Sicily Island, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sicily Island, Louisiana
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Village
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Location of Sicily Island in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Catahoula |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.57 sq mi (1.49 km2) |
| • Land | 0.57 sq mi (1.49 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 75 ft (23 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 366 |
| • Density | 637.63/sq mi (246.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-70245 |
Sicily Island is a small village located in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. In 2020, about 366 people lived there.
Contents
Where is Sicily Island Located?
Sicily Island is in the northeastern part of Catahoula Parish. You can find it at these coordinates: 31°50′48″N 91°39′32″W / 31.84667°N 91.65889°W.
U.S. Route 425 goes through the village. This road leads north about 23 miles to Winnsboro. It also goes southeast about 30 miles to Natchez, Mississippi. Louisiana State Highway 8 heads southwest about 11 miles to Harrisonburg. Harrisonburg is the main town of Catahoula Parish.
Why is it Called Sicily Island?
Even though it's called Sicily Island, this village is actually not an island at all! It's completely on land. The name comes from the way nearby lakes and rivers shaped the area. Early settlers thought the land looked a lot like the island of Sicily in Italy.
The United States Census Bureau says Sicily Island covers about 0.57 square miles (1.49 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
A Look Back: History of Sicily Island
Early History and the Natchez People
In the early 1700s, the area where Sicily Island is now was home to a settlement of the Natchez people. The Natchez were a Native American group.
In January 1731, near the end of the Natchez revolt, French soldiers surrounded the Natchez fort. They forced 45 men and 450 women and children to surrender. Most of the Natchez leaders and warriors got away. However, this event was the last big battle of the war.
Jewish Agricultural Colony
In 1881, a Jewish farming community, called an agricultural colony, was started in Sicily Island. This project was supported by two groups: the Am Olam organization and the Hebrew Emigrant Aid Society.
Most of the people in this colony were immigrants from a place called Yelisavetgrad. They were escaping terrible attacks, known as pogroms, that began that same year. Sadly, by 1882, the colony had to close down. The Mississippi River flooded, destroying most of their farms.
Population Changes in Sicily Island
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 761 | — | |
| 1970 | 630 | −17.2% | |
| 1980 | 691 | 9.7% | |
| 1990 | 421 | −39.1% | |
| 2000 | 453 | 7.6% | |
| 2010 | 526 | 16.1% | |
| 2020 | 366 | −30.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Sicily Island? (2020 Census)
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Sicily Island, Louisiana, based on the 2020 census.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 203 | 180 | 96 | 44.81% | 34.22% | 26.23% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 245 | 336 | 251 | 54.08% | 63.88% | 68.58% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.55% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.19% | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.09% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1 | 7 | 10 | 0.22% | 1.33% | 2.73% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0.88% | 0.38% | 0.82% |
| Total | 453 | 526 | 366 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Famous People from Sicily Island
Many notable people have connections to Sicily Island:
- Cecil R. Blair: He was a Louisiana State Senator. He grew up in Sicily Island and finished high school there in 1934.
- S. S. DeWitt: He was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1964 to 1972. He was born in Sicily Island and graduated from Sicily Island High School in 1931.
- J.C. "Sonny" Gilbert: He was a cotton farmer and a former member of both the Louisiana House of Representatives (1972–1976) and the Louisiana State Senate (1960–1972). He also directed the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. He lived in Sicily Island until he passed away in 2014.
- Joe Raymond Peace: A well-known football coach.
- William S. Peck, Jr.: He was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1956 to 1964.
- William S. Peck, Sr.: He was a member of the Louisiana House from 1920 to 1928.
- Sonny Simmons: A famous jazz musician, born in Sicily Island in 1933.
- Coy Wilton Wynn: A news reporter for Associated Press and Time magazine.
- Todd Guice: He graduated from Sicily Island High School. He served as President of the LHSAA and is now the Superintendent of the Ouachita Parish School System.
Images for kids
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Sicily Island Fire Department
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Catahoula Parish branch library in Sicily Island
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Sicily Island United Methodist Church
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First Baptist Church in Sicily Island
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Sicily Island State Bank
See also
In Spanish: Sicily Island para niños
