| Assumption Parish, Louisiana | |
Location in the state of Louisiana |
|
Louisiana's location in the U.S. |
|
| Founded | 1807 |
|---|---|
| Named for | Assumption Roman Catholic Church |
| Seat | Napoleonville |
| Largest city | Pierre Part |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
365 sq mi (944 km²) 339 sq mi (877 km²) 26 sq mi (67 km²), 7.10% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
23,388 69/sq mi (27/km²) |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
Assumption Parish (French: Paroisse de l'Assomption) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and was formed in 1807 as an original parish of the Louisiana Territory. Its parish seat is Napoleonville. In 2000, its population was 23,388. Assumption is one of the 22 Acadiana parishes. Its major product is sugarcane. In proportion to its area, Assumption Parish produces the most sugar of any parish of Louisiana.
Assumption Parish is part of the Pierre Part Micropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Baton Rouge–Pierre Part Combined Statistical Area.
Assumption Parish is represented in the Louisiana House of Representatives by Joe Harrison (Republican), Karen Gaudet St. Germain (Democrat), and Elton Aubert (Democrat).
Contents |
In 1807, Assumption became the eighth parish of the Louisiana Territory. Its history is rooted in its waterways and its large expanse of fertile soils ideal for farming. Settled in the middle 18th century by French and Spanish settlers, the area retains strong cultural ties to its past with conversational French still common among residents. Assumption was also a final destination for many of the French Acadians exiled from Nova Scotia between 1755 and 1764.
After the Confederacy forced the surrender of Fort Sumter, South Carolina, in 1861, the Assumption Parish Police Jury appropriated $1,000 to provide uniforms for military volunteers against the Union. By contrast, Lafayette Parish contributed $6,000. Plaquemines Parish approved a gift of $10 to $15 per month for needy volunteer families.[1]
The parish has a total area of 365 square miles (945.3 km2), of which 339 square miles (878.0 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67.3 km2) (7.10%) is water.
| Iberia Parish | Iberville Parish and Ascension Parish | St. James Parish | ||
| St. Martin Parish | Lafourche Parish | |||
| Assumption Parish, Louisiana | ||||
| St. Mary Parish | Terrebonne Parish |
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 23,388 people, 8,239 households, and 6,311 families residing in the parish. The population density was 69 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 9,635 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 67.17% White, 31.52% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 81.14% of the population over the age of five spoke only English at home, while 17.58% reported speaking French or Cajun French [1].
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 2,472 |
|
|
| 1820 | 3,576 | 44.7% | |
| 1830 | 5,669 | 58.5% | |
| 1840 | 7,141 | 26.0% | |
| 1850 | 10,538 | 47.6% | |
| 1860 | 15,379 | 45.9% | |
| 1870 | 13,234 | −13.9% | |
| 1880 | 17,010 | 28.5% | |
| 1890 | 19,629 | 15.4% | |
| 1900 | 21,620 | 10.1% | |
| 1910 | 24,128 | 11.6% | |
| 1920 | 17,912 | −25.8% | |
| 1930 | 15,990 | −10.7% | |
| 1940 | 18,541 | 16.0% | |
| 1950 | 17,278 | −6.8% | |
| 1960 | 17,991 | 4.1% | |
| 1970 | 19,654 | 9.2% | |
| 1980 | 22,084 | 12.4% | |
| 1990 | 22,753 | 3.0% | |
| 2000 | 23,388 | 2.8% | |
| Est. 2006 | 23,472 | [3] | 0.4% |
| Assumption Parish Census Data[4] | |||
There were 8,239 households out of which 37.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 14.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.40% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the parish the age distribution of the population shows 28.50% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $31,168, and the median income for a family was $36,052. Males had a median income of $35,941 versus $18,065 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $14,008. About 19.50% of families and 21.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.
Napoleonville is the sole incorporated community in the parish.
Assumption Parish School Board operates local public schools. Assumption High School serves the whole parish.
The 928th Sapper Company, a unit of the 769th Engineer Battalion and the 225th Engineer Brigade.
Geology
|
|||||||||||||||||