Arnaudville, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Arnaudville is a town
in St. Landry
and St. Martin
parishes in the U.S. state
of Louisiana
. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census.
The St. Martin Parish portion of Arnaudville is part of the Lafayette
Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the St. Landry Parish portion is part of the Opelousas
–Eunice
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
, who had donated a large amount of land to the town to make a Church for whites and blacks (which still exists today). The Arnauds were the family in which the town got its final name from, many of whose descendants still live in the area. But the French had settled the town in the late 18th century.
Arnaudville was incorporated in 1870.
where the Teche crosses from St. Landry Parish into St. Martin Parish
. The town is called “La Jonction” by its French-speaking citizens since Arnaudville is located at the junction of Bayou Teche and Bayou Fuselier.
Arnaudville is located at 30°24′6"N 91°55′57"W (30.401775, -91.932383).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²).None of the area is covered with water.
of 2000, there were 1,398 people, 502 households, and 346 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,945.7 people per square mile (749.7/km²). There were 556 housing units at an average density of 773.8 per square mile (298.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.63% White, 10.73% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.07% Asian, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.
There were 502 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples
living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,600, and the median income for a family was $26,583. Males had a median income of $28,365 versus $20,221 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,380. About 22.9% of families and 25.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 24.4% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in St. Landry
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
St. Landry Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is at the heart of Acadian/Cajun culture and heritage in Louisiana. The parish seat is Opelousas. According to the 2010 census, the population of St. Landry Parish is 83,384.St...
and St. Martin
St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
St. Martin Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is St. Martinville. As of the 2000 census, the population was 48,583.St...
parishes in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census.
The St. Martin Parish portion of Arnaudville is part of the Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the St. Landry Parish portion is part of the Opelousas
Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's...
–Eunice
Eunice, Louisiana
Eunice is a city in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.The St...
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
On the original site of an Attakapas Indian village, Arnaudville is one of the oldest remaining towns in St. Landry Parish. First called La Murière, it was later known as La Jonction which meant "The Junction" translated from french. By the 19th century, the town was named after the Brothers ArnaudBrothers Arnaud
The Brothers Arnaud were Jacques, Marc-Antoine and Dominique Arnaud, three brothers from Jausiers in the Ubaye Valley, who were the originators of the Ubayen emigration to Mexico and Louisiana during the 19th and early 20th centuries...
, who had donated a large amount of land to the town to make a Church for whites and blacks (which still exists today). The Arnauds were the family in which the town got its final name from, many of whose descendants still live in the area. But the French had settled the town in the late 18th century.
Arnaudville was incorporated in 1870.
Arts and culture
Today, the town is host to the Étouffée Festival, held the 4th weekend in April, Le Feu et l'Eau—Fire and Water Rural Arts Celebration which is held in December and Bayou Blues Revival which is held in April. Since 2005, attracted by its quaint setting and unique culture, the town has become a haven for artists and musicians from around the world.Geography
Arnaudville is on the Bayou TecheBayou Teche
The Bayou Teche is a waterway of great cultural significance in south central Louisiana in the United States. Bayou Teche was the Mississippi River's main course when it developed a delta about 2,800 to 4,500 years ago...
where the Teche crosses from St. Landry Parish into St. Martin Parish
St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
St. Martin Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is St. Martinville. As of the 2000 census, the population was 48,583.St...
. The town is called “La Jonction” by its French-speaking citizens since Arnaudville is located at the junction of Bayou Teche and Bayou Fuselier.
Arnaudville is located at 30°24′6"N 91°55′57"W (30.401775, -91.932383).
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²).None of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,398 people, 502 households, and 346 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,945.7 people per square mile (749.7/km²). There were 556 housing units at an average density of 773.8 per square mile (298.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.63% White, 10.73% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.07% Asian, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.
There were 502 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,600, and the median income for a family was $26,583. Males had a median income of $28,365 versus $20,221 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $12,380. About 22.9% of families and 25.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 24.4% of those age 65 or over.