Lafourche Parish, Louisiana facts for kids

Lafourche Parish
	Lafourche Parish, Louisiana
	Map
	; Location in the state of Louisiana
	; Louisiana's location in the U.S.
	Statistics
Founded	1807
Seat	Thibodaux
Largest City	Thibodaux
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 1,474 sq mi (3,818 km²); 1,068 sq mi (2,766 km²); 406 sq mi (1,052 km²), 28%
PopulationEst.; - (2015); - Density	; 98,325; 90/sq mi (35/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
	Website: www.lafourchegov.org
	Named for: la fourche, French for the fork

Lafourche Parish (French: Paroisse de la Fourche) is a parish located in the south of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 96,318. 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.

Lafourche Parish is part of the Houma-Thibodaux, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The state-recognized Native American Houma Tribe lives in both Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.

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

National protected area

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (part, in Thibodaux)

Demographics

Historical population
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%
Est. 2015	98,325	2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the census of 2000, there were 89,974 people, 32,057 households, and 24,299 families residing in the parish. The latest estimates are at 90,255. The population density was 83 people per square mile (32/km²). There were 35,045 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 82.85% White, 12.61% Black or African American, 2.30% Native American, 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 of any race. 19.12% reported speaking French or Cajun French at home, while 1.51% speak Spanish.

There were 32,057 households out of which 37.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the parish the population was spread out with 27.30% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $34,910, and the median income for a family was $40,504. 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

Map of Lafourche Parish, with municipal labels

City

Thibodaux (parish seat)

Towns

Census-designated places

Other areas

Gheens