Acadia Parish, Louisiana


Acadia Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 57,576. The parish seat and the most populous municipality is Crowley. The parish was founded from parts of St. Landry Parish in 1886, and later an election was held to determine the parish seat, ending when Crowley beat Rayne and Prairie Hayes. Acadia Parish is included in the Lafayette Lafayette, [Louisiana metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area].
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History

The name of the parish is derived from the former French colony of Acadia in Canada. After Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War, they took control of their North American colonies east of the Mississippi River. They required ethnic French Acadians to take a loyalty oath and never got over their suspicions of them. They deported many of the French-speaking inhabitants to France. From there, some joined others who had migrated directly to the French colony of La Louisiane in what was known as the Great Upheaval..
The parish was formed from the southwestern portion of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. On May 19, 1886, a bill was introduced in the Louisiana state house entitled "An act to create the parish of Nicholls, and to provide for the organization thereof." The title was later changed to read: "An act to create the parish of Acadia." Father Joseph Anthonioz, the first pastor of the Catholic Church at Rayne, is credited with having suggested the name, Acadia Parish. The bill passed the house on June 11, the senate on June 28, and was approved by Governor Samuel D. McEnery on June 30.
On October 6, an election was held to affirm the creation of the parish, with 2,516 votes for and 1,521 votes against the creation. The population of the new parish was from 10,000 to 12,000. Acadia Parish population in 1890 was 13,231.
After a close election held on March 1, 1887, Crowley was chosen as the parish seat, gathering 698 votes to Rayne's and Prairie Hayes' 560 and 519, respectively. The election also determined the first officers in the parish: Elridge W. Lyons, first sheriff of Acadia; and R. T. Clark, first clerk of court. The first courthouse was constructed in Crowley and completed on June 30, 1888. It continued to be used until May 1, 1902, when it was destroyed to make way for the second building.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of, of which are land and are covered by water.

Major highways

Adjacent parishes

Communities

[Image:Map of Acadia Parish Louisiana With Municipal Labels.PNG|thumb|250px|Map of Acadia Parish, with municipal labels]

Cities

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

Other communities

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

Race / Ethnicity Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone 45,93645,24047,15048,55544,11581.41%80.96%80.10%78.60%76.62%
Black or African American alone 9,73410,14010,70511,1339,94617.25%18.15%18.19%18.02%17.27%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 23471101551450.04%0.08%0.19%0.25%0.25%
Asian alone 4373871371630.08%0.13%0.15%0.22%0.28%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone xx352xx0.01%0.01%0.00%
Other race alone 28102943990.05%0.02%0.05%0.07%0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial xx2396851,465xx0.41%1.11%2.54%
Hispanic or Latino 6633725381,0601,6411.17%0.67%0.91%1.72%2.85%
Total56,42755,88258,86161,77357,576 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the parish had a population of 57,576, 22,029 households, and 15,519 families. The median age was 39.1 years; 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.3 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the parish was 77.3% White, 17.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.9% of the population.
38.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 61.7% lived in rural areas.
There were 24,840 housing units, of which 11.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.3% were owner-occupied and 29.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.

2010 census

At the 2010 United States census, 61,773 people resided in the parish. In 2010, 79.5% were White American, 18.1% Black and African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% some other race, and 1.3% of two or more races; 1.7% were Hispanic or Latin American of any race.

2000 census

The 2000 United States census recorded 58,861 people living in the parish.

2019 estimates

According to the 2019 American Community Survey, 27.4% of residents were of French heritage; 9.3% were German, 4.2% English, 4.1% Irish, 0.5% sub-Saharan African, 0.4% Scottish, 0.1% Norwegian, and 0.1% Polish ancestry. Approximately 10% of the parish spoke a language other than English at home.
In 2019, an estimated 1,120 businesses operated in the parish, and the median household income was $43,396; the mean income was $61,465. The parish had a 52.6% employment rate, and 24.2% of the total population lived at or below the poverty line in 2019.

Arts and culture

Many festivals and cultural celebrations are held annually in Acadia Parish, including the International Rice Festival in Crowley, in Rayne, and in Roberts Cove. Cajun food and music, both specialties of the local population, feature prominently in these festivals.
Several communities in Acadia Parish celebrate the tradition of Courir de Mardi Gras. Disguised with masks and costumes, Cajuns travel through their rural neighborhoods, making merry while begging for gumbo ingredients. The gumbo is the centerpiece of a communal supper and dance.

Education

Acadia Parish is served by Acadia Parish Schools.
  • Acadia Parish Head Start - Church Point
  • Church Point Elementary
  • Church Point Middle
  • Church Point High
  • Acadia Parish Head Start - Rayne
  • Central Rayne Kindergarten
  • Martin Petitjean Elementary
  • South Rayne Elementary
  • Armstrong Middle
  • Rayne High
  • Acadia Parish Head Start - Crowley
  • Crowley Kindergarten
  • North Crowley Elementary
  • Ross Elementary
  • South Crowley Elementary
  • Crowley Middle
  • Iota Elementary
  • Iota Middle
  • Iota High
  • Acadia Parish Head Start - Estherwood
  • Branch Elementary
  • Egan Elementary
  • Estherwood Elementary
  • Evangeline Elementary
  • Mermentau Elementary
  • Mire Elementary
  • Morse Elementary
  • Richard Elementary
  • Crowley High
  • Midland High
Acadia Parish is also served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette with five schools:
Additionally, Acadia Parish is served by one unaffiliated private school:
Acadia Parish is served by two institutions of higher education:
Acadia Parish Library operates branches in the parish.

National Guard

C Company 3-156TH Infantry Battalion resides in Crowley, Louisiana. As part of the 256th IBCT, this unit deployed to Iraq twice, 2004-5 and 2010.

Politics

Historically, along with the rest of Louisiana, Acadia Parish strongly supported the Democratic Party, with support waning throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Following Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election bid, Acadia Parish has voted exclusively for Republican candidates at the presidential level.

Notable people