, the remaining people from Galveztown moved to Baton Rouge. They settled in an area now known as the Spanish Town neighborhood. They wanted to live in a place controlled by New Spain, which Baton Rouge was for a few years. This was important because of the Louisiana Purchase, which changed who owned the land.
Galveztown Today
For over a century, the Spanish fort, streets, and homes of Galveztown remained as ruins. But no one tried to save the site. Today, only a state historical marker is there. It honors the Canary Islanders who settled the area.
From 2008 to 2010, some early archaeological work was done at the site. In the summer of 2011, LSU even held a field school there. This means students got to learn about digging up and studying old sites.
Modern Galvez Community
The Galvez we know today is not in the exact same spot as the old Galveztown. The modern community is located southwest of the original settlement. Farmers and ranchers began to settle this area in the late 1800s.
Geography of Galvez
Galvez is located at coordinates 30°17′56″N 90°54′17″W. It sits at an elevation of 16 feet (4.88 meters) above sea level.
Images for kids
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Historical Marker for Galveztown.
