Midland, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Midland
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 Midland
Location in Louisiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Acadia |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 249 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 337 |
Midland (which is called Moyen-Terre in French) is a small farming community in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. It's not a big city but a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's an area the government counts for population, even though it doesn't have its own local government like a city does.
Midland is located where U.S. Highway 90 and Louisiana Highway 91 meet. It's also where old railroad lines used to cross. These lines once belonged to the Louisiana Western Railroad and later to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company. Today, parts of these lines are used by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. Midland is part of the larger Crowley area. In 2020, about 249 people lived there.
Contents
Discovering Midland's Past
Midland has an interesting history, especially with railroads and farming.
How Midland Got Its Name
Some people say Midland got its name because it was the halfway point on an old railroad line. This line stretched from New Orleans all the way to Houston. On early maps of Acadia Parish, the community was first called Midland Junction.
Early Transportation and Ferries
Before railroads were common, people used other ways to travel. In the 1870s, a man named Frank Quebodeaux ran a special ferry service. He used a horse and buggy to cross Bayou Plaquemine Brûlée. His ferry was made from strong cypress logs and pulled across the bayou with ropes.
The Railroad Arrives and Grows
The railroad played a huge role in Midland's development.
- In 1896, the railroad line was extended from Midland to Gueydan, Louisiana.
- Then, in 1902, it was extended even further, from Gueydan to Abbeville, Louisiana.
Charles H. Cowen: A Visionary Farmer
A very successful rice farmer named Charles H. Cowen helped Midland grow a lot. He was from Illinois and bought a large amount of land in the Midland area.
- In 1892, he bought 160 acres (about 0.65 square kilometers) of land.
- Soon after, he bought another 600 acres (about 2.4 square kilometers).
- In 1902, he started two companies: the Midland Development Co. and the Midland Rice Milling Co.
- On April 22, 1902, he held an auction and sold 156 town lots.
Because of Cowen's success, the Southern Pacific railroad company planned to build a "roundhouse" in Midland. A roundhouse is a building where trains are stored and repaired. However, Charles Cowen sadly lost a leg in a rice threshing accident and died soon after. Because of this, Southern Pacific changed their plans and did not build the roundhouse in Midland.
Midland's First Services
Midland started getting its own services for the community:
- The first post office in Midland opened on June 13, 1902. It was located in the Callahan general store, and Eugene T. Callahan was the first postmaster.
- The first school in Midland was established in 1903, giving local children a place to learn.
Midland's Population
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 249 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 |
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According to the 2020 census, Midland had a population of 249 people. Most of the residents were White (93.98%). A small number of residents identified as Black or African American, Native American, or Mixed Race. There was also a small Hispanic or Latino population.
