Lafourche Parish, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lafourche Parish
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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 | |
| • Estimate
(2015)
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98,325 |
| • Density | 90/sq mi (30/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. 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.
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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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
City
- Thibodaux (parish seat)
Towns
Census-designated places
Other areas
