Ville Platte, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ville Platte, Louisiana
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| City of Ville Platte | |
| Etymology: Ville Platte, French ('Ville' being the French word for 'town' and 'platte' meaning 'flat') | |
Location of Ville Platte in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Evangeline |
| Founded | 1824 |
| Incorporated as a town | 1858 |
| Qualified to be incorporated as a city | 1950 |
| Founded by | Marcellin Garand |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.02 sq mi (10.40 km2) |
| • Land | 4.02 sq mi (10.40 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,303 |
| • Density | 1,569.08/sq mi (605.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
70586
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| Area code(s) | 337 |
| FIPS code | 22-78715 |
Ville Platte is the largest city in, and the parish seat of, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,430 at the 2010 census, down from 8,145 in 2000. The city's name is of French origin, roughly translating to "flat town", in reference to its relatively flat topography in contrast to the more hilly terrain north of the area.
History
The area around Ville Platte appears to have been first settled during the last half of the eighteenth century, when Louisiana was under Spanish rule. The earliest record of settlement in the immediate area of Ville Platte was in the 1780s.
Popular legend states the founder of Ville Platte was Marcellin Garand, an adjutant major in the Army of the French Empire during the reign of Napoleon. In 1824, Garand obtained one of the first two lots that were platted in what is now Ville Platte, with the second being obtained by a Doctor Robert Windex. Those lots were obtained from the estate of William O'Donegan. This appears to be the actual beginning of, or the founding of, the present town of Ville Platte.
The first post office in Ville Platte was established in 1842 with Marcellin Garand as postmaster from 1842 to 1848.
Geography
Ville Platte is located in eastern Evangeline Parish at 30°41′21″N 92°16′39″W / 30.68917°N 92.27750°W (30.689140, -92.277534).
According to the United States Census Bureau, Ville Platte has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.4 km2), of which 0.25 acres (0.001 km2), or 0.01%, is water.
U.S. Route 167 passes through the city as Main Street (eastbound) and Lasalle Street (westbound). The highway leads southeast 17 miles (27 km) to Opelousas and north 52 miles (84 km) to Alexandria. Louisiana Highway 10 passes through the city in tandem with US 167 but leads northwest 28 miles (45 km) to Oakdale.
Chicot State Park, Louisiana's largest state park, is located 8 miles (13 km) north of Ville Platte. The park covers 6,400 acres (26 km2) of rolling hills and water and has large numbers of deer, raccoon, and other wildlife.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 135 | — | |
| 1880 | 149 | 10.4% | |
| 1900 | 163 | — | |
| 1910 | 603 | 269.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,364 | 126.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,722 | 26.2% | |
| 1940 | 3,721 | 116.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,633 | 78.3% | |
| 1960 | 7,512 | 13.3% | |
| 1970 | 9,692 | 29.0% | |
| 1980 | 9,201 | −5.1% | |
| 1990 | 9,037 | −1.8% | |
| 2000 | 8,145 | −9.9% | |
| 2010 | 7,430 | −8.8% | |
| 2020 | 6,303 | −15.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,864 | 29.57% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,069 | 64.56% |
| Native American | 6 | 0.1% |
| Asian | 52 | 0.83% |
| Other/Mixed | 232 | 3.68% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 80 | 1.27% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,303 people, 3,007 households, and 1,686 families residing in the city.
Culture
Ville Platte is located at the heart of Louisiana's Cajun country. The town is famous for its smoked meat and swamp pop music, and bills itself as "Smoked Meat Capital of the World". Ville Platte has been officially designated by the Louisiana Legislature at the "Swamp Pop Capital of the World," recognizing the town's "long, rich history of fostering the development of swamp pop music."
Ville Platte has significant Creole and Cajun cultural associations (cuisine, music, language etc.). It lies at the northern point of the "French Triangle" with a significant francophone population residing in the city as well as the parish. It is one of the birthplaces of the Afro-creole zydeco music that has become one of the signatures of Louisiana culture throughout the world, as well as the Choctaw-Métis tradition of "viande boucanee" or smoked meat.
Ville Platte hosts two large festivals each year. The Louisiana Cotton festival, run in conjunction with the Le Tournoi, and the Festival de la Viande Bouccanee (Smoked Meat Festival) are held in Ville Platte annually. Ville Platte and the surrounding areas participate in the traditional Mardi Gras held in Mamou.
Radio host Jim Soileau, the "Voice of KVPI" throughout most of the past 50 years, is semi-retired but still host the French News as well as co-host "La Tasse de Café" (“The Cup of Coffee”) on Monday and Wednesday mornings. He has one of the most recognized voices in Acadiana and hosted "This is Mamou Cajun radio" from location at Fred's Lounge for many years.
Points of interest
- Chicot State Park
- Alexis LaTour House
- Cazo Refinery
- Chief Romeo J. Hargrove City Park
- Crooked Creek Recreation Area
- Paul's Meat Market
- Swamp Pop Museum
- Jin Records
- Flat Town Music Co
Education
Public schools in Evangeline Parish are operated by the Evangeline Parish School Board. Three campuses are located in Ville Platte - James Stephens Montessori School (Grades PK-4), Ville Platte Elementary School (Grades PK-4), and Ville Platte High School (Grades 5-12).
There are also two private schools. Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School is a Roman Catholic school, serving grades K-12. Christian Heritage Academy is a Christian school, serving grades PK-12.
The famous St. Landry Parish Sheriff Cat Doucet was educated in Ville Platte.
See also
In Spanish: Ville Platte para niños
