Taft, Louisiana

Last updated
Taft
Dow Chemical St. Charles plant at Taft LA on the Mississippi River.jpg
The Dow Chemical plant in Taft, photographed in 2012.
USA Louisiana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Taft
Location of Taft in Louisiana
Coordinates: 29°59′29″N90°26′53″W / 29.99139°N 90.44806°W / 29.99139; -90.44806
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
Parish St. Charles
Area
[1]
  Total5.64 sq mi (14.60 km2)
  Land4.98 sq mi (12.90 km2)
  Water0.66 sq mi (1.70 km2)
Elevation
[2]
7 ft (2 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total61
  Density12.24/sq mi (4.73/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code 985
FIPS code 22-74550
GNIS feature ID2402911 [2]

Taft is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States, located on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Contents

History

Taft is the location of a phosphate processing facility owned by The Mosaic Company (formerly IMC-Agrico); the Dow/Union Carbide Taft/Star Petrochemical Plant, which produces a variety of organic chemicals such as acrolein, acrylic acid, and acetaldehyde; and part of the Waterford Nuclear Generating Station owned by Entergy Corporation. Virtually all of the land is now zoned as heavy industrial. [3]

Taft was the original site of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, which served Taft, Killona and Hahnville. The church was built in 1877, and in 1963, it moved to Hahnville. The cemetery is still in Taft and is still used as a burial ground by the church. It is bounded on three sides by the Dow chemical facilities.

Population was 700 when the first post office opened in 1905, and it remained in operation until 1967. By 1977, only 36 people lived in Taft. [4]

In December, 1982, a major explosion occurred at the Union Carbide facility about 30 miles from New Orleans, causing nearly 17,000 people to evacuate. [5] [6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), of which 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) is water. The CDP is located on the Mississippi River, across from Norco and Montz.

Demographics

The CDP first appeared in the 2000 census with a total population of zero.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2000 0
2010 63
2020 61−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
2000 [8] 2010 [9] 2020 [10]
Taft CDP, Louisiana – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / EthnicityPop 2000 [8] Pop 2010 [9] Pop 2020 [10] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)061500.00%96.83%81.97%
Black or African American alone (NH)0020.00%0.00%3.28%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)0010.00%0.00%1.64%
Asian alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)0040.00%0.00%6.56%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0240.00%3.176.56%
Total06361100.00%100.00%100.00%

Related Research Articles

Pistakee Highlands is a census-designated place (CDP) in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. It consists primarily of an unincorporated area of McHenry County adjoining Pistakee Bay, within the McHenry post office, and is located just northeast of Johnsburg. Per the 2020 census, the population was 3,237.

Belle Rose is a census-designated place (CDP) in Assumption Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,902 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Pierre Part micropolitan statistical area.

Supreme is a census-designated place (CDP) in Assumption Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,052 at the 2010 census. In 2020, its population was 839.

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

Terrytown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is on the "Westbank" of the Mississippi River. It is a suburb within the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area. The population was 23,319 at the 2010 census, and 25,278 in 2020.

Woodmere is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,080 at the 2010 census, and 11,238 at the 2020 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area.

Killona is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 724 in 2020. On December 14, 2022, the town was hit by a destructive and deadly EF2 tornado that damaged or destroyed numerous structures, killed one person, and injured eight others.

Montz is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. It first appeared in the 2000 census with a population of 1,120. The 2020 census indicates a population of 2,106.

Norco is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,984 at the 2020 census. The community is home to a major Shell/Valero manufacturing complex. The CDP's name is derived from the New Orleans Refining Company.

North Vacherie is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,411 at the 2000 census. Vacherie was noted in the 2000 census as being the town with the least mobility of all in the United States.

Garyville is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,775 at the 2000 census and 2,123 in 2020. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Reserve is an unincorporated community in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 9,111 at the 2000 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Reserve as a census-designated place (CDP).

Wallace is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 570 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The rural community is on the west bank of the Mississippi River and easily accessible to Interstate 10 via the Gramercy Bridge.

Bayou Goula is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States. Its population was 514 in 2020. Bayou Goula is a name derived from the Choctaw language meaning "river people".

Grand Point is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. Its population was 2,473 as of the 2010 census.

Hester is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2010 census with a population of 498. The community is located along Louisiana Highway 44 on the east bank of the Mississippi River.

Welcome is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. The community is located along Louisiana Highway 18 on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Crescent is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2010 Census with a population of 959. In 2020, its population was 811.

Moonshine is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. It was first listed in the 2010 census with a population was 194. The community is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Romeville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. Its population was 130 as of the 2010 census. The community is located along Louisiana Highway 44 on the east bank of the Mississippi River.

Union is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. The community is located along Louisiana Highway 44 on the east bank of the Mississippi River.

References

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Taft Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. "ArcGIS Web Application".
  4. "Town Histories | St. Charles Parish, LA". www.stcharlesparish-la.gov. L'Observateur. January 2000. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  5. "EVACUATION BEHAVIOR: CASE STUDY OF THE TAFT, LOUISIANA CHEMICAL TANK EXPLOSION INCIDENT" (PDF). Columbus, Ohio: Defense Technical Information Center. May 1983. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2021.
  6. Marcus, Frances (1982-12-12). "20,000 FLEE LOUISIANA AREA AFTER CHEMICAL PLANT BLAST (Published 1982)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  7. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  8. 1 2 "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Taft CDP, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau .
  9. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Taft CDP, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau .
  10. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Taft CDP, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau .