Lutcher, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lutcher
|
|
|---|---|
|
Town
|
|
| Town of Lutcher | |
| Motto(s):
“Go Bulldogs!”
|
|
Location of Lutcher in St. James Parish, Louisiana.
|
|
.svg)
Location of Louisiana in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | St. James |
| Named for | Henry J. Lutcher |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.40 sq mi (8.82 km2) |
| • Land | 3.37 sq mi (8.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2) |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 3,133 |
| • Density | 929.40/sq mi (358.86/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 225 |
| FIPS code | 22-46720 |
Lutcher is a small town located in St. James Parish, Louisiana. It sits on the east side of the Mississippi River. This town is also part of the larger New Orleans Metropolitan Area. In 2020, about 3,133 people lived there.
Contents
History of Lutcher
Lutcher started as a town built around a sawmill. It was named after Henry J. Lutcher, who was a businessman and ran a sawmill. An important person named James Mather also had a sugar plantation here a long time ago.
Christmas Bonfires Tradition
Since the late 1800s, people in Lutcher have built special Christmas bonfires. These bonfires are built along the levee (a raised bank) near the Mississippi River. This tradition happens every Christmas Eve. People say the bonfires are lit to guide Papa Noel (which is what Santa Claus is called in some parts of Louisiana).
Hurricanes and Their Impact
Lutcher has faced challenges from strong storms. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused damage to the town. Exactly sixteen years later, on the same date in 2021, Hurricane Ida also caused a lot of damage to Lutcher.
Geography of Lutcher
Lutcher is located at 30°2′56″N 90°41′59″W / 30.04889°N 90.69972°W. The town covers a total area of about 3.4 square miles (8.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The Mississippi River forms one of its borders, and it's also next to the town of Gramercy. Lutcher is about 36 miles (58 kilometers) west of the big city of New Orleans.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,700 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,481 | −12.9% | |
| 1940 | 2,167 | 46.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,198 | 1.4% | |
| 1960 | 3,274 | 49.0% | |
| 1970 | 3,911 | 19.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,730 | 20.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,907 | −17.4% | |
| 2000 | 3,735 | −4.4% | |
| 2010 | 3,559 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 3,133 | −12.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Lutcher had 3,133 residents. The town is home to a mix of different people. About half of the residents are white, and about half are Black or African American. There are also smaller groups of other races and people of Hispanic or Latin American background.
In 2000, the average income for a family in Lutcher was about $42,317 per year. Like many places, some families and individuals in Lutcher live below the poverty line.
Education
The St. James Parish Public Schools system manages the public schools in Lutcher.
- Lutcher High School is one of the schools, serving students from 7th to 12th grade.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Lutcher:
- Roy Bourgeois – a human rights activist.
- Randal Gaines – a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.
- David Jones – a talented jazz musician.
- Jarvis Landry – an American football player.
- Ron Landry – a lawyer and former Louisiana state senator.
- Henry J. Lutcher – the sawmill owner the town is named after.
- James Mather – a former mayor of New Orleans.
- Leon Roppolo – an early jazz clarinet player.
- Lionel Washington – an American football player and coach.
- Lenny Webster – a former professional baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins.
See also
In Spanish: Lutcher (Luisiana) para niños
