Jean Lafitte, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Jean Lafitte is a town on Bayou Barataria in Jefferson Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. It is named after the privateer
Jean Lafitte
. The population was 2,137 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans
–Metairie
–Kenner
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6 square miles (15.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (4.47%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,137 people, 721 households, and 575 families residing in the town. The population density
was 357.5 people per square mile (138.0/km²). There were 767 housing units at an average density of 128.3 per square mile (49.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.03% White, 0.61% African American, 2.76% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races
, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.87% of the population.
There were 721 households out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.2% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 110.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,833, and the median income for a family was $40,163. Males had a median income of $32,025 versus $22,697 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,209. About 14.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 24.7% of those age 65 or over.
.
Residents from K-6 are zoned to Lafitte Elementary School. 7-12 are zoned to Fisher Middle-High School.
The Leo. E. Kerner Jr. City Park Multi-Purpose Complex is located in Jean Lafitte. Jefferson Parish Library
operates the Lafitte Library inside the complex. The over 4500 square foot facility, which is almost three times larger than the previous library facility, opened on March 4, 2010. The previous library facility sustained damage during Hurricane Katrina
and Hurricane Rita
, and the library contents were destroyed. The American Library Association donated $200,000 to the State of Louisiana, and the Louisiana Library Association's Disaster Relief Program awarded $20,000 of that to Jefferson Parish Library; the funds were used to rebuild the Lafitte Library. The previous library building became the Sheriff Harry Lee Police Station.
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
, 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 named after the privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
Jean Lafitte
Jean Lafitte
Jean Lafitte was a pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He and his elder brother, Pierre, spelled their last name Laffite, but English-language documents of the time used "Lafitte", and this is the commonly seen spelling in the United States, including for places...
. The population was 2,137 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
–Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
–Kenner
Kenner, Louisiana
Kenner is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 66,702 at the 2010 census....
Metropolitan Statistical Area
New Orleans metropolitan area
New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner, or the Greater New Orleans Region is a metropolitan area designated by the United States Census encompassing seven parishes in the state of Louisiana, centering on the city of New Orleans...
.
Geography
Jean Lafitte is located at 29°44′10"N 90°07′36"W (29.735587, -90.122053).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 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6 square miles (15.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (4.47%) 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 2,137 people, 721 households, and 575 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 357.5 people per square mile (138.0/km²). There were 767 housing units at an average density of 128.3 per square mile (49.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.03% White, 0.61% African American, 2.76% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.33% 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 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.87% of the population.
There were 721 households out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.2% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 110.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,833, and the median income for a family was $40,163. Males had a median income of $32,025 versus $22,697 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 $14,209. About 14.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 24.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Lafitte residents are zoned to Jefferson Parish Public SchoolsJefferson Parish Public Schools
Jefferson Parish Public Schools is a school district based in Harvey in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. The district operates all public schools in Jefferson Parish...
.
Residents from K-6 are zoned to Lafitte Elementary School. 7-12 are zoned to Fisher Middle-High School.
The Leo. E. Kerner Jr. City Park Multi-Purpose Complex is located in Jean Lafitte. Jefferson Parish Library
Jefferson Parish Library
Jefferson Parish Library is the library system of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. It has its headquarters in the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie, an unincorporated area in the parish.-Branches:East Bank:...
operates the Lafitte Library inside the complex. The over 4500 square foot facility, which is almost three times larger than the previous library facility, opened on March 4, 2010. The previous library facility sustained damage during Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
and Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
, and the library contents were destroyed. The American Library Association donated $200,000 to the State of Louisiana, and the Louisiana Library Association's Disaster Relief Program awarded $20,000 of that to Jefferson Parish Library; the funds were used to rebuild the Lafitte Library. The previous library building became the Sheriff Harry Lee Police Station.