Boyce, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Boyce is a town
in northern Rapides Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. It is part of the Alexandria, Louisiana
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,190 at the 2000 census. The community is nearly 75 percent African American
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), of which 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (8.62%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,190 people, 426 households, and 310 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,239.5 people per square mile (866.9/km²). There were 485 housing units at an average density of 912.7 per square mile (353.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 23.19% White, 74.37% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.25% from other races
, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 426 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples
living together, 35.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the town the population was spread out with 34.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 77.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 67.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,727, and the median income for a family was $20,000. Males had a median income of $24,000 versus $13,600 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $9,616. About 37.9% of families and 40.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.3% of those under age 18 and 27.1% 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 northern Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish, Louisiana
-Military Installations:*Camp Beauregard *Esler Airfield *England Air Force Base *Camp Claiborne *Camp Livingston -Demographics:...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,190 at the 2000 census. The community is nearly 75 percent African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
.
History
Originally called Cotile Landing, the name was changed to Boyce in 1880, when the Texas and Pacific Railroad made Boyce its terminal point. The town was named for Judge Henry Boyce, who owned the land on which the town was located. Being of Irish descent, Boyce, and/or his son Henry Archinard Boyce, gave all the streets Irish names as he did his own plantation, Ulster, which was immediately adjacent to the town along Bayou Jeunes des Gens (Jean de Jean). The original incorporation date is not on file.Geography
Boyce is located at 31°23′12"N 92°40′14"W (31.386778, -92.670577).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 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), of which 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (8.62%) is 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 1,190 people, 426 households, and 310 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 2,239.5 people per square mile (866.9/km²). There were 485 housing units at an average density of 912.7 per square mile (353.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 23.19% White, 74.37% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.25% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 426 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% 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, 35.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the town the population was spread out with 34.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 77.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 67.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,727, and the median income for a family was $20,000. Males had a median income of $24,000 versus $13,600 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 $9,616. About 37.9% of families and 40.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.3% of those under age 18 and 27.1% of those age 65 or over.