Maurice, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Maurice is a village in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
, United States. The population was 642 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abbeville
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
, France came to America in 1855 and sold goods in New Orleans, New Iberia and Milton. His wife had land holdings there and they established a home and grocery store. On May 29, 1889, the 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) site, on which the church and rectory in Maurice were to be built, was donated by Villien. The town was incorporated on December 27, 1911 and Joseph Villen, Maurice's son, became mayor until 1928. Today, Joseph Street leads to the old home.
The community's first church was La Chapelle a Maurice and Sunday services were held in a small schoolhouse on the Villien property until the St. Alphonsus Church was built in January 1893. The Broussard Cove School was the first school built on land donated by Joseph Clark in 1885 and moved to Maurice in July 1899 to land donated by Maurice Villien. It was located on Maurice Avenue and the Indian Bayou Road until 1914 when it burned down.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.3 km²), all land.
was 315.0 inhabitants per square mile (121.5/km²). There were 276 housing units at an average density of 135.4 per square mile (52.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 79.13% White, 19.63% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.78% Asian, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population. In 2005, 74.8% of the population over the age of five spoke English at home, and 25.2% of the population spoke French
or Cajun
.
There were 257 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,306, and the median income for a family was $32,841. Males had a median income of $28,571 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $15,051. About 16.6% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 21.8% of those age 65 or over.
Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
Vermilion Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Abbeville. As of the 2010 census, the population was 57,999....
, United States. The population was 642 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abbeville
Abbeville, Louisiana
Abbeville is a town in and the parish seat of Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States, 150 miles west of New Orleans. The population was 12,257 at the 2010 census...
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The village, originally called "Mauriceville", derives its name from its founder Maurice Villien. Maurice Villien, a native of SavoySavoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
, France came to America in 1855 and sold goods in New Orleans, New Iberia and Milton. His wife had land holdings there and they established a home and grocery store. On May 29, 1889, the 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) site, on which the church and rectory in Maurice were to be built, was donated by Villien. The town was incorporated on December 27, 1911 and Joseph Villen, Maurice's son, became mayor until 1928. Today, Joseph Street leads to the old home.
Geography
Maurice is located at 30°6′26"N 92°7′26"W (30.107171, -92.123977).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 village has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.3 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 642 people, 257 households, and 177 families residing in the village. The population densityPopulation 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 315.0 inhabitants per square mile (121.5/km²). There were 276 housing units at an average density of 135.4 per square mile (52.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 79.13% White, 19.63% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.78% Asian, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population. In 2005, 74.8% of the population over the age of five spoke English at home, and 25.2% of the population spoke French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
or Cajun
Cajun French
Cajun French is a variety or dialects of the French language spoken primarily in Louisiana, specifically in the southern and southwestern parishes....
.
There were 257 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,306, and the median income for a family was $32,841. Males had a median income of $28,571 versus $21,250 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 village was $15,051. About 16.6% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 21.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives and residents
- Denise BoutteDenise BoutteDenise Boutte is an American actress and model, who has appeared in the films Why Did I Get Married? as Trina, Death Valley: The Revenge of Bloody Bill, as Mandy, and Sister's Keeper....
- Actress - Kent DesormeauxKent DesormeauxKent Jason Desormeaux is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year, 1989.-Brief biography:...
Hall of FameNational Museum of Racing and Hall of FameThe National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
jockeyJockeyA jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
.