Grand Cane, Louisiana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grand Cane is a village in De Soto Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 191 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Grand Cane is located at 32°5′1″N, 93°48′33″W (32.083747, -93.809170)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.6 km² (1.0 mi²). 2.6 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.99% is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 191 people, 87 households, and 54 families residing in the village. The population density was 73.0/km² (189.9/mi²). There were 107 housing units at an average density of 40.9/km² (106.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 85.86% White, 10.99% African American, 2.09% Native American, 0.52% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.14% of the population.

There were 87 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the village the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $31,429, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $29,500 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,461. About 15.7% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 21.6% of those sixty five or over.

[edit] History

Prior to the incorporation of the Village of Grand Cane in 1899, the settlement of four families (Thomas Abington, Israel Rogers, Wright Hobgood, and John Wagner) influenced the development of the area around two wagon trails that intersected in the sparsely populated area known as the Grand Cane Territory. In 1881, Amanda Hobgood (widow of Wright Hobgood) deeded land to the New Orleans & Pacific Railway and had the Village of Grand Cane laid out in lots and streets. By 1899, the Village of Grand Cane was incorporated and the first Mayor was E.R. Fortson. The first Village Councilmen where Paul E. Allen, Loderick Monroe Cook, and Dr. J.B. Johns. The population soon grew to almost 500. As the Village developed, spurred by the railway and the two crossroads (LA Hwys. 171 and 3015), a vigorous business community developed which included seven stores (Tidwell, Ricks Bros., Hicks & Richardson, Peyton, Hoell, Cook & Douglas, and George Parker), a dentist (Dr. Platt), bank, post office, blacksmith shop, livery stable, two hotels (Allen & Jackson), four doctors (Drs. Broadway, Leopold, Bannaman, & Curtis), three drug stores (Edwards, Leopold, & Allen), telephone office, newspaper, restaurant, two cotton gins, and various distinguished residential homes. The community was also enhanced by the first accredited public high school in the State of Louisiana, and a Presbyterian, Methodist, and two Baptist churches.

The Village continued to thrive until the Great Depression of 1929. The downward spiral continued with the demise of the Texas & Pacific Railway in the late 1950's. The steady decline of the agricultural industry, the lack of new businesses, the loss of the public school, and a general movement away from the rural area saw the end of the Village as a center for trade. The Village of Grand Cane, like so many small towns left behind by progress, simply went to sleep until 1993, when the Village used funds from a Rural Development Grand from the State of Louisiana to purchase the Hicks & Richardson Building.

This action spurred the passage of a preservation ordinance, creating the Grand Cane Preservation Commission, which resulted in the subsequent listing on the National Register of Historic Places of several buildings in the Historic District (Platt, Old Post Office, Cook & Douglas, Hicks & Richardson, & Ricks Bros.). These buildings joined the Village Hall and the Grand Cane Methodist Church that had obtained earlier listings. Historic Preservation has opened the door for new economic use of the old buildings.

Today, the Historic Village of Grand Cane is strongly supported by members of the Historic Grand Cane Association, the Elected Officials of the Village, and a host of supporters, whose common goal is to keep alive the presence of yesterday as a constant reminder of the importance of preserving our unique past for future generations.^[1]