Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana

Plaquemines Parish is the parish with the most combined land and water area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Pointe a la Hache. As at 2000, the parish's population was 26,757.

The name is pronounced ^* (transcription in IPA).

Geography

The parish has a total area of 6,290 km² (2,429 mi²). 2,187 km² (845 mi²) of it is land and 4,102 km² (1,584 mi²) of it (65.22%) is water.

Adjacent parishes and features

Plaquemines Parish is bordered to the south and southeast by the Gulf of Mexico.

History

The name "Plaquemines" comes from a Native American word, piakimin, meaning persimmon. It was first used to name an old military post on the banks of the Mississippi which was surrounded by large number of persimmon trees. Eventually the name was applied to the entire parish.

One of the remaining historical treasures of Plaquemines Parish is Fort Jackson, built in 1822 under the recommendation of General Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans. In 1861, Fort Jackson served as an important defense for the city of New Orleans during the Civil War because it was at the mouth of the Mississippi River. It was also used as a training base during World War 1 - 1917-1918.

Because Plaquemines Parish encompasses the first 70 miles of the Mississippi River, it plays host to several oil refineries which make use of the shipping lanes. The Mississippi River Delta of Plaquemines also provides assistance to off-shore oil rigs, giving credence to the parish's nickname, "Kuwait." Plaquemines Parish was also the first place from where a container was first used to ship cargo in foreign trade.

In the early 1900's Plaquemines was an exporter of citrus, and used the train and the river to move its large annual harvest. The parish has also been a big commercial fisheries haven, especially for oysters.

From 1919 to 1969, Plaquemines Parish (together with neighbouring St. Bernard Parish), was effectively the domain of political boss Leander Perez, who established a virtual dictatorship in the area. He was notorious for fixing elections and mandating strict racial segregation.

During the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, city and state leaders used dynamite to breech a levee at Caernarvon, thirteen miles below Canal Street, in order to save the city of New Orleans from flooding. However, this action resulted in the flooding of both St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes, causing widespread destruction.

Hurricane Katrina

One of the worst natural disasters in United States history struck Louisiana on August 29, 2005. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck and did severe damage to all of Southeast Louisiana. Martial law was declared in Plaquemines until September 12, 2005. No place escaped without some damage, while most of the rest of Plaquemines, Orleans and neighbouring St. Bernard Parish were severely hit; Pointe a la Hache, Port Sulphur, Buras-Triumph, Empire, Boothville-Venice, and Venice, Louisiana suffered tremendous damage. Amidst heavy rains accompanied by hurricane force winds in excess of 125 mph (200 km/h) the federal levees failed and broke, and the storm surge that flowed in was 20 feet (6.1m) high. Although a good majority of the populace did heed mandatory evacuation orders, many did not. At least three residents died.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 26,757 people, 9,021 households, and 7,000 families residing in the parish. The population density was 12/km² (32/mi²). There were 10,481 housing units at an average density of 5/km² (12/mi²). The racial makeup of the parish was 69.77% White, 23.39% Black or African American, 2.07% Native American, 2.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,021 households out of which 39.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 18.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the parish the population was spread out with 29.20% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $38,173, and the median income for a family was $42,610. Males had a median income of $37,245 versus $21,691 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,937. About 15.40% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.70% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities, towns, and communities

External links

Official website
Images of destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in the parish (Photos taken August 31 2005)

Louisiana parishes | Greater New Orleans | Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana

Plaquemines Parish | Paróquia de Plaquemines