Cameron, Louisiana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cameron's location in Louisiana.

Cameron is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States. Cameron is also the parish seat. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 1,965.

Cameron is on the Creole Nature Trail, one of the National Scenic Byways.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

In 1957, Cameron was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Audrey. A storm surge of 12 feet (3.6 m) and 150 mile per hour (240 km/h) winds caused the death of more than 600 residents of the town.^[1]

Nearly fifty years later, in late September 2005, Hurricane Rita destroyed 90 percent of the homes in the parish seat. This time, however, virtually everyone evacuated, and no one was killed in the town.^[2]

[edit] Geography

Cameron is located at 29°47′17″N, 93°18′42″W (29.788055, -93.311764)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 76.1 km² (29.4 mi²). 72.2 km² (27.9 mi²) of it is land and 3.9 km² (1.5 mi²) of it (5.17%) is water.

Shrimping and Fishing in the Gulf

Damage in Cameron from Hurricane Rita

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,965 people, 695 households, and 510 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 27.2/km² (70.5/mi²). There were 800 housing units at an average density of 11.1/km² (28.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.49% White, 11.86% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.36% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.55% of the population.

There were 695 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,370, and the median income for a family was $33,661. Males had a median income of $24,762 versus $26,406 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,499. About 17.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

^ Bob Henson. Hurricane Audrey (August 19, 1998 Broadcast). The Weather Notebook. Retrieved on September 28, 2005.
^ "Rita ravages region near state line", CNN, September 26, 2005.