Sunshine, Louisiana facts for kids

Sunshine is a small community located in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States. It's about 15 miles south of Baton Rouge, right along the Mississippi River. Part of Sunshine is now inside the city of St. Gabriel.

The community was first called "Forlorn Hope." But a kind postmaster named Oscar Richard, Sr., wanted a more cheerful name for the post office. He asked the government if he could change the name to "Sunshine." This happened, and soon the whole community became known as Sunshine, Louisiana. The ZIP Code for Sunshine is 70780.

How Sunshine Got Its Name

The story of Sunshine's name is quite interesting! Originally, the people living there called their community "Forlorn Hope." This name might sound a bit sad or hopeless.

A Brighter Name

In the past, the local post office often gave its name to the nearby village. Oscar Richard, Sr., was the postmaster for the "Forlorn Hope, La." post office. He thought the name was a bit gloomy.

So, Mr. Richard asked the federal government for permission to change the post office's name. He wanted to call it "Sunshine, La." This new name sounded much more positive and uplifting. The government agreed, and the post office's name was changed. Because of this, the entire community soon became known as Sunshine.

Sunshine and St. Gabriel

In 1987, a large part of the Sunshine community joined the nearby city of St. Gabriel. This process is called "annexation," which means one area becomes part of another.

What Remained Separate

Even after the annexation, a small part of Sunshine stayed independent. This was a piece of land shaped like a peninsula, sticking out along the Mississippi River. So, while much of Sunshine became part of St. Gabriel, a small section kept its original identity.

The Famous Sunshine Vetiver Grass

Sunshine, Louisiana, is also famous for a special type of plant called vetiver grass. This plant has a very strong connection to the community.

What is Vetiver Grass?

Vetiver grass is a tall grass known for its strong, deep roots. These roots are very useful! In Louisiana, people have used vetiver roots for a long time as a natural insect repellent. It helps keep bugs away.

How Sunshine Vetiver Got Its Name

In 1989, the USDA officially named a specific type of vetiver grass "Sunshine." They did this to honor Sunshine, Louisiana. This particular vetiver came from a plant grown by Eugene LeBlanc Sr. in Sunshine.

A Plant's Journey Through Time

The "Sunshine" vetiver grass is a special "heritage clone." This means it's a copy of a very old plant that has been passed down through generations. Eugene LeBlanc Sr.'s grandparents received this plant from Felix Perilloux. Felix Perilloux got it from his wife, Myrthee Froisy Perilloux, way back in the 1860s! So, this plant has a long and interesting history.

Global Reach of Sunshine Vetiver

During the 1800s, vetiver grass was spread all over the world, especially in tropical areas. This was done through "cloning," which means new plants were grown from parts of existing plants, not from seeds.

DNA and Global Connection

Scientists have used DNA fingerprinting to study vetiver grass. They found something amazing: almost all the vetiver grown worldwide is essentially the same type as the "Sunshine" variety! This includes vetiver used for making perfume, in agriculture (like preventing soil erosion), and for bioengineering projects.

Even though this type of vetiver might have different names in other places (like 'Monto' in Australia), "Sunshine" was the first name used for it in modern times. Because of this, the "Sunshine" vetiver is known by that name all around the globe today.