St. Landry Parish, Louisiana

Saint Landry Parish
Parish
Parish of St. Landry
St Landry Parish Courthouse at Opelousas during the Civil War
Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°36′N 92°00′W / 30.6°N 92°W / 30.6; -92
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Founded	1807
Named for	St. Landry Catholic Church
Seat	Opelousas
Largest city	Opelousas
Area
• Total	939 sq mi (2,430 km2)
• Land	924 sq mi (2,390 km2)
• Water	15 sq mi (40 km2)  1.6%
Population  (2010)
• Total	83,384
• Estimate  (2018)	82,764
• Density	89/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	3rd, 4th, 5th
Website	stlandryparish.org

St. Landry Parish (French: Paroisse de Saint-Landry) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 83,384.^[1] The parish seat is Opelousas.^[2] The parish was created in 1807.^[3]

St. Landry Parish comprises the Opelousas, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Lafayette-Opelousas-Morgan City, LA Combined Statistical Area. It is at the heart of Creole and Cajun culture and heritage in Louisiana.

History[]

French and Spanish Territory[]

The land that became St. Landry Parish was inhabited since at least 10,500 B.C., as deduced from excavations of three prehistoric dwelling sites. By the 15th century, the Opelousa Indians settled in the area situated between Atchafalaya River and Sabine River (at the border of Texas-Louisiana). The Opelousa were war-like and preyed on neighbors to defend their own territory.

The first European recorded in the Opelousa territory was a French trader named Michel de Birotte. He came in 1690 and negotiated with the Opelousa nation.^[4] Nine years later, France named Louisiana as a colony and defined the land occupied by the Opelousa as the Opelousas Territory. The area south of the Opelousas Territory between the Atchafalaya River, the Gulf of Mexico and Bayou Nezpique, occupied by the Attakapas Indians (Eastern Atakapa), was named Attakapas Territory.

In 1764 France established the Opelousas Post slightly north of the contemporary city of Opelousas.^[5] It was a major trading organization for the developing area. In addition France established the Attakapas Post (near the present St Martinville) in the Attakapas Territory. France gave land grants to soldiers and settlers to encourage development. Most settlers were French immigrants. Tradition says that Jean Joseph LeKintrek and Joseph Blainpain, who had formed a partnership to trade with the Opelousa Indians, came in the early 1740s. They brought three enslaved Africans, the first to live in the area.

Some Indians sold land to the newcomers. When the Eastern Attakapas Chief sold all the land between Vermilion River and Bayou Teche to Frenchman in 1760, however, the angry Opelousa tribe exterminated the Attakapas (Eastern Atakapa).

France ceded Louisiana and its territories to Spain in 1762. Under Spanish rule, Opelousas Post became the center of government for Southwest Louisiana. By 1769 about 100 families were living in Opelousas Post. Between 1780 and 1820, the first settlers were joined by others coming from the Attakapas Territory, from the Territory, and east from the Atchafalaya River area. They were joined by immigrants from the French West Indies, who left after Haiti/St. Domingue became independent in a slave revolution. Most of the new settlers were French, Spaniards, French Creoles, , Africans and African-Americans.

The group from Attakapas Post included many Acadians. These were French who migrated from Nova Scotia in 1763, after their expulsion by the English in the aftermath of France's defeat in the Seven Years' War (known in North America as the French and Indian War). They were led by Jean-Jacques Blaise d'Abbadie. D'Abbadie was Governor of the territory from 1763 to 1765. The French community built St. Landry Catholic Church in 1767, dedicated to St. Landry (Landericus) of Paris, the Bishop of Paris in the 7th century.^[6]

On April 10, 1805, after the United States had acquired the Louisiana Purchase, the post was named the town of Opelousas and became the seat of the County of Opelousas, part of the Territory of Orleans. In 1807, when the territory was reorganized into parishes, Opelousas was designated the seat of St. Landry Parish.^[7]

Purchase by the United States[]

The United States gained control of the territory in 1803 through the Louisiana Purchase. Americans from the South and other parts of the United States began to migrate to the area, marking the arrival of the first large English-speaking population and the introduction of the need for more general use of English.^[5]

St. Landry Parish was officially established on April 10, 1805 by a legislative act, becoming the largest parish in the Louisiana state. The new parish was named after the St. Landry Catholic Church located near the Opelousas Post.^[5] The parish's boundaries encompassed about half the land of the Opelousas Territory, between the Atchafalaya River and Sabine River, between Rapides Parish and Vernon Parish, and Lafayette and St. Martin Parishes. Since then, the area of the parish has decreased, as six additional parishes have been created from its territory. These include Calcasieu, Acadia, Evangeline, Jeff Davis, Beauregard, and Allen.^[5]

In 1821 the second educational institution west of the Mississippi was founded in Grand Coteau. In this community south of Opelousas is the Academy of the Sacred Heart, a private Catholic school founded by the French Creole community.^[8]

The city of Opelousas has been the seat of government for the St. Landry Parish since its formation.^[5] After Baton Rouge fell to the Union troops during the Civil War in 1862, Opelousas became the state capital for nine months. The capital was moved again in 1863, this time to Shreveport when Union troops occupied Opelousas.^[9][10]

2019 black church fires[]

During 10 days, three black churches, the St. Mary Baptist Church over 100 years old (26 March 2019), Greater Union Baptist Church (2 April 2019), and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church (4 April 2019) set on fire by a vandal and this incident raised officials concern that the fires started by racist and radical group or person. Finally, police arrested the vandal who was the son of a St. Landry Parish sheriff's deputy. Holden Matthews, 21, has been charged with the arson attack on black churches.^[11][12][13]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 939 square miles (2,430 km²), of which 924 square miles (2,390 km²) is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) (0.6%) is water.^[14]

Adjacent parishes[]

• Avoyelles Parish (north)
• Pointe Coupee Parish (east)
• St. Martin Parish (southeast)
• Lafayette Parish (south)
• Acadia Parish (southwest)
• Evangeline Parish (northwest)

National protected areas[]

• Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (part, in Eunice)

Major highways[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	12,591		—
1840	15,233		21.0%
1850	22,253		46.1%
1860	23,104		3.8%
1870	25,553		10.6%
1880	40,004		56.6%
1890	40,250		0.6%
1900	52,906		31.4%
1910	66,661		26.0%
1920	51,697		−22.4%
1930	60,074		16.2%
1940	71,481		19.0%
1950	78,476		9.8%
1960	81,493		3.8%
1970	80,364		−1.4%
1980	84,128		4.7%
1990	80,331		−4.5%
2000	87,700		9.2%
2010	83,384		−4.9%
2018 (est.)	82,764	[15]	−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[16] 1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18] 1990-2000[19] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 83,384 people living in the parish. 55.9% were White, 41.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% of some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 1.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

As of the census^[20] of 2000, there were 87,700 people, 32,328 households, and 23,211 families living in the parish. The population density was 94 people per square mile (36/km²). There were 36,216 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 56.51% White, 42.13% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.7% reported speaking French or Cajun French at home.^[21]

There were 32,328 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.30% were married couples living together, 17.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 29.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.80 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $22,855, and the median income for a family was $28,908. Males had a median income of $29,458 versus $18,473 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $12,042. About 24.70% of families and 29.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.70% of those under age 18 and 27.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education[]

St. Landry Parish is served by the St. Landry Parish School Board

• East Elementary (Grades PK-4)
• Eunice Elementary (Grades PK-4)
• Highland Elementary (Grades PK-4)
• Glendale Elementary (Grades PK-4)
• Central Middle School (Grades 5-6)
• Eunice Jr. High School (Grades 7-8)
• Eunice High School (Grades 9-12)
• Grolee Elementary (Grades PK-4)
• Northeast Elementary (Grades PK-6)
• Park Vista Elementary (Grades PK-6)
• South Street Elementary (Grades PK-6)
• Opelousas Jr. High School (Grades 7-8)
• Opelousas Sr. High School (Grades 9-12)
• Arnaudville Elementary (Grades 5-8)
• Krotz Springs Elementary (Grades PK-8)
• Leonville Elementary (Grades PK-8)
• Port Barre Elementary (Grades PK-4)
• Port Barre High School (Grades 9-12)
• Sunset Elementary (Grades 5-8)
• Washington Elementary (Grades PK-8)
• Cankton Elementary (Grades PK-4) (Cankton)
• Grand Coteau Elementary (Grades PK-4) (Grand Coteau)
• Grand Prairie Elementary (Grades PK-4) (unincorporated Washington)
• Lawtell Elementary (Grades PK-8) (Lawtell)
• Palmetto Elementary (Grades PK-4) (Palmetto)
• Plaisance Elementary (Grades 5-8) (unincorporated Opelousas)
• Beau Chene High School (Grades 9-12) (unincorporated Arnaudville)
• North Central High School (Grades 9-12) (unincorporated Washington)
• Northwest High School (Grades 9-12) (unincorporated Opelousas)

St. Landry Parish is also served by the Diocese of Lafayette with five schools:

• Opelousas Catholic School (Grades PK-12) (Opelousas)
• Academy of the Sacred Heart (Grades PK-12) (Grand Coteau)
• Berchman's Academy of the Sacred Heart (Grades PK-12) (Grand Coteau)
• St. Edmunds Catholic School (Grades PK-12) (Eunice)
• St. Ignatius Catholic School (Grades PK-8) (Grand Coteau)

Additionally, St. Landry Parish is served by four unaffiliated private school:

• Good Shephard Montessori School (Grades PK-8) (Port Barre)
• Opelousas Family Worship School (Grades PK-12) (Opelousas)
• Westminster Christian Academy (Grades PK-12)
• Melville Private School (Grades PK-7) (Melville)

St. Landry Parish is served by one institution of higher education:

• South Louisiana Community College service area,^[22] T. H. Harris Campus (Opelousas)

Communities[]

Cities[]

• Eunice
• Opelousas (parish seat and largest municipality)

Towns[]

Villages[]

• Cankton
• Palmetto

Unincorporated areas[]

Census-designated place[]

• Lawtell

Other unincorporated communities[]

• Lemoyen
• Morrow
• Plaisance

Notable people[]

See also[]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
• Louisiana black church fires

References[]

Resources[]

• Nezat, Jack Claude (2007). The Nezat and Allied Families 1630-2007 (Paperback ed.). Lulu. ISBN 978-2-9528339-2-9., ISBN 978-0-615-15001-7.^{[self-published source?]}
  • Nezat, Jack Claude (March 24, 2021). The Nezat and Allied Families 1630-2020 (Kindle ed.). Lulu. ISBN 9798727857359.^{[self-published source?]}
  • The author is one of the descendants of "Alexandre of Attakapas", Nezat Alexandre, born 1781 in Attakapas Post and died 1824 (Source Hebert).

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Landry Parish, Louisiana.

• Official Web Site of St. Landry Parish Government
• Website for St. Landry Catholic Church Parish
• St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office
• St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission

Geology

• Heinrich, P. V., and W. J. Autin, 2000, Baton Rouge 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
• Heinrich, P. V., J. Snead, and R. P. McCulloh, 2003, Crowley 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
• Snead, J., P. V. Heinrich, and R. P. McCulloh, 2002, Ville Platte 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Coordinates: 30°36′N 92°00′W / 30.60°N 92.00°W / 30.60; -92.00