Eunice, Louisiana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eunice is a city in St. Landry and Acadia parishes in Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Education
5 Culture
6 Famous residents
7 External links
8 See also

[edit] Geography

Eunice is located at 30°29′37″N, 92°25′1″W (30.493595, -92.416927)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.1 km² (4.7 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 11,499 people, 4,316 households, and 2,986 families residing in the city. The population density was 948.7/km² (2,459.6/mi²). There were 4,675 housing units at an average density of 385.7/km² (1,000.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.76% White, 29.91% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

There were 4,316 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,372, and the median income for a family was $27,173. Males had a median income of $29,500 versus $18,912 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,937. About 26.5% of families and 31.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.9% of those under age 18 and 20.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

In May 2000 a chemical freight train derailed in Eunice, spilling numerous hazardous chemicals and causing about 15 tank cars to explode and burn; approximately 3,500 residents of the town were evacuated for as many as five days. Over 10,000 residents settled in May 2004 for $65 million with the Union Pacific Corporation in a class action suit, claiming that the corporation had failed to repair a defective section of track.[1][2]

[edit] Education

Eunice is the home of Louisiana State University at Eunice, a community college. LSUE is a campus of the Louisiana State University system.

[edit] Culture

Located in the heart of Cajun country, Eunice is famous for its Cajun music, and in November 1997 the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum was founded there. [3] The City of Eunice and the National Park Service sponsor "Laissez les bons temps rouler au rendezvous des cajuns", a live Cajun music show every Saturday night at the Liberty Theatre, an old movie theatre that was restored by a "coup de main" by local volunteers after falling into disrepair.[4]

Eunice is home to the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center, a unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. [5]

Eunice is home to one of the largest courrir de Mardi Gras (traditional rural French Louisiana Mardi Gras observance). [6]