Port Barre, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Barre, Louisiana
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Town
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| Town of Port Barre | |
Location of Port Barre in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | St. Landry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.12 sq mi (2.89 km2) |
| • Land | 1.08 sq mi (2.79 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,751 |
| • Density | 1,624/sq mi (627/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70577
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| Area code(s) | 337 |
| FIPS code | 22-61825 |
| Website | https://www.townofportbarre.com |
Port Barre is a small town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It started way back in 1760 as a trading post for Native Americans. This special spot is where two bayous, Bayou Teche and Bayou Courtableau, meet. In 2020, about 1,751 people lived there.
Contents
History of Port Barre
Port Barre got its name from Alex Charles Barre, who was born in 1746 and died in 1829. The town officially became "Port Barre" in 1898.
Early Trading Post and Settlements
In 1733, the Opelousas Native Americans asked the French government to send traders to their area. By 1760, some French traders, called coureurs des bois, set up a trading post. This post was at a good spot where the bayous came together.
In 1765, a rich landowner named Jacques Courtableau gave land to 32 Acadian families who had just moved there. That same year, he sold a big piece of land to Charles Barre. This land included the first trading post. The area later became known as Barre's Landing, and then Port Barre. It was a busy port town before railroads became common.
The Barre Family and Town Growth
The Barre family has a long history in the area. Guillaume Barre, born in France in 1642, moved to Martinique around 1665. He later traveled to Louisiana with other families. The Barres settled in Pointe Coupee, Louisiana.
Alex Charles Barre, a descendant of Guillaume Barre, bought the land with the trading post in 1765. He married Magdelaine Decuir, and they had 11 children. Many of their children married into the Nezat and Roy families, making these families very close in the area.
In 1820, Charles Alex Barre bought even more land along the bayou. The Barre family ran a business that handled goods. The settlement kept growing throughout the 1800s. Finally, on July 13, 1898, the village of Port Barre was officially made a town by Louisiana Governor Jared Y. Sanders, Sr..
Geography of Port Barre
Port Barre is located where Bayou Courtableau and Bayou Teche meet. It's about 8 miles east of Opelousas. It's also about 52 miles west of Baton Rouge if you take U.S. Highway 190.
The town covers about 1.1 square miles (2.8 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population and People
The number of people living in Port Barre has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 588 | — | |
| 1930 | 674 | 14.6% | |
| 1940 | 850 | 26.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,066 | 25.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,876 | 76.0% | |
| 1970 | 2,133 | 13.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,625 | 23.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,144 | −18.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,287 | 6.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,055 | −10.1% | |
| 2020 | 1,751 | −14.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Port Barre in 2020
In 2020, there were 1,751 people living in Port Barre. There were 680 households and 469 families. Most of the people were White (about 65%), and about 30% were Black or African American.
Port Barre in 2010
In 2010, the town had 2,055 people. About 70.7% of the people were White, and 25.6% were Black.
Fun Facts and Education
Annual Cracklin' Festival
Port Barre is famous for its yearly "Cracklin' Festival." This festival happens on the second weekend of November. The Port Barre Lions Club started it in 1986. All the money raised from the festival helps children who need glasses or eye surgery.
Local School
The town is home to the Port Barre High School. Their sports teams are known as the Red Devils.
Transportation in Port Barre
Getting around Port Barre and to other towns is easy with these main roads:
- U.S. Route 190 is a big road that goes east and west. It connects Port Barre to Baton Rouge in the east and Opelousas and Eunice in the west.
- LA 103 is a state highway that goes through the middle of Port Barre.
- LA 741 is another state highway that connects with LA 103 in town.
Notable People from Port Barre
- Clay Higgins is a well-known person from Port Barre. He is a member of the United States House of Representatives. This means he is a politician who helps make laws for the country. He represents Louisiana's 3rd congressional district.
