Norco, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norco
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 Norco
Location in Louisiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | St. Charles |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.04 sq mi (10.45 km2) |
| • Land | 3.45 sq mi (8.93 km2) |
| • Water | 0.59 sq mi (1.52 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,984 |
| • Density | 865.18/sq mi (334.04/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70079
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| Area code(s) | 985 |
| FIPS code | 22-55525 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403339 |
Norco is a small community in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is called a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's an area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes. In 2020, about 2,984 people lived there. Norco is known for having a large manufacturing complex operated by Shell and Valero. The name "Norco" comes from the "New Orleans Refining Company."
Contents
Where Did Norco Get Its Name?
The community of Norco was once called "Sellers." This name came from a wealthy family who lived there.
In 1911, an agent working for Shell Oil bought the land. They then started the New Orleans Refining Company (NORCO). After 1926, the community's name was officially changed from Sellers to Norco.
Norco's History
By the late 1700s, French and other European settlers had started many sugar cane farms in the area. They brought many enslaved people from Africa to work on these farms. Growing sugar cane needed a lot of workers. Because of this, the number of enslaved people was much larger than the number of European settlers. This continued even after the United States bought Louisiana in 1803.
The German Coast Uprising
On January 8, 1811, a large uprising of enslaved people began. It was led by Charles Deslondes, a free person of color from Haiti. This event is known as the German Coast Uprising. It was the largest uprising of enslaved people in U.S. history.
Deslondes and his followers were inspired by ideas from the French and Haitian revolutions. In 1809 and 1810, many French-speaking people came to Louisiana. These included white farm owners, their enslaved people, and free people of color. They had left Haiti because of its revolution.
Deslondes and his group marched downriver, gathering more enslaved people to join them. They used simple farm tools as weapons and marched to the sound of drums. More than 200 men took part in the uprising. They killed two white men on their march toward New Orleans.
The alarm was raised, and the governor, William C.C. Claiborne, called out both local militia and regular soldiers. They quickly stopped the revolt. The white militia and troops killed 95 enslaved people in total. Many were killed right away, and others were executed after quick trials.
Since 1995, a group called the African American History Alliance of Louisiana has met every January in Norco. They remember the German Coast Uprising. They honor the men who sought freedom many years before the American Civil War and the end of slavery. Descendants of the people involved in the uprising also join them.
Recent Events
In 1942, a Catholic Church named Sacred Heart of Jesus Church was built in Norco.
In 2021, Hurricane Ida passed through the Norco area. This caused the oil refineries and chemical plants to release toxic chemicals into the air through a process called flaring.
Norco's Location and Landscape
Norco is located at 30°0′14″N 90°24′39″W / 30.00389°N 90.41083°W. It sits on the eastern edge of the large Bonnet Carré Spillway. This spillway helps control flooding from the Mississippi River by providing a way for water to flow into Lake Pontchartrain.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Norco covers a total area of about 3.4 square miles (8.8 square kilometers). Of this, about 3.0 square miles (7.8 square kilometers) is land, and 0.4 square miles (1.0 square kilometer) is water.
Norco has two main neighborhoods. One neighborhood, called 'Diamond,' is about four blocks long and is home to only African American residents. The other neighborhood in Norco is mostly white residents.
Norco's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 3,385 | — | |
| 2000 | 3,579 | 5.7% | |
| 2010 | 3,074 | −14.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,984 | −2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1990 2000 2010 2020 |
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| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 2,686 | 2,762 | 2,713 | 2,431 | 79.35% | 77.17% | 88.26% | 81.47% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 629 | 686 | 210 | 221 | 18.58% | 19.17% | 6.83% | 7.41% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 11 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0.32% | 0.39% | 0.33% | 0.13% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 16 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 0.47% | 0.28% | 0.46% | 0.50% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x | 0 | 2 | 0 | x | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0.06% | 0.03% | 0.10% | 0.23% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | x | 34 | 29 | 128 | x | 0.95% | 0.94% | 4.29% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 41 | 72 | 93 | 178 | 1.21% | 2.01% | 3.03% | 5.97% |
| Total | 3,385 | 3,579 | 3,074 | 2,984 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,984 people, 1,201 households, and 750 families living in Norco.
Education in Norco
The St. Charles Parish Public School System runs the public schools in Norco. These include:
- Norco Elementary K-3 School (for kindergarten to 3rd grade)
- Norco Elementary 4-6 School (for 4th to 6th grade)
- Destrehan High School in Destrehan (for high school students)
Before 1969, Mary M. Bethune High School in Norco served Black students in the area. In 1969, it closed, and high school students began attending Destrehan High School.
Famous People from Norco
Many talented people have come from Norco, including:
- Minor Hall, a jazz drummer
- Tubby Hall, another jazz drummer
- James Brown Humphrey, a musician, bandleader, and music teacher
- Damaris Johnson, an NFL wide receiver and punt returner for the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans
- Jamall Johnson, an NFL and CFL linebacker and actor
- Rondell Mealey, an NFL running back for the Green Packers
- Gregory A. Miller, who was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- Ralph R. Miller, who was also a member of the Louisiana House for many years and is Gregory A. Miller's father
- George T. Oubre, a state senator
- Jeremy Parquet, an NFL offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, and Pittsburgh Steelers
- Rusty Rebowe, an NFL linebacker for the New Orleans Saints
- Tim Rebowe, the Head football coach at Nicholls State University
- Darrington Sentimore, an NFL defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Gary Smith, Jr., a Louisiana state senator
