Waterproof, Louisiana

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Waterproof is a town in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 834 at the 2000 census. Waterproof is approximately 32 miles north of Ferriday in Concordia Parish.

World War II General Claire Chennault of the "Flying Tigers," though born in Commerce, Texas, was reared in Waterproof.

Three young Waterproof men died in hostile action in the Vietnam War: Carl Raymond Goodfellow (1942-1967), a U.S. Navy ensign; Robert Lee Ross (1947-1967), a U.S. Army private, and Douglas Mac Washington (1947-1968), an Army sergeant. [1]

Poverty abounds in Waterproof, a delta town dependent on farming. Cotton is the most common crop, but corn and soybeans are also important.

On March 4, 2000, Waterproof was featured on the popular NPR talk show "Whad'ya Know": http://www.notmuch.com/Features/Town/2000/03.04.html. The following description is taken directly from the Whad'ya Know site:

Back in the 1830s, one of the most popular spots for covered wagons crossing the Mississippi River was just north of present-day Natchez. As many as 50 wagons a day would cross, carrying settlers bound for Texas. Many of them tired of the journey, and simply stopped on the Louisiana side and made that spot home.

Often this area was under water, and on one such occasion, Abner Smalley, one of the early settlers, stood high dry on a small strip of land waiting for a steamboat to make its usual landing for a refill of cordwood. The captain cried out to Mr. Smalley, "Well Abner, I see you're waterproof," and that's how the name of this town was born. Present-day Waterproof is two and a half miles from its original location, having moved three times to escape flood waters. This led to the construction of a huge levee which snakes around the town, upon which you can walk and drive for a close view of the river.

Waterproof . . . is located in Tensas Parish. A variety of edible products is shipped from here including pecans, candies, pepper jellies and hams...along with the hunters' favorite 20-foot high deer hunting stands. . . .

[edit] Geography

Waterproof is located at 31°48′25″N, 91°23′7″W (31.806938, -91.385233)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²), all land. It is located on the Mississippi River, and despite its name has reputedly moved several times after being established, due to flooding. The Great Flood of 1927 was the most recent to strike the town.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 834 people, 353 households, and 194 families residing in the town. The population density was 460.0/km² (1,197.9/mi²). There were 427 housing units at an average density of 235.5/km² (613.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 11.87% White, 87.41% African American, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 353 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 23.2% were married couples living together, 28.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 75.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 66.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $10,250, and the median income for a family was $15,179. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $14,792 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,523. About 44.5% of families and 51.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 57.8% of those under age 18 and 57.6% of those age 65 or over.