Parks, Louisiana

Last updated

Parks, Louisiana
La Pointe de Repose
Village
Village of Parks
Parks Water Tower.jpg
Parks water tower
Nickname: 
Potier
St. Martin Parish Louisiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Parks Highlighted.svg
Location of Parks in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana.
USA Louisiana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Parks in Louisiana
Coordinates: 30°12′N91°49′W / 30.200°N 91.817°W / 30.200; -91.817
Country Flag of the United States.svg  United States
State Flag of Louisiana.svg  Louisiana
Parish St.Martin
Founded1765
Renamed1908
Founded byPaul Melancon
Government
  MayorKevin J. Kately (D)
  Chief Of PoliceReginald ‘Reggie’ Clues
  AldermanMyra Yvonne Narcisse
  AldermanKanisha Potier
  AldermanHarold Robertson
Area
[1]
  Total0.89 sq mi (2.30 km2)
  Land0.84 sq mi (2.19 km2)
  Water0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total640
  Density757.40/sq mi (292.43/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code 337
FIPS code 22-59165
Website www.villageofparks.com

Parks is a village in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 653 at the 2010 census, and 696 at the 2020 population estimates program. [2] It is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area.

Contents

History

The exact origin of the name "Parks" is somewhat of a mystery. Although some residents seem to think that it had something to do with the railroad, one story states the first train to pass through the community arrived on Easter Sunday. When the train engineer, who apparently did not speak or understand French, inquired about the name of the settlement, the residents replied "C'est Pacques" (it's Easter). The train engineer thought he understood the word Parks, and the name apparently stuck.

Parks, originally called Potier, lies in the area previously known as La Pointe District, which existed in 1765. It was also called La Pointe de Repose, supposedly because the cowhands in the early 19th century drove their cattle into the cul-de-sac formed by the sharp bend of the bayou on round up time.

Settlement began in the Parks village shortly after 1900. Around that time, Paul Melancon purchased a large tract of land in the vicinity of what is now Parks in order to establish a cotton farm. But, shortly after buying the property, he decided to divide a portion into town lots and the community took shape. [3] In 1908, the village of 330 acres was incorporated. Since that time, Parks has remained approximately the same size. [4]

Geography

Parks is located at 30°12′56″N91°49′46″W / 30.21556°N 91.82944°W / 30.21556; -91.82944 (30.215675, -91.829472), in the region of Acadiana in southern Louisiana. [5] Highways 31 and 347, which both parallel the Bayou Teche, pass through the village with the cities of Breaux Bridge being located 7 miles (11 km) northwest and St. Martinville, the parish seat, located 7 miles (11 km) to the south. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1910 466
1920 76664.4%
1930 409−46.6%
1940 46012.5%
1950 4600.0%
1960 413−10.2%
1970 49118.9%
1980 54511.0%
1990 400−26.6%
2000 53333.3%
2010 65322.5%
2020 640−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

At the 2020 population estimates program, 696 people lived in the village. [2] The 2019 American Community Survey estimated 57.0% of its population were non-Hispanic white, 42.1% Black and African American, and 0.9% multiracial. The median household income was $45,568 and 10.2% of the population lived at or below the poverty line. [7]

At the 2000 United States census, [8] there were 533 people, 207 households, and 150 families residing in the village. The population density was 677.6 inhabitants per square mile (261.6/km2). There were 240 housing units at an average density of 305.1 per square mile (117.8/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 51.97% White, 47.47% African American, 0.38% Native American, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latin Americans of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 207 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $33,958, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median

income of $30,909 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,191. About 13.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools in St. Martin Parish are operated by the St. Martin Parish School Board. The village of Parks is zoned to Parks Primary School (Grades PK-4), Parks Middle School (Grades 5-8), and Breaux Bridge High School or St. Martinville High School (Grades 9-12).

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vermilion Parish, Louisiana</span> Parish in Louisiana, United States

Vermilion Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, created in 1844. The parish seat is Abbeville. Vermilion Parish is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area, and located in southern Acadiana. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 57,359.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary Parish, Louisiana</span> Parish in Louisiana, United States

St. Mary Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 49,406. The parish seat is Franklin. The parish was created in 1811.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Martin Parish, Louisiana</span> Parish in Louisiana, United States

St. Martin Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, founded in 1811. Its parish seat is St. Martinville, and the largest city is Breaux Bridge. At the 2020 census, the population was 51,767. St. Martin Parish is part of the Lafayette metropolitan area in the region of Acadiana, along the Gulf Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iberville Parish, Louisiana</span> Parish in Louisiana, United States

Iberville Parish is a parish located south of Baton Rouge in the U.S. state of Louisiana, formed in 1807. The parish seat is Plaquemine. The population was 30,241 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaucheville, Louisiana</span> Village in Louisiana, United States

Plaucheville is a village in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 248 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeanerette, Louisiana</span> City in Louisiana, United States

Jeanerette is a city in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States. Known as "Sugar City", it had a population of 5,530 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 467 from the 2000 tabulation of 5,997. It is two thirds African American, many of them Creoles of color. Jeanerette is the part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area; its parish is also one of the 22 included in the Acadiana region, which has had a high proportion of Francophones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loreauville, Louisiana</span> Village in Louisiana, United States

Loreauville is a village in Iberia Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 887 at the 2010 census, down from 938 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Iberia micropolitan statistical area, and the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grosse Tête, Louisiana</span> Village in Louisiana, United States

Grosse Tête is a village in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 647 at the 2010 census, and 731 at the 2019 American Community Survey. The village name is French for "Big Head". Grosse Tête is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaquemine, Louisiana</span> City in Louisiana, United States

Plaquemine is a city in and the parish seat of Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area. At the 2010 United States census, the population was 7,119; the 2020 census determined its population was 6,269.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonita, Louisiana</span> Village in Louisiana, United States

Bonita is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 170 at the 2020 census, down from 284 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fordoche, Louisiana</span> Town in Louisiana, United States

Fordoche is a town in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 928 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krotz Springs, Louisiana</span> Town in Louisiana, United States

Krotz Springs is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Atchafalaya River. The population was 1,198 at the 2010 census, down from 1,219 in 2000. It is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaux Bridge, Louisiana</span> City in Louisiana, United States

Breaux Bridge is a small city in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,139 as of the 2010 census, up from 7,281 in 2000. By 2020, its population was 7,513. It is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecilia, Louisiana</span> Census-designated place in Louisiana, United States

Cecilia is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Martin Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The community lies within the region of Acadiana, and the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area. It had a population of 1,505 at the 2000 U.S. census, estimated to have grown to 1,917 in 2019 at the American Community Survey's 5-year estimates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Martinville, Louisiana</span> City in Louisiana, United States

St. Martinville is a city in and the parish seat of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on Bayou Teche, 13 miles (21 km) south of Breaux Bridge, 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Lafayette, and 9 miles (14 km) north of New Iberia. The population was 6,114 at the 2010 U.S. census, and 5,379 at the 2020 United States census. It is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area.

Bayou Vista is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,652 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin, Louisiana</span> City in Louisiana, United States

Franklin is a small city in and the parish seat of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,660 at the 2010 census. The city is located on Bayou Teche, southeast of the cities of Lafayette, 47 miles (76 km) and New Iberia, 28 miles (45 km), and 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Morgan City. It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area and the larger Lafayette-Acadiana combined statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lacombe, Louisiana</span> Census-designated place in Louisiana, United States

Lacombe is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,679 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas combined statistical area</span> Combined Statistical Area in Louisiana, United States

The Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas combined statistical area is made up of six parishes in the Acadiana region of southern Louisiana. The statistical area consists of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and two micropolitical statistical areas (μSAs) – New Iberia, Louisiana Micropolitan Statistical Area, and Opelousas, Louisiana Micropolitical Statistical Area. The region consists of seven parishes: Acadia, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion Parishes. As of the 2010 census, the CSA had a population of 604,784.

Cade is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. At the 2014 census estimates, Cade had a population of 1,188; in 2019, the American Community Survey estimated its population was 1,655. With the 2020 U.S. census the population was 1874. The community is served by a single ZIP code: 70519.

References

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "City and Town Population Totals: 2010-2020". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. "The history behind the village of Parks". KLFY. May 6, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  4. "www.stmartinparish-la.org "History of Parks"". Archived from the original on November 4, 2004. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. "Geography Profile: Parks village, Louisiana". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.