Fordoche, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Fordoche is a town in Pointe Coupee Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 933 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The town's zip code is 70732.
At least two American Civil War
battles were fought in and around Fordoche. The Battle of Fordoche Bridge was fought in September 1863. Union troops were sent to prevent the Confederacy from operating in the upper Atchafalaya
but the Confederates
were successful in driving back the Union forces
.
In May 1864, the Confederates were again victorious over the Union troops at the "Skirmish on Bayou Fordoche Road".
The area saw an influx of Italian immigrants after 1890.
Fordoche is the youngest incorporated community in Pointe Coupee Parish. It was incorporated as a village in 1961 and became a town in 1994.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 933 people, 341 households, and 285 families residing in the town. The population density
was 383.8 people per square mile (148.2/km²). There were 361 housing units at an average density of 148.5 per square mile (57.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.68% White, 8.57% African American, 0.11% Asian, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 341 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.4% were married couples
living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.4% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,364, and the median income for a family was $40,313. Males had a median income of $32,400 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,223. About 12.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana
Pointe Coupee Parish, pronounced "Pwent Koo-Pay" and , is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is New Roads. As of 2000, the population was 22,763....
, 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...
. The population was 933 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Baton Rouge metropolitan area
The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is a sprawling area consisting of nine parishes in Louisiana, anchored by the city of Baton Rouge...
. The town's zip code is 70732.
History
In 1854, the first post office was established at Fordoche, with Thomas Farrar designated as its first postmaster. There are two conflicting stories about how the town's name was derived. One story is that it received its name from a Caddo Indian word meaning "wild animal lair" (i.e., the bed of a wild beast) and the other suggests that it is named after a Louisiana French term for underbrush found in bayou bottom.At least two American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
battles were fought in and around Fordoche. The Battle of Fordoche Bridge was fought in September 1863. Union troops were sent to prevent the Confederacy from operating in the upper Atchafalaya
Atchafalaya River
The Atchafalaya River is a distributary of the Mississippi River and Red River in south central Louisiana in the United States. It flows south, just west of the Mississippi River....
but the Confederates
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
were successful in driving back the Union forces
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
.
In May 1864, the Confederates were again victorious over the Union troops at the "Skirmish on Bayou Fordoche Road".
The area saw an influx of Italian immigrants after 1890.
Fordoche is the youngest incorporated community in Pointe Coupee Parish. It was incorporated as a village in 1961 and became a town in 1994.
Geography
Fordoche is located at 30°35′29"N 91°36′31"W (30.591445, -91.608546).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 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
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 933 people, 341 households, and 285 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 383.8 people per square mile (148.2/km²). There were 361 housing units at an average density of 148.5 per square mile (57.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.68% White, 8.57% African American, 0.11% Asian, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 341 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.4% 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, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.4% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,364, and the median income for a family was $40,313. Males had a median income of $32,400 versus $21,146 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 $15,223. About 12.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.