Kaplan, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kaplan, Louisiana
City
City of Kaplan
Nickname(s):  Gateway to the Coastal Wetlands
Location of Kaplan in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Vermilion
Area
• Total	2.33 sq mi (6.03 km2)
• Land	2.33 sq mi (6.03 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,352
• Density	1,868.61/sq mi (721.59/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	70548
Area code(s)	337
FIPS code	22-39055

Kaplan is a city in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2020, about 4,352 people lived there. It is part of the Abbeville area, which is a smaller urban region. Kaplan is also located in Acadiana, a special cultural region in Louisiana.

History of Kaplan

Kaplan started as a small settlement. In 1896, the Holy Rosary Catholic Church was built. Many early settlers were Acadian people, who spoke French.

The town is named after Abrom Kaplan. He bought a large piece of land called the Jim Todd Plantation in 1901. Kaplan officially became a town in 1902. The first school opened a year later.

Early Events in Kaplan

On July 14, 1906, Kaplan held its first Bastille Day Celebration. This holiday celebrates a big event in French history. In 1911, the Eleazar Theater was built, giving people a place to watch shows. The Kaplan Telephone Company started in 1916. The school was rebuilt in 1920 to serve more students.

The Kaplan Herald Newspaper

The local newspaper, the Kaplan Herald, has been printed since 1956. It was first called the Kaplan Journal. When Conrad Kaplan bought the newspaper in 1965, he changed its name to the Kaplan Herald. He owned it until he passed away in 1992.

Hurricane Carla Tornado

On September 10, 1961, a strong tornado hit Kaplan. This tornado was caused by Hurricane Carla. Most of the town was badly damaged, and one person sadly died.

Geography and Location

Kaplan is located at 30°0′16″N 92°17′9″W / 30.00444°N 92.28583°W / 30.00444; -92.28583. The city covers about 2.33 square miles (6.03 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

Roads and Highways

Louisiana Highway 14 goes through Kaplan. This highway connects Kaplan to other towns:

• It goes about 10 miles east to Abbeville. Abbeville is the main town of Vermilion Parish.
• It goes about 15 miles west to Gueydan.

Louisiana Highway 13 crosses LA-14 just outside Kaplan. It heads north to:

• Crowley, about 26 miles away.
• Eunice, about 39 miles away.

Louisiana Highway 35 also crosses LA-14 in Kaplan. It goes north about 18 miles to Rayne.

Population of Kaplan

People and Diversity

Kaplan is home to people from many backgrounds. In 2020, most residents were White (about 78%). About 14% were Black or African American. Other groups included Asian, Native American, and people of mixed races. About 3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2020, there were 1,638 households in Kaplan. About 898 of these were families. The average household had about 2.45 people.

Education in Kaplan

Schools in Kaplan are part of the Vermilion Parish School Board. This board manages public schools in the area.

Notable People from Kaplan

• Inez Catalon – A famous Creole singer.
• Iron Eyes Cody – An actor known for playing Native American roles. He was of Sicilian descent.
• Sammy Kershaw – A popular American Country music singer and songwriter. He also ran for lieutenant governor of Louisiana twice.
• Jonathan W. Perry – He used to be on the Kaplan city council. He also served as a state representative and senator. Now, he is a judge.
• Frank Glasgow Tinker – A pilot who volunteered in the Spanish Civil War. He was known as a "flying ace" for shooting down many enemy planes.

See also

In Spanish: Kaplan (Luisiana) para niños