Moss Bluff, Louisiana

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Moss Bluff is a census-designated place (CDP) in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 10,535 at the 2000 census. The area is not incorporated. Located just north of the city of Lake Charles, it is considered a suburb of that city.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Commercial and residential growth
4 Alcohol laws
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Moss Bluff is located at 30°18′36″N, 93°12′17″W (30.310003, -93.204753)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 41.0 km² (15.8 mi²). 39.4 km² (15.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (3.98%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 10,535 people, 3,711 households, and 3,017 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 267.4/km² (692.6/mi²). There were 3,984 housing units at an average density of 101.1/km² (261.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.04% White, 5.89% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.60% of the population.

There were 3,711 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $47,319, and the median income for a family was $54,137. Males had a median income of $41,226 versus $22,327 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,483. About 7.3% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

Moss Bluff is intersected by Louisiana Highway 171 and Louisiana Highway 378. It is the home of Sam Houston Jones State Park. Once a rural settlement, it has experienced significant commercial and residential growth along Sam Houston Jones Parkway - a section of Highway 378 - and along U.S. Highway 171 since the early 1990's. Moss Bluff's elementary and junior high schools are the most populated in Calcasieu Parish. The lone Moss Bluff high school - Sam Houston - competes in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class AAAA. Sam Houston High School boasts among its alumni Welterweight champion weight lifter(the squat) Michael LeLeux-nephew of mayor of Sulphur Ron LeLeux, Academy Award winning Art Director Ralph Eggleston (Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc.), David Filo, co-founder of Yahoo!, lead vocals and harmonica for the band Crank Legend Ross Mouhot, Drummer for Crank Legend, Michael Ogea, engineer and sousaphone player Ronnie Chaumont, lead dancer, "midget line dance instructor" and ballet artist Bobby Harrington, publicist and tamborine man Josh Hanks, producer Greg Tupper and artist Dane Landry. Also products of Sam Houston are Jonathan "The Tarantula" Hanks and Coullion Malone. Jonathan is a mixed martial arts manager and a real hotstepper. Coullion mixes flows for upcoming white rappers while not practicing his muy thai kickboxing under the tutelage of The Tarantula. Together they form the MMA team of Kra-Z Spyders.

[edit] Commercial and residential growth

Prior to Hurricane Rita, Moss Bluff was a burgeoning community in the Lake Charles area, and in fact was one of the few communities in the area experiencing growth. Despite being a comparatively large community in relation to the other nearby Calcasieu Parish cities, there is an ongoing reluctance of the residents of the community to support incorporation. This may be attributable to the growing tension between the residents, most of whom occupy the polar extremes of income. The disparity in household income is evident from the large housing developments nestled next to impoverished mobile home parks.

[edit] Alcohol laws

As of 2006, a handful of gas stations have been stocking liquor and wine for the first time in Moss Bluff. Also, a few bars have opened. Due to influence from Protestant Fundamentalism by part of the large Pentecostal population, alcohol was strictly prohibited in the ward. Beer and alcohol under 12 proof (6%) had been allowed for some time, but hard liquor and wine has just recently found its place.