Eunice, Louisiana
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| City of Eunice | |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parishes | Acadia, St. Landry |
| Area | 4.7 sq mi (12.2 km²) |
| - land | 4.7 sq mi (12.2 km²) |
| - water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km²), 0% |
| Center | |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 49 ft (14.9 m) |
| Population | 11,499 (2000) |
| Density | 2,459.6 /sq mi (949.7 /km²) |
| Chartered (village) | September 12, 1884 |
| - Incorporated (town) | June 4, 1895 |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 70535 |
| Area code | 337 |
  Location of Eunice in Louisiana
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 Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Website : http://www.eunice-la.com | |
Eunice is a city in St. Landry and Acadia parishes in Louisiana. [1] [2] The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Eunice is located at (30.493595, -92.416927)[3] and has an elevation of 49 feet (14.9 m)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12.1 km²).None of the area is covered with water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 11,499 people,[2] 4,316 households, and 2,986 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,459.6 people per square mile (948.7/km²). There were 4,675 housing units at an average density of 1,000.0/sq mi (385.7/km²). 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 of Eunice, 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, a half year older than the state-wide median age of 34.0 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
One-time lawman and pioneer land developer C.C. Duson is credited with founding Eunice, which was named for his second wife, Eunice Pharr Duson. He and his brother, W.W. Duson, had founded Crowley, Louisiana in 1887, and now he looked to the north of the parish for future development. Duson bought 160 acres (0.65 km²) of land from Willie Humble of Prairie Faquetaïque and mapped out a town site, laid out in lots 50-by-140 feet, 12 lots to the block. Next, he persuaded the Southern Pacific Railroad to extend a branch line from Crowley to his new town. Then he began what he and his brother had learned how to do as well as anyone: promote land sales. It was charted as a village on September 12, 1894, and incorporated as a town on June 4, 1895. [6]
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. [7] [8]
[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.
Eunice is also home to both Eunice High School and St Edmund High School.
[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.[9] 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 theater that was restored by a "coup de main" by local volunteers after falling into disrepair.[10]
Eunice is home to the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center, a unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.[11]
Eunice is host to one of the largest Courir de Mardi Gras (traditional rural French Louisiana Mardi Gras observance,[12] as well as the World Championship Crawfish Étouffée Cook-off.
[edit] Famous residents
- Sady Courville, Cajun musician [13]
- Geno Delafose, zydeco musician [14]< ref>[5]</ref>
- Mary Alice Fontenot, author of "Clovis the Crawfish" series of books
- Danneel Harris, actress
- Carlton Loewer, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Dennis McGee, Cajun musician [17] [18]
- Pat Mire, filmmaker [19]
- Marc Savoy, Cajun accordionist and accordion maker [20]
- Jay Young, television news anchor
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Eunice, Louisiana (LA) Detailed Profile" (notes), City Data, 2007, webpage: C-Eun.
- ^ a b "Census 2000 Data for the State of Louisiana" (town list), US Census Bureau, May 2003, webpage: C2000-LA.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ www.carencrohighschool.org 'Eunice named for pioneer developer's wife"
- ^ classactionamerica.com "Union Pacific Corporation"
- ^ www.insurancejournal.com "Union Pacific Announces Derailment Settlement"
- ^ www.lsue.edu "Contemporary Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco Musicians"
- ^ www.eunice-la.com "The Official Liberty Theater Schedule"
- ^ www.nps.gov "Prairie Acadian Cultural Center - Eunice"
- ^ www.lsue.edu "Mardi Gras in Rural Acadiana"
- ^ LA VIEILLE MUSIQUE ACADIEN - Dennis McGee & Sady Courville - Elderly Instruments
- ^ Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie - Home Page
- ^ [1][2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ McGee, Dennis
- ^ PBS - American Roots Music : The Songs and the Artists - Dennis McGee
- ^ [4]
- ^ Marc and Ann Savoy
[edit] External links
- City of Eunice
- Eunice Chamber of Commerce
- Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum page from Eunice, Louisiana official site
- Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum page from Cajun French Music Association page
- Louisiana State University at Eunice
- http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/
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