Iberia Parish, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Iberia Parish
Parish
Parish of Iberia
Historic House and Garden Shadows-on-the-Teche
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Founded	October 30, 1868
Named for	Iberian Peninsula
Seat	New Iberia
Largest city	New Iberia
Area
• Total	1,031 sq mi (2,670 km2)
• Land	574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Water	456 sq mi (1,180 km2)  44%
Population  (2020)
• Total	69,929
• Density	67.83/sq mi (26.188/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Iberia Parish (French: Paroisse de l'Ibérie, Spanish: Parroquia de Iberia) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 69,929; the parish seat is New Iberia.

The parish was formed in 1868 during the Reconstruction era and named for the Iberian Peninsula. It is part of the 22-parish Acadiana region of the state, with a large Francophone population. Some of its ethnic French residents had ancestors who settled here after being expelled in the 18th century by the British from Acadia in present-day Canada. Historically, it has also been a center for sugar cane cultivation and produces the most sugar of any parish in the state.

Iberia Parish is part of the Lafayette metropolitan area. The Port of Iberia has a waterway with access to the Gulf Coast.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 1,031 square miles (2,670 km²), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km²) is land and 456 square miles (1,180 km²) (44%) is water. This includes Marsh Island.

Major highways

• Interstate 49
• U.S. Highway 90
• Louisiana Highway 14
• Louisiana Highway 31

Adjacent parishes

• St. Martin Parish (north, south)
• Iberville Parish (northeast)
• Assumption Parish (east)
• St. Mary Parish (southeast)
• Vermilion Parish (west)
• Lafayette Parish (northwest)

Protected areas

The parish has both national and state protected areas within the boarders.

National protected area

• Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge

State protected areas

Part of the Attakapas Wildlife Management Area is located within Iberia Parish as well as in St. Mary and St. Martin Parishes.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 69,929 people, 26,185 households, and 20,409 families residing in the parish. The 2019 American Community Survey estimated 69,830 people lived in Iberia Parish. Approximately 25.6% of the population were under 18 years of age and 51.1% of the population was female. At the census of 2000, there were 73,266 people, 25,381 households, and 19,162 families residing in the parish. The population density was 127 people per square mile (49/km²). There were 27,844 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile (19/km²).

In 2000, there were 25,381 households, out of which 39.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were married couples living together, 17.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 30.00% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males in 2000.

In 2019, the parish had a median income $48,861 and mean income of $23,290. An estimated 21.9% of the parish population lived at or below the poverty line. The median income for a household in the parish was $31,204, and the median income for a family was $36,017 in 2000. Males had a median income of $32,399 versus $18,174 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $14,145. About 20.20% of families and 23.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 20.20% of those age 65 or over.

At the 2000 census, the racial makeup of the parish was 65.08% White, 30.81% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.93% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. About 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the population, 11.99% reported speaking French or Cajun French at home, while 1.48% speak Lao and 1.29% Spanish. The 2019 census estimated determined 58.6% of the population was non-Hispanic white, 32.8% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian or Alaska Native, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.9% multiracial, and 4.3% Hispanic or Latin American of any race.

National Guard

E Company 199th Forward Support Battalion resides in Jeanerette, Louisiana, and B Company 2-156th resides in New Iberia, Louisiana. Both units have deployed twice to Iraq, 2004-5 and 2010, as part of the 256TH IBCT.

Communities

Map of Iberia Parish, Louisiana With Municipal Labels

Cities

• Jeanerette
• New Iberia (parish seat)

Town

• Delcambre (part)

Village

• Loreauville

Census-designated place

• Lydia

Unincorporated communities

• Avery Island
• Bob Acres
• Emma
• Rynella

Education

Iberia Parish School System serves the parish.

Iberia parish also has several private schools. These include Catholic High New Iberia (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana), Acadiana Christian School and Highland Baptist School.

Iberia Parish is in the service area of Fletcher Technical Community College and of South Louisiana Community College.

Images for kids

• 

  NOAA aerial photo of the Port of Iberia

See also

In Spanish: Parroquia de Iberia para niños