Sulphur, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sulphur, Louisiana
City
City of Sulphur
Motto(s):  Faith - Family - Community
Location of Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
Sulphur, Louisiana Location in Louisiana Show map of Louisiana Sulphur, Louisiana Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Calcasieu
Area
• Total	11.24 sq mi (29.10 km2)
• Land	11.22 sq mi (29.06 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	21,809
• Density	1,943.59/sq mi (750.42/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	70663, 70665
Area code(s)	337
FIPS code	22-73640
GNIS feature ID	556163

Sulphur (which means sulfur in French) is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. In 2020, about 21,809 people lived there. Sulphur is part of the larger Lake Charles area.

History of Sulphur

Sulphur got its name from the sulfur mines that used to operate in the area in the 1900s. In 1867, a geologist named Professor Eugene W. Hilgard found sulfur deep underground. This sulfur was hidden beneath layers of mud and quicksand. Mining it was very dangerous because of a poisonous gas called hydrogen sulfide. Many attempts to dig for it in the 1870s and 1880s failed, and many lives were lost.

The Frasch Process

In 1890, a German inventor named Herman Frasch created a new way to mine sulfur. This method is called the Frasch Process. It uses hot water pumped into the ground to melt the sulfur. Then, compressed air pushes the liquid sulfur to the surface. The first molten sulfur was brought up on Christmas Eve in 1894.

This invention made sulfur mining much easier and safer. The Union Sulphur Company, which was a partnership between Dr. Frasch and the American Sulphur Company, grew very quickly. This led to a period of fast growth for the town. An elementary school in Sulphur is named after Herman Frasch.

Modern Industry

In 1943, the Cities Service (now Citgo) oil refinery was built. This led to new neighborhoods like Maplewood and Hollywood being built for refinery workers. Today, many people in Sulphur still work at oil refineries and chemical plants.

Geography of Sulphur

Sulphur is located in the middle of Calcasieu Parish. It sits along Interstate 10 between the towns of Vinton and Westlake. It is about 20 miles (32 km) east of the Texas border. The city of Lake Charles is about 9 miles (14 km) to the east. U.S. Route 90 also goes through the center of Sulphur.

Local Communities

Within Sulphur, you'll find areas like old Sulphur, Hollywood, and Maplewood. There's also Northwest Sulphur, sometimes called Portie Town. Outside the city limits are communities like Carlyss and Choupique. Choupique has a few different pronunciations, like shoe-peak or shoe-pick. Most new buildings in Sulphur are being built south of town in Carlyss or near Interstate 10.

Wildlife in Sulphur

The swampy areas near Sulphur are home to American alligators. Sometimes, these alligators can even be seen in the city itself!

Climate in Sulphur

The weather in Sulphur is very similar to that of Lake Charles. Weather data for the area is collected at the Lake Charles Regional Airport.

Population of Sulphur

As of the 2020 United States census, Sulphur had 21,809 residents. There were about 8,033 households and 4,981 families living in the city.

Things to Do in Sulphur

Sulphur has several interesting places to visit:

• Brimstone Museum: This museum used to be a train station built in 1915. It was used to move people and goods for the sulfur mines. Today, it tells the story of Sulphur's history. It's also the only museum in the United States that shows how the Frasch mining process worked. The museum often has exhibits about local art and history.
• Henning Cultural Center: This building was built in 1904. In 2002, it became part of the Sulphur Parks and Recreation system. It is now a cultural center in the Heritage Square area.
• The Creole Nature Trail: This scenic route starts in Sulphur. The Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point provides information about the trail. You can learn about the wildlife, hiking paths, and outdoor activities along the way.

Recreation in Sulphur

Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) manages many parks and recreational spots. These include Frasch Park and Golf Course, the SPAR Water Park, The Grove at Heritage Square, Kyle Park, and several other parks like Pattison, McMurry, Center Circle, and Carlyss Park.

Education in Sulphur

Most schools in Sulphur are part of the Calcasieu Parish School Board.

High Schools and Middle Schools

Sulphur has one main high school, Sulphur High School. There is also a Sulphur High Ninth Grade Campus, which opened in 2004. Middle schools include Leblanc Middle School, W.W. Lewis Middle School, and Maplewood (which serves grades K-8).

Elementary Schools

Elementary schools in Sulphur include Frasch, E.K. Key, W.T. Henning, R.W. Vincent, Maplewood, and Vincent Settlement (in Carlyss). Cypress Cove is a newer elementary school located in Carlyss.

Spanish Immersion Program

Frasch Elementary, W.W. Lewis Middle, and Sulphur High School offer special Spanish Immersion classes. In these classes, students learn Spanish and take other subjects entirely in Spanish from kindergarten through eighth grade. They can continue Spanish language classes in high school. This program helps students become fluent in Spanish and learn about other cultures. Many of the immersion teachers come from Spanish-speaking countries.

Notable People from Sulphur

Many interesting people have connections to Sulphur:

• Casey Daigle: A former professional baseball pitcher. He graduated from Sulphur High School.
• Mike Danahay: The current mayor of Sulphur. He was also a state representative for Louisiana.
• Michael Lynn Durham: A professional wrestler known as Johnny Grunge. He was part of a famous wrestling team called The Public Enemy.
• Herman Frasch: The inventor of the "Frasch Method" for mining sulfur. An elementary school in Sulphur is named after him.
• Janice Lynde: An actress who was an original cast member of the TV show The Young and the Restless.
• Dak Prescott: A professional football player who is a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
• Matt Stevens: A former professional football player who played quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Images for kids

• 

  Downtown Sulphur, Louisiana

See also

In Spanish: Sulphur (Luisiana) para niños