Loreauville, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Loreauville, Louisiana
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Village
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| Village of Loreauville | |
Location of Loreauville in Iberia Parish, Louisiana
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Iberia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.45 sq mi (1.17 km2) |
| • Land | 0.45 sq mi (1.15 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 658 |
| • Density | 1,475.34/sq mi (570.03/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
70552
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| Area code(s) | 337 |
| FIPS code | 22-45670 |
Loreauville is a small village located in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. In 2020, about 658 people lived there. It's part of the larger New Iberia and Lafayette areas.
Contents
History of Loreauville
Loreauville has had a few different names over the years. It was first known as "Fausse Pointe." Then, it became "Dugasville" because the Dugas family opened a trading post there. Later, its name changed to "Picouville" when a member of the Picou family gave land for a church.
On April 15, 1871, the village was officially named Loreauville. This new name honored Ozaire Loreau. He had donated land for the old Catholic church and cemetery. He also helped the village grow in farming, industry, and local government.
Geography and Location
Loreauville is in the northern part of Iberia Parish. It sits on the east side of Bayou Teche. The village is about 8 miles (13 km) northeast of New Iberia. New Iberia is the main town of Iberia Parish. Loreauville is also about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of St. Martinville.
The village covers about 0.45 square miles (1.17 km²). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Hurricanes Affecting Loreauville
Loreauville has been impacted by several hurricanes over the years. These storms can cause strong winds and heavy rain.
- 1974 - Hurricane Carmen
- 1992 - The center of Hurricane Andrew passed right over Loreauville. This hurricane caused a lot of damage. Many homes lost electricity for over four weeks.
- 2002 - Hurricane Lili
- 2005 - Hurricane Rita
- 2008 - Hurricane Gustav
- 2019 - Hurricane Barry, even though it was weaker, damaged power lines and oak trees.
- 2020 - Hurricane Laura
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 291 | — | |
| 1920 | 439 | 50.9% | |
| 1930 | 441 | 0.5% | |
| 1940 | 490 | 11.1% | |
| 1950 | 478 | −2.4% | |
| 1960 | 655 | 37.0% | |
| 1970 | 728 | 11.1% | |
| 1980 | 860 | 18.1% | |
| 1990 | 860 | 0.0% | |
| 2000 | 938 | 9.1% | |
| 2010 | 887 | −5.4% | |
| 2020 | 658 | −25.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Loreauville had 658 residents. There were 341 households and 231 families living in the village. About 76.9% of the people were white, and 21.9% were African American. A small number of people were Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 1.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (35.2%) had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.60 people. The average family had 3.19 people. About 27.1% of residents were under 18 years old. The median age in the village was 35.8 years.
The average yearly income for a household in Loreauville was about $42,625. For families, it was around $47,500.
Local Culture and Traditions
Farming Sugarcane is still very important around Loreauville. The sugarcane harvest happens every year from September to December. Farmers often use tractors to bring their crops to local sugar factories. The Louisiana Sugarcane Festival is held nearby in New Iberia each September.
Many people in Loreauville have Cajun heritage. Because of this, many families still speak French as a second language.
Boat building is a big part of Loreauville's culture. Large shipyards like Breaux's Bay Craft build big aluminum boats. Local people also hand-craft traditional wooden Cajun pirogues (small, flat-bottomed boats). Using waterways like Bayou Teche and Lake Dauterive has always been important for residents.
Loreauville also has several parades each year. These include Mardi Gras, a Homecoming Parade, and a Christmas Parade.
For many years, Loreauville had a museum called "The Heritage Village." It was one of the first museums in southern Louisiana about Acadians and Cajun culture. The museum was outdoors and had old buildings, like a one-room schoolhouse from 1900-1925. It also showed old clothing, housewares, and other items from the 19th century. When the museum closed in the 1980s, some items were given to the Acadian Village in Lafayette.
Places to Visit and See
Bayou Teche flows along the western edge of Loreauville. In the 1800s, several sugar mills that used wood fires were located along the bayou. Growing sugarcane was a very important crop back then. Today, you can still find some old brick foundations from these mills.
Lake Dauterive, also called Lake Fausse Pointe, is east of Loreauville. It's a popular spot for hunting, fishing, and water sports. The boat landing there was even used for filming the 1977 movie Return to Boggy Creek. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park is also nearby.
The Loreauville branch of the Iberia Parish Public Library is on Broussard Road. It's next to Loreauville Elementary School.
Loreauville High School serves students from 7th to 12th grade. The main building was built in the early 1940s. It has been updated and expanded over the years. This building might be the oldest school building in Iberia Parish that is still used today.
Historic Businesses and Buildings
Main Street in Loreauville has changed a lot over time. Here are some notable businesses and buildings that have been part of the village's history:
- Homer's Texaco Service Station: This family-owned gas station was open from 1946 until the late 1990s. The large metal building was built in 1961.
- W.W. Vaughn General Merchandise: This general store was in a 19th-century brick building. It operated from the early 1900s until the 1970s. The store even made its own metal coins for trade! Today, a Family Dollar store is in its place.
- Tiger Inn: This small fast-food restaurant is named after the Loreauville High School football team, the Tigers. It has been open since the early 1970s. It serves classic fast food and local Cajun dishes.
- The State National Bank Building: Built in the early 1960s, this was the only bank in Loreauville for many years. It used to have a large clock that was a well-known feature in the village.
- Aunt Tee's Restaurant: This family business served breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. Their "Plate Lunch" was very popular.
- U.S. Postal Mail facility: The post office building on Main Street served the village until the 1960s. A larger brick building replaced it, and then an even bigger one was built in the 1990s.
- Loreauville Water Tower: From the 1940s to the 1980s, Loreauville had a unique water tower. It looked like the "Tin Man" character from The Wizard of Oz. It held about 50,000 gallons of water. It was taken down when a new, larger water tower was built.
- Loreauville Movie Theater: This old wooden building on Main Street provided entertainment from the late 1920s until after World War II. It showed both silent films and modern movies. The building was removed in the 1970s.
- Masso's Cafe: This small, family-owned cafe was open from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s. It was a cozy spot with a small lunch counter. The building was taken down in the late 1980s.
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- Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church: The current church building was built in the 1970s. It replaced an older wooden church that was destroyed by fire in 1992.
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church Hall: This hall is next to St. Joseph's Catholic Church. It has been used for weddings, celebrations, and meetings since the 1960s. It also used to have classrooms for teaching catechism. A plaque inside honors Father Thomas Connors, a priest who served the parish.
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church: This church is in the center of the village. The current building was built in the early 1960s. In front of the church, there are bronze plaques honoring Loreauville residents who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
- Loreauville Hospital: This hospital opened in the early 1960s but closed in the 1980s. It has been used as a health clinic sometimes since then.
Education in Loreauville
Students in Loreauville attend schools within the Iberia Parish School System. They go to Loreauville Elementary School and Loreauville High School.
Notable People from Loreauville
- Joseph "Beausoleil" Broussard: He was a leader of the Acadian resistance. He was one of the first Cajuns to settle in south Louisiana in 1765, right in the area that is now Loreauville.
- Clifton Chenier: A famous zydeco musician. He was born in Opelousas but is buried in Loreauville.
See also
In Spanish: Loreauville para niños
