Kaplan, Louisiana

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City of Kaplan
City
Nickname : Gateway to the Coastal Wetlands
Country United States
State Louisiana
Parish Vermilion
Area 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²)
 - land 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²)
 - water 0.0 sq mi (0 km²), 0%
Center
 - coordinates 30°00′16″N 92°17′09″W / 30.00444, -92.28583Coordinates: 30°00′16″N 92°17′09″W / 30.00444, -92.28583
 - elevation 16 ft (4.9 m)
Population 5,177 (2000)
Density 2,298.6 /sq mi (887.5 /km²)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code 337
Location of Kaplan in Louisiana
Location of Kaplan in Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Location of Louisiana in the United States

Kaplan is a small city in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,177 at the 2000 census. It is the birthplace of country singer Sammy Kershaw, Cajun singer Paul Dudley Kershaw, Native American actor Iron Eyes Cody, and Louisiana Music Hall of Fame member Cedric Benoit.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1896, the Holy Rosary Catholic Church was established and got it's name when Abrom Kaplan' bought the Jim Todd Plantation in 1901. Kaplan grew quickly and was established in 1902.

On July 14, 1906, the first Bastille Day Celebration was held. In 1911, the Eleazar Theater was built. In the year 1916, the Kaplan Telephone Company began. In 1903, first school was formed. In 1920, the school was rebuilt. [1]

[edit] Geography

Kaplan is located at 30°0′16″N, 92°17′9″W (30.004548, -92.285964)[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.8 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 5,177 people, 2,069 households, and 1,342 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,298.6 people per square mile (888.4/km²). There were 2,265 housing units at an average density of 1,005.7/sq mi (388.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.13% White, 12.92% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 2,069 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,535, and the median income for a family was $30,236. Males had a median income of $29,387 versus $19,198 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,340. About 25.0% of families and 33.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.3% of those under age 18 and 32.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Famous Residents

Sammy Kershaw (American Country and Western music singer and songwriter)

[edit] References

[edit] External links