Grand Cane, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grand Cane, Louisiana
|
|
|---|---|
|
Village
|
|
| Village of Grand Cane | |
.jpg) |
|
Location of Grand Cane in De Soto Parish, Louisiana.
|
|
.svg)
Location of Louisiana in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | DeSoto |
| Incorporated | 1899 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.15 sq mi (2.99 km2) |
| • Land | 1.13 sq mi (2.93 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 299 ft (91 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 217 |
| • Density | 191.70/sq mi (73.99/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-30690 |
Grand Cane is a small village located in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2020, about 217 people lived there. It is part of the larger Shreveport-Bossier City area. Grand Cane is also the hometown of Linda Gamble, a famous pioneer in women's basketball.
Contents
History of Grand Cane
Grand Cane started as a small settlement before it officially became a village in 1899. Four families helped it grow where two old wagon trails crossed. These trails later became Louisiana Highways 171 and 3015.
In 1881, a woman named Amanda Hobgood gave land to a railway company. This helped the village grow even more. By 1899, Grand Cane was officially a village. E.R. Fortson became its first mayor. The population soon grew to almost 500 people.
Growth and Decline
The railway and the crossroads helped Grand Cane become a busy place. It had many businesses, including:
- seven stores
- a dentist
- a bank
- a post office
- a blacksmith shop
- two hotels
- four doctors
- three drug stores
- a telephone office
- a newspaper
- a restaurant
- two cotton gins
Grand Cane also had the first public high school in Louisiana that was officially recognized. There were also Presbyterian, Methodist, and two Baptist churches.
However, the village faced tough times during the Great Depression in 1929. Things got even harder when the Texas & Pacific Railway stopped running in the late 1950s. The farming industry also declined, and the public school closed. Many people moved away from the rural area. Grand Cane became very quiet, like many small towns that were left behind.
Bringing Grand Cane Back to Life
In 1993, Grand Cane started to come back to life. The village used money from a state grant to buy an old building. This led to the creation of the Grand Cane Preservation Commission. This group works to protect old buildings.
Several buildings in the Historic District were then added to the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Platt, Old Post Office, Cook & Douglas, Hicks & Richardson, and Ricks Bros. buildings. The Village Hall and the Grand Cane Methodist Church were already on the list.
Grand Cane Today
The Historic District was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means the outside of these old buildings still looks much like they did when they were built around 1900.
Some of the historic buildings you can see today include:
- W.W. Platt Dental Office: Built in 1939.
- George N. Parker Company building: From 1910, it was a store known for shoes and hats.
- Cook & Douglas Building: Built in 1903, it was a general store that also bought cotton.
- Bank of Grand Cane Building: Built around 1902, it was a bank until 1970. Now, it's the Grand Cane village hall. This building was added to the National Register in 1988.
- Hicks & Richardson Building: From around 1902, it sold general goods and farm supplies.
- Ricks Brothers Building: Built around 1915, it later became Gamble Brothers. It sold groceries and delivered them to homes.
Today, these historic buildings are home to shops, restaurants, the village hall, a community theater, and a "mall" with different businesses.
In 2009, the Village of Grand Cane became a certified Cultural District by the state of Louisiana. This has brought more art and culture to the community. The DeSoto Arts Council has a gallery in the Hicks-Richardson Building where you can buy original art without sales tax. The Back Alley Theater and the Raven Book Store are also in this building.
Grand Cane's Location
Grand Cane is located in the middle of DeSoto Parish. U.S. Route 171 goes right through the village. This road leads southeast about 7 miles (11 km) to Mansfield, which is the main town of the parish. It also goes north about 14 miles (23 km) to Stonewall.
The village of Grand Cane covers a total area of about 1.15 square miles (2.99 square kilometers). A very small part of this area, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 351 | — | |
| 1900 | 385 | 9.7% | |
| 1910 | 485 | 26.0% | |
| 1920 | 378 | −22.1% | |
| 1930 | 393 | 4.0% | |
| 1940 | 377 | −4.1% | |
| 1950 | 286 | −24.1% | |
| 1960 | 322 | 12.6% | |
| 1970 | 284 | −11.8% | |
| 1980 | 252 | −11.3% | |
| 1990 | 233 | −7.5% | |
| 2000 | 191 | −18.0% | |
| 2010 | 242 | 26.7% | |
| 2020 | 217 | −10.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Grand Cane has changed quite a bit over the years. In 1910, it had its highest population with 485 people. By 2000, it had dropped to 191. In 2020, the population was 217.
Notable People from Grand Cane
Grand Cane has been home to some interesting people:
- C.L. Bryant (born 1956) is an African-American Baptist minister and a radio talk show host. He lives in Grand Cane.
- Rudy Leopold (1905-1965) was a professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. He was born in Grand Cane.
- B. H. "Johnny" Rogers (1905-1977) was a farmer and a native of Grand Cane. He served as a state representative and state senator for many years.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Grand Cane para niños
