Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Terrebonne Parish is a parish
located in the U.S. state
of Louisiana
. The parish seat is Houma
. Its population was 111,860 (as of 2010). It is the second largest parish in Louisiana in terms of land area.
Terrebonne Parish is part of the Houma
–Bayou Cane
–Thibodaux
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Terrebonne is represented in the Louisiana House of Representatives
by the Republican
business
man Gordon Dove
of Houma. Dove's seat was previously held by Hunt Downer
, a former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.
. The name "Terrebonne" means "good earth", "good land", "good soil" in French
.
The parish has been run by the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government since it absorbed the powers of the City of Houma. The parish is led by President Michel Claudet
, elected in 2007.
of 2008 there were 108,576 people, 35,997 households, and 27,393 families residing in the parish. The population density
was 83 people per square mile (32/km²). There were 39,928 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 74.07% White
, 17.79% Black
or African American
, 5.29% Native American
, 0.81% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 0.54% from other races
, and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 10.66% reported speaking French
or Cajun French
at home, while 1.5% speak Spanish
.http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=22&county_id=109&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r
There were 35,997 households out of which 39.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples
living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 19.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the parish the population was spread out with 29.20% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $35,235, and the median income for a family was $39,912. Males had a median income of $34,869 versus $20,705 for females. The per capita income
for the parish was $16,051. About 15.80% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.
(Newly entered 2008 census number requires newly updated figures in above information).
[5]In 2009 Terrebonne Parish has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
is the only incorporated city in Terrebonne Parish.
Census-designated place
s include:
Other unincorporated areas include:
. (The movie was not actually filmed in Houma, or Terrebonne Parish.) It has been the setting for several other movies in recent years.
The parish is the location for the fictional Belle Reve
prison, a prominent facility in the DC Comics
universe.
Parish (subnational entity)
A parish is an administrative division used by several countries. In the British Isles it is known as a civil parish to distinguish it from the ecclesiastical parish.-External links:* Editorial in The Guardian, 2011-05-16....
located 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 parish seat is Houma
Houma, Louisiana
Houma is a city in and the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and the largest principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's powers of government have been absorbed by the parish, which is now run by the Terrebonne Parish...
. Its population was 111,860 (as of 2010). It is the second largest parish in Louisiana in terms of land area.
Terrebonne Parish is part of the Houma
Houma, Louisiana
Houma is a city in and the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and the largest principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's powers of government have been absorbed by the parish, which is now run by the Terrebonne Parish...
–Bayou Cane
Bayou Cane, Louisiana
Bayou Cane is a census-designated place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 17,046 at the 2000 census.Bayou Cane is a principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Terrebonne and Lafourche...
–Thibodaux
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux is a small city in and the parish seat of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the banks of Bayou Lafourche in the northwestern part of the parish. The population was 14,431 at the 2000 census. Thibodaux is a principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux Metropolitan Area
The Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the Acadiana region of southern Louisiana that covers two parishes - Lafourche and Terrebonne...
.
Terrebonne is represented in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
by the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man Gordon Dove
Gordon Dove (Louisiana politician)
Gordon Earl Dove, Sr. , is a businessman from Houma, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 52 in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.-Background:...
of Houma. Dove's seat was previously held by Hunt Downer
Hunt Downer
Major General Huntington Blair Downer, Jr., known as Hunt Downer , is a Republican politician in the U.S. state of Louisiana who is the assistant adjutant general of the state National Guard and the first ever director of the new Louisiana Veterans Affairs Department.A former Speaker of the...
, a former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.
History
Terrebonne Parish was formed in 1822 from part of Lafourche ParishLafourche Parish, Louisiana
Lafourche Parish is a parish located in the south of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was originally the northern part of Lafourche Interior Parish, which consisted of the present parishes of Lafourche and Terrebonne. The parish seat is Thibodaux...
. The name "Terrebonne" means "good earth", "good land", "good soil" in 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...
.
The parish has been run by the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government since it absorbed the powers of the City of Houma. The parish is led by President Michel Claudet
Michel Claudet
Michel H. Claudet is the current President of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. Elected in 2007, he is the only Republican to be elected President of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and the sixth person elected as "Parish President" of the combined City of Houma and Terrebonne Parish government...
, elected in 2007.
Geography
The parish has a total area of 2,080 square miles (5,387 km²), of which, 1,255 square miles (3,250 km²) of it is land and 825 square miles (2,137 km²) of it (39.66%) is water.Major highways
U.S. Highway 90
Louisiana Highway 24Louisiana Highway 24Louisiana Highway 24 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. It spans and is bannered east/west.-Route description:...
Louisiana Highway 55Louisiana Highway 55Louisiana Highway 55 is a state highway that runs north-south from Louisiana Highway 24 in Bourg, Louisiana, when LA 24 swings from a north-south road to a west-east road . LA 55 comes to a dead end in Montegut, Louisiana. The highway serves as the major road for residents of Montegut and Bourg...
Louisiana Highway 56Louisiana Highway 56Louisiana Highway 56 is a state highway that runs north-south intersecting Louisiana Highway 24 at Country Drive Extension in Houma , Louisiana and comes to a dead end at Cocodrie, Louisiana. The highway serves as the only road for residents of Chauvin, Louisiana to reach Houma, the parish seat....
Louisiana Highway 57Louisiana Highway 57Louisiana Highway 57, commonly known as Grand Caillou Road, is a state highway that runs from Louisiana Highway 24 in Houma, Louisiana and ends at Louisiana Highway 56 in Cocodrie, Louisiana. The road serves the eastern part of Houma and the southern towns of Ashland, Grand Caillou, and Dulac,...
Louisiana Highway 58Louisiana Highway 58Louisiana Highway 58 is a short state highway that runs east-west linking Louisiana Highway 55 in Montegut, Louisiana to Louisiana Highway 56 in Chauvin, Louisiana....
Adjacent parishes
- Assumption ParishAssumption Parish, LouisianaAssumption Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and was formed in 1807 as an original parish of the Louisiana Territory. Its parish seat is Napoleonville. In 2000, its population was 23,388. Assumption is one of the 22 Acadiana parishes. Its major product is sugarcane...
(north) - Lafourche ParishLafourche Parish, LouisianaLafourche Parish is a parish located in the south of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was originally the northern part of Lafourche Interior Parish, which consisted of the present parishes of Lafourche and Terrebonne. The parish seat is Thibodaux...
(east) - Gulf of MexicoGulf of MexicoThe Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
(south) - St. Mary ParishSt. Mary Parish, LouisianaSt. Mary Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Franklin. As of 2000, the population was 53,500.The Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of St. Mary Parish.-Geography:...
(northwest)
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 2008 there were 108,576 people, 35,997 households, and 27,393 families residing in the parish. 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 83 people per square mile (32/km²). There were 39,928 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 74.07% White
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...
, 17.79% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 5.29% Native American
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...
, 0.81% Asian
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...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
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...
, 0.54% 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 1.48% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race. 10.66% reported speaking 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 French
Cajun French
Cajun French is a variety or dialects of the French language spoken primarily in Louisiana, specifically in the southern and southwestern parishes....
at home, while 1.5% speak Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=22&county_id=109&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r
There were 35,997 households out of which 39.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% 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, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 19.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the parish the population was spread out with 29.20% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $35,235, and the median income for a family was $39,912. Males had a median income of $34,869 versus $20,705 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 parish was $16,051. About 15.80% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.
(Newly entered 2008 census number requires newly updated figures in above information).
[5]In 2009 Terrebonne Parish has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
Communities
HoumaHouma, Louisiana
Houma is a city in and the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and the largest principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's powers of government have been absorbed by the parish, which is now run by the Terrebonne Parish...
is the only incorporated city in Terrebonne Parish.
Census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
s include:
- Bayou CaneBayou Cane, LouisianaBayou Cane is a census-designated place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 17,046 at the 2000 census.Bayou Cane is a principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Terrebonne and Lafourche...
- ChauvinChauvin, LouisianaChauvin is a census-designated place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,229 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- DulacDulac, LouisianaDulac is a census-designated place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,458 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- GrayGray, LouisianaGray is a census-designated place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,958 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- MontegutMontegut, LouisianaMontegut is a census-designated place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,803 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- SchrieverSchriever, LouisianaSchriever is a census-designated place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,880 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
Other unincorporated areas include:
- Chacahoula
- CocodrieCocodrie, LouisianaCocodrie is an unincorporated fishing, shrimping and crabbing village in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States, ten miles south of Chauvin, due south of the larger town of Houma. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- GibsonGibson, LouisianaGibson is an unincorporated community in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, USA. The ZIP Code is 70356. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Pointe-aux-ChenesPointe-aux-Chenes, LouisianaPointe-aux-Chenes is an unincorporated area located in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. It shares a zip code with Montegut, Louisiana .Pointe-aux-Chenes is home to many Native Americans of the Pointe-au-Chien tribe, which is state recognized but not federally recognized. The Pointe-au-Chien tribe was...
Media
The parish was setting of the 2005 motion picture The Skeleton KeyThe Skeleton Key
The Skeleton Key is a 2005 American supernatural horror film starring Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, John Hurt, Peter Sarsgaard, and Joy Bryant. The film focuses on a young hospice nurse who acquires a job at a Terrebonne Parish plantation home, and becomes entangled in a mystery involving the house,...
. (The movie was not actually filmed in Houma, or Terrebonne Parish.) It has been the setting for several other movies in recent years.
The parish is the location for the fictional Belle Reve
Belle Reve
Belle Reve Penitentiary is a fictional prison and sanitorium in the DC Universe, first appearing in Suicide Squad #1 by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell.-Fictional background:...
prison, a prominent facility in the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Terrebonne Parish, LouisianaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Terrebonne Parish, LouisianaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States...
- USS Terrebonne Parish (LST-1156)USS Terrebonne Parish (LST-1156)USS Terrebonne Parish , originally USS LST-1156, affectionately nicknamed the "T-Bone" by her early crew, was a built for the United States Navy in 1952. The lead ship in her class, she was named for Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name...
External links
- Official site
- Terrebonne Parish School District
- Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office
- Houma Today (website of The Courier daily newspaper)
- Tri-Parish times (website of Tri-Parish times weekly regional newspaper)