Lafourche Parish, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lafourche Parish
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| Parish of Lafourche | |
Lafourche Parish Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
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 Louisiana's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Louisiana |
| Founded | 1807 |
| Named for | la fourche, French for the fork |
| Seat | Thibodaux |
| Largest city | Thibodaux |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,474 sq mi (3,820 km2) |
| • Land | 1,068 sq mi (2,770 km2) |
| • Water | 406 sq mi (1,050 km2) 28% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 97,557 |
| • Density | 91.35/sq mi (35.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 6th |
Lafourche Parish (French: Paroisse de la Fourche) is a parish located in the south of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Thibodaux. The parish was formed in 1807. It was originally the northern part of Lafourche Interior Parish, which consisted of the present parishes of Lafourche and Terrebonne. Lafourche Parish was named after the Bayou Lafourche. City buildings have been featured in television and movies, such as in Fletch Lives, due to its architecture and rich history. At the 2020 census, its population was 97,557.
Long a center of sugar cane plantations and sugar production, in November 1887 the parish was the site of the Thibodaux Massacre. After state militia were used to suppress a massive Knights of Labor strike involving 10,000 workers in four parishes, many African Americans retreated to Thibodaux. Local paramilitary forces attacked the men and their families, killing an estimated 50 persons, and hundreds more were missing, wounded, and presumed dead in one of the deadliest incidents of labor suppression and racial terrorism.
Lafourche Parish is part of the Houma-Thibodaux metropolitan statistical area. People of the state-recognized Native American Houma Tribe live in both Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 1,474 square miles (3,820 km2), of which 1,068 square miles (2,770 km2) is land and 406 square miles (1,050 km2) (28%) is water. To the south of the parish is the Gulf of Mexico.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 90
Louisiana Highway 1
Louisiana Highway 20
Louisiana Highway 24
Louisiana Highway 308
Adjacent parishes
- St. James Parish (north)
- St. John the Baptist Parish (north)
- St. Charles Parish (northeast)
- Jefferson Parish (east)
- Terrebonne Parish (west)
- Assumption Parish (northwest)
National protected area
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,995 | — | |
| 1820 | 3,755 | 88.2% | |
| 1830 | 5,503 | 46.6% | |
| 1840 | 7,303 | 32.7% | |
| 1850 | 9,532 | 30.5% | |
| 1860 | 14,044 | 47.3% | |
| 1870 | 14,719 | 4.8% | |
| 1880 | 19,113 | 29.9% | |
| 1890 | 22,095 | 15.6% | |
| 1900 | 28,882 | 30.7% | |
| 1910 | 33,111 | 14.6% | |
| 1920 | 30,344 | −8.4% | |
| 1930 | 32,419 | 6.8% | |
| 1940 | 38,615 | 19.1% | |
| 1950 | 42,209 | 9.3% | |
| 1960 | 55,381 | 31.2% | |
| 1970 | 68,941 | 24.5% | |
| 1980 | 82,483 | 19.6% | |
| 1990 | 85,860 | 4.1% | |
| 2000 | 89,974 | 4.8% | |
| 2010 | 96,318 | 7.1% | |
| 2020 | 97,557 | 1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 70,722 | 72.49% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 14,532 | 14.9% |
| Native American | 2,427 | 2.49% |
| Asian | 759 | 0.78% |
| Pacific Islander | 31 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 3,414 | 3.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5,672 | 5.81% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 97,557 people, 36,759 households, and 25,224 families residing in the parish. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.04.
In 2000, there were 89,794 people living in the parish. The racial makeup of Lafourche was 82.85% White, 12.61% Black or African American, 2.30% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races; 1.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino American of any race. Among the population, 19.12% reported speaking French or Cajun French at home, while 1.51% spoke Spanish.
Up from $34,910 in 2000, the median income of a household in the parish was $51,339 according to the 2019 American Community Survey. In 2000, males had a median income of $34,600 versus $19,484 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,809. About 13.20% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 18.30% of those age 65 or over.
National Guard
D Company 2-156 Infantry Battalion of the 256TH Infantry Brigade Combat Team resides in Thibodaux, Louisiana
Communities
City
- Thibodaux (parish seat)
Towns
Census-designated places
Other areas
Education
The parish is zoned to Lafourche Parish Public Schools.
Residents of select portions of Lafourche Parish (particularly in parts of Grand Bois and Bourg) may attend schools in the Terrebonne Parish School District.
High schools
- Central Lafourche in Mathews
- South Lafourche in Galliano
- Thibodaux High in Thibodaux
- Edward Douglas White Catholic High School in Thibodaux
Colleges and universities
- Nicholls State University in Thibodaux
The parish is in the service area of Fletcher Technical Community College.
Notable people
- Thomas G. Clausen
- Dick Guidry
- Bobby Hebert, former NFL quarterback
- Harvey Peltier, Jr.
- Harvey Peltier, Sr.
- Glen Pitre
- Loulan Pitre, Jr.
- Ed Orgeron
- Mattie Breaux, cast member of Party Down South
See also
In Spanish: Parroquia de Lafourche para niños
