Simmesport, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Simmesport, Louisiana
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Town
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Location of Simmesport in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Avoyelles |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.37 sq mi (6.15 km2) |
| • Land | 2.19 sq mi (5.66 km2) |
| • Water | 0.19 sq mi (0.49 km2) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,468 |
| • Density | 671.85/sq mi (259.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
71369
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| Area code(s) | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-70525 |
Simmesport is a small town in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,468 people lived there.
Simmesport is special because it's the town furthest north on the Atchafalaya River. It's also very close to the Old River Control Structure. This structure helps control how water flows between the Red River, the Atchafalaya River, and the mighty Mississippi River.
Contents
A Look at Simmesport's History
Simmesport was started by a man named Bennet Barton Simmes. He lived from 1811 to 1888. Mr. Simmes used to own a large farm called White Hall Plantation. This plantation was located on the other side of the Atchafalaya River from where the town is now.
In December 2005, a businessman named Frank Stronach helped create a new community. It was built just south of Simmesport, along the levee of the Atchafalaya River. This new place was called Canadaville. It was made to give homes to people who had lost theirs because of Hurricane Katrina.
Where is Simmesport Located?
Simmesport is found in the eastern part of Avoyelles Parish. It sits right on the west bank of the Atchafalaya River.
The town covers a total area of about 2.37 square miles (6.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.19 square miles (5.7 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.19 square miles (0.5 square kilometers), is water. This means about 7.93% of Simmesport is covered by water.
Who Lives in Simmesport?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 638 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,215 | 90.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,510 | 24.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,125 | 40.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,027 | −4.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,293 | 13.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,092 | −8.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,239 | 7.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,161 | −3.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,468 | −32.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Simmesport's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 1,468 people living in Simmesport. These people lived in 627 different homes, and 379 of these were family homes.
Here's a quick look at the different groups of people living in Simmesport in 2020:
| Group | Number of People | Percentage of Total |
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| White (not Hispanic) | 528 | 35.97% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 858 | 58.45% |
| Native American | 8 | 0.54% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.34% |
| Other/Mixed | 49 | 3.33% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20 | 1.36% |
Rivers and Water Flow
Simmesport is located very close to where the Red River ends and the Atchafalaya River begins. Long ago, water from the Mississippi River could flow freely into the Atchafalaya.
However, in the 1960s, a big structure called the Old River Control Structure was built on the Mississippi River. Its job is to control how much water flows into the Atchafalaya River. Some people believe that letting more water flow into the Atchafalaya basin could help restore land that has been lost due to coastal subsidence (when land sinks).
Famous People from Simmesport
- Norma McCorvey, also known as "Jane Roe," was born in Simmesport in 1947. She was the main person in a very important court case called Roe v. Wade.
- Joe Simon, a well-known soul musician, was born in Simmesport in 1943.
Images for kids
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A robot for kids.
See Also
In Spanish: Simmesport para niños
