Pierre Part, Louisiana

Pierre Part, Louisiana French: Ville de Pierre Part
Census-designated place
Pierre Part, Louisiana Location of Pierre Part in Louisiana
Coordinates: 29°57′40″N91°12′24″W / 29.96111°N 91.20667°W / 29.96111; -91.20667 Coordinates: 29°57′40″N91°12′24″W / 29.96111°N 91.20667°W / 29.96111; -91.20667
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Assumption
Area [1]
• Total	3.08 sq mi (7.98 km2)
• Land	3.07 sq mi (7.96 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	3 ft (0.9 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,024
• Density	984.05/sq mi (379.99/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	985
FIPS code	22-60075

Pierre Part (French : Ville de Pierre Part) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Assumption Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,169 at the 2010 census, making it the most populous community in Assumption Parish. ^[2] With 39.3 percent of the population speaking French at home, Pierre Part is the most French town in the United States (by percentage) outside of Maine. ^[3] Pierre Part is known locally for its prominent French influence and ancestry, which have become significant aspects of its contemporary local culture. Situated near Lake Verret, Pierre Part is a popular local destination for water sports and fishing during the summer.

History

1973 Flood

Pierre Part was founded by Acadian French settlers after the Great Upheaval of 1755, during which much of the French population of Acadia was expelled by its British conquerors. The town remained isolated from most of the world, since it was surrounded by water and was inaccessible by land until the mid-twentieth century. Before the Great Depression, the inhabitants of Pierre Part were fishermen; after the Depression, many men of the town were forced to find work in other fields including logging, levee building, and the growing petroleum industry in Louisiana. Fewer people continue the traditional ways of fishing and living off the land with each generation.^{[ citation needed ]}

Pierre Part experienced flooding when the Morganza Spillway was opened during the 1973 Mississippi River flooding.

Virgin Island

The History Channel's reality show, Swamp People , features the Landry family, a Cajun family who lives in Pierre Part; the series debuted on History in 2010.

On August 3, 2012, the Bayou Corne Sinkhole, situated roughly 3 miles from Pierre Part, appeared. In areas of Pierre Part near the sinkhole, residents reported gaseous odors and strange bubbling in local waterways, prompting Governor Bobby Jindal to issue an evacuation order for the nearby community of Bayou Corne. The sinkhole expanded significantly during the months after it first appeared, invoking fear in residents of Pierre Part due to what was perceived to be an imminent threat to the community. Significantly, the sinkhole continued to grow in the direction of Louisiana Highway 70, the main highway on which most residents drove. Public outrage to the events in Bayou Corne was largely directed towards Texas Brine Company, the salt mining company perceived to be chiefly responsible for the disaster; a class-action lawsuit against Texas Brine ensued. However, a 2018 court ruling declared the fault to be shared between three companies: Occidental Chemical was 50% at fault, Texas Brine was 35% at fault, and Vulcan was 15% at fault. As of 2019, the sinkhole continues to expand, albeit slowly, and the community of Bayou Corne remains deserted, with most homes demolished by demolition companies.

Geography

Pierre Part is located at 29°57′40″N91°12′24″W / 29.96111°N 91.20667°W / 29.96111; -91.20667 (29.960975, -91.206612). ^[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.08 square miles (7.98 km²), of which 3.07 square miles (7.95 km²) is land and 0.012 square miles (0.03 km²), or 0.37%, is water. ^[2]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	3,024		—
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

2020 census

Pierre Part racial composition ^[6]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	2,880	95.24%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	4	0.13%
Native American	1	0.03%
Asian	10	0.33%
Other/Mixed	56	1.85%
Hispanic or Latino	73	2.41%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,024 people, 1,099 households, and 625 families residing in the CDP.

2010 census

As of the census ^[7] of 2010, there were 3,169 people, 1,288 households, and 916 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,000 inhabitants per square mile (390/km²).There were 1,355 housing units at an average density of 448.6 per square mile (173.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.6% White, 0.03% African American, 0.22% Native American, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race amounted to 1.0% of the population. In 2005, 60.7% of the population over age 5 spoke English at home, and 38.8% of the population spoke French. ^[8]

There were 1,236 households, out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

In 2017, the median household income for Pierre Part was $82,646, and the median income for a family was $90,721. Males had a median income of $69,203 versus 33,371 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $32,875. 8.3% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 and over. ^[9]

As of 2017, 53.4% of people residing in Pierre Part reported French ancestry. 13.1% had French Canadian ancestry. A total of 7.1% of residents declared German ancestry, which was followed by 6.0% Irish ancestry and 4.0% English ancestry. 1.7% of individuals reported having Irish ancestry. ^[9]

In the CDP, 74.1% of households had a computer, and 73.9% of residents regularly used the Internet. ^[9]

Education

Pierre Part is part of the Assumption Parish public school system.

• Pierre Part Primary School
• Pierre Part Middle School
• Assumption High School (located in Napoleonville)

Transportation

Louisiana Highway 70 runs through Pierre Part and serves as its main highway. Other highways that serve the community include Louisiana 997, Louisiana 1015-1, Louisiana 1015-2, Louisiana 1016-1, and Louisiana 1016-2.

Notable People

• Karen St. Germain, Democratic politician and former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
• Troy Landry, TV personality starring in Swamp People . Nicknamed "King of the Swamp" in the series.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Pierre Part CDP, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
3. "Language Spoken at Home: 2000". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
6. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2019-07-03.
8. "Data Center Results". Archived from the original on 2013-08-15. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
9. Bureau, U. S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2019-07-03.