Milton, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Milton, Louisiana
Census-designated place
Milton Welcome Sign
Milton, Louisiana Location in Louisiana Show map of Louisiana Milton, Louisiana Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Lafayette
Area
• Total	4.68 sq mi (12.12 km2)
• Land	4.65 sq mi (12.03 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation	20 ft (6 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,590
• Density	557.47/sq mi (215.22/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	337
FIPS code	22-50815

Milton is a small community in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. It's not a city, but a "census-designated place," which means it's a special area defined for counting people. In 2020, about 2,590 people lived there. Milton is part of the larger Lafayette area.

History of Milton

It's not known exactly when people first settled in the Milton area. Old land records show that much of the community was once owned by Bernard, a leader of the Atakapa people. This area was important for crossing the Vermilion River. It was also a trading spot for local farms and cattle ranches.

Early Settlers and Families

The first settlers in Milton were Acadian families. Some of the early landowners included Francois Broussard, Jean Bernard, Pierre Vincent, and Joseph Boudreaux. In the early 1800s, Jean-Jacques Denais ran a ferry here. Désiré Broussard and Jean-Baptiste Montet also settled in the area by 1823. Anselm Thibodeaux, who lived on the east side of the river, farmed his land for at least 20 years before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. A small waterway, Anselm's Coulee, is named after him.

The Vermilion River bridge in Milton

Bridges and Transportation

Later, Eloi and Darmas Broussard, who were descendants of an early settler named Beausoleil Broussard, ran a store. This was during the time when steamboats traveled the river. They built a two-story house in the late 1880s, which still stands near the bridge today. A ferry likely operated at Milton as early as 1820. People wanted a bridge across the river, and one was dedicated on February 2, 1902. The bridge you see there now was built in 1948.

How Milton Got Its Name

In 1885, Dr. Milton R. Cushman came to the area to work as a doctor. He asked for a post office to be set up at the Desire Broussard place. Dr. Cushman became the first postmaster, and the mail was kept at his office. When postal officials asked for a name for the new community, Dr. Cushman's wife decided to name it "Milton." This was after her husband and their son, Milton S. Cushman, who was born in 1890.

Geography of Milton

Milton is located in the southern part of Lafayette Parish. It sits on the east side of the Vermilion River. The river also forms the border with Vermilion Parish. Milton is about 11 miles (18 km) south of Lafayette, which is the main city of the parish. It's also about 12 miles (19 km) north of Abbeville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Milton area covers about 4.68 square miles (12.1 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area, about 0.03 square miles (0.08 square kilometers), is water.

Population and People

Milton is home to a diverse group of people. Here's a look at the population from the 2020 U.S. Census:

In 2020, there were 2,590 people living in Milton. There were 858 households and 577 families. In 2019, about 2,299 people lived here. The community had a median age of 45.1 years. Most of the population was non-Hispanic white.

Education in Milton

Milton is part of the Lafayette Parish School System. This means students in Milton attend schools managed by the parish.

• Milton Elementary School
• Milton Middle School

See also

In Spanish: Milton (Luisiana) para niños