Acadia Parish (French: Paroisse de l'Acadie) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 57,576. The parish seat and the most populous municipality is Crowley. The parish was founded from parts of St. Landry Parish in 1886, and later an election was held to determine the parish seat, ending when Crowley beat Rayne and Prairie Hayes. Acadia Parish is included in the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area.
Contents
History
The name of the parish is derived from the former French colony of Acadia in Canada (which consisted of the modern provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and much of Maine). After Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War, they took control of their North American colonies east of the Mississippi River. They required ethnic French Acadians to take a loyalty oath and never got over their suspicions of them. They deported many of the French-speaking inhabitants to France. From there, some joined others who had migrated directly to the French colony of La Louisiane (Louisiana) in what was known as the Great Upheaval. (see Cajuns).
The parish was formed from the southwestern portion of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. On May 19, 1886, a bill was introduced in the Louisiana state house entitled "An act to create the parish of Nicholls, and to provide for the organization thereof." The title was later changed to read: "An act to create the parish of Acadia." Father Joseph Anthonioz, the first pastor of the Catholic Church at Rayne, is credited with having suggested the name, Acadia Parish. The bill passed the house on June 11, the senate on June 28, and was approved by Governor Samuel D. McEnery on June 30.
On October 6, an election was held to affirm the creation of the parish, with 2,516 votes for and 1,521 votes against the creation. The population of the new parish was from 10,000 to 12,000. Acadia Parish population in 1890 was 13,231.
After a close election held on March 1, 1887, Crowley was chosen as the parish seat, gathering 698 votes to Rayne's and Prairie Hayes' 560 and 519, respectively. The election also determined the first officers in the parish: Elridge W. Lyons, first sheriff of Acadia; and R. T. Clark, first clerk of court. The first courthouse was constructed in Crowley and completed on June 30, 1888. It continued to be used until May 1, 1902, when it was destroyed to make way for the second building.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 657 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 655 sq mi (1,700 km2) are land and 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.
Major highways
Interstate 10
U.S. Highway 90
U.S. Highway 190
Louisiana Highway 13
Louisiana Highway 35
Louisiana Highway 91
Louisiana Highway 92
Louisiana Highway 95
Louisiana Highway 97
Louisiana Highway 98
Louisiana Highway 100
Louisiana Highway 178
Louisiana Highway 343
Louisiana Highway 356
Louisiana Highway 358
Louisiana Highway 365
Louisiana Highway 367
Louisiana Highway 368
Louisiana Highway 370
Louisiana Highway 723
Louisiana Highway 751
Louisiana Highway 754
Louisiana Highway 755
Louisiana Highway 1096
Louisiana Highway 1097
Louisiana Highway 1098
Louisiana Highway 1099
Adjacent parishes
Evangeline Parish (north)
St. Landry Parish (northeast)
Lafayette Parish (east)
Vermilion Parish (south)
Jefferson Davis Parish (west)
Communities
Cities
Crowley (parish seat and largest municipality)
Eunice (partly in St. Landry Parish)
Rayne
Towns
Basile (partly in Evangeline Parish)
Church Point
Duson (partly in Lafayette Parish)
Iota
Villages
Estherwood
Mermentau
Morse
Unincorporated areas
Branch
Egan
Midland
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 57,576 people, 22,236 households, and 15,519 families residing in the parish. At the 2010 United States census, 61,773 people were residing in the parish, and 58,861 people at the 2000 United States census. In 2019, the American Community Survey estimated 62,045 people lived in the parish.
According to the 2019 American Community Survey, the racial and ethnic makeup of the parish was 77.4% non-Hispanic white, 17.4% Black and African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian alone, 0.3% some other race, 2.8% two or more races, and 2.6% Hispanic and Latin American of any race. In 2010, 79.5% were White American, 18.1% Black and African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% some other race, and 1.3% of two or more races; 1.7% were Hispanic or Latin American of any race.
Among the population in 2019, 73.8% were aged 18 and older, and 14.9% aged 65 and older; 7.0% were aged 5 and under. The median age was 36.7, and 27.4% were of French heritage; 9.3% were German, 4.2% English, 4.1% Irish, 0.5% sub-Saharan African, 0.4% Scottish, 0.1% Norwegian, and 0.1% Polish in ancestry. Among the population in 2010, 43.7% were of French, French Canadian or Cajun, 10.8% American, and 8.0% German ancestry. Approximately 10% of the parish spoke a language other than English at home.
There were 22,236 households spread among 26,435 housing units. There was a home-ownership rate of 71.1% with an average of 3.31 people per household; an estimated 32% of the population living in the parish were never married, and 26.2% of households had children under the age of 18 living in them. The median gross rent was $662, and the median household value was $118,000. The median monthly cost with a mortgage was $1,083, and $312 without a mortgage.
An estimated 1,120 businesses operated in the parish, and the median household income was $43,396; the mean income was $61,465. The parish had a 52.6% employment rate, and 24.2% of the total population lived at or below the poverty line in 2019.
Arts and culture
Many festivals and cultural celebrations are held annually in Acadia Parish, including the International Rice Festival in Crowley, Frog Festival in Rayne, and Germanfest [1] in Roberts Cove. Cajun food and music, both specialties of the local population, feature prominently in these festivals.
Several communities in Acadia Parish celebrate the tradition of Courir de Mardi Gras. Disguised with masks and costumes, Cajuns travel through their rural neighborhoods, making merry while begging for gumbo ingredients. The gumbo is the centerpiece of a communal supper and dance.
Education
Acadia Parish is served by Acadia Parish Schools.
Acadia Parish Head Start - Church Point
Church Point Elementary (grades PK-5) (Church Point)
Church Point Middle (grades 6–8) (Church Point)
Church Point High (grades 9–12) (Church Point)
Acadia Parish Head Start - Rayne
Central Rayne Kindergarten (grades PK-1) (Rayne)
Martin Petitjean Elementary (grades 1–3) (Rayne)
South Rayne Elementary (grades 4–5) (Rayne)
Armstrong Middle (grades 6–8) (Rayne)
Rayne High (grades 9–12) (Rayne)
Acadia Parish Head Start - Crowley
Crowley Kindergarten (grades PK-K) (Crowley)
North Crowley Elementary (grades K-5) (Crowley)
Ross Elementary (grades K-5) (Crowley)
South Crowley Elementary (grades K-5) (Crowley)
Crowley Middle (grades 6–8) (Crowley)
Iota Elementary (grades PK-5) (Iota)
Iota Middle (grades 6–8) (Iota)
National Guard
C Company 3-156TH Infantry Battalion resides in Crowley, Louisiana. As part of the 256th IBCT, this unit deployed to Iraq twice, 2004-5 and 2010.
Politics
Historically, along with the rest of Louisiana, Acadia Parish strongly supported the Democratic Party, with support waning throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Following Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election bid, Acadia Parish has voted exclusively for Republican candidates at the presidential level.
Notable people
Tommy Casanova (born 1950), former All-Pro NFL defensive back
Wayne Toups (born 1958), popular Cajun musician, singer, and songwriter
Bill Cleveland (1902–1974), real estate developer and former member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature
Jo-El Sonnier (1946–2024), country and Cajun singer, songwriter, and accordionist
Tony Thibodeaux (1938–2010), Cajun fiddler
Joe Werner (1909–1978), early Cajun musician and member of the Hackberry Ramblers
Camey Doucet (born 1939), Cajun musician and disc jockey
Victory "Trey" Trahan, architect and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
George Stanley (1903–1970), sculptor for the design of the Oscar statue and the Muse Sculpture at the Hollywood Bowl
Rosie Ledet (born 1971), Creole and zydeco musician and singer
Jack Brooks (1922–2012), longtime U.S. Representative for Texas
Seth Thibodeaux (born 1980), college baseball coach
J. Bert Sonnier (born 1938), retired trainer of thoroughbred racehorses
Taylor Ri'chard (born 1980), film director, screenwriter, executive producer, and actor