Arnaudville, Louisiana

Arnaudville is a town in St. Landry and St. Martin parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The St. Martin Parish portion of Arnaudville is part of the Lafayette metropolitan statistical area, while the St. Landry Parish portion is part of the Opelousas–Eunice micropolitan statistical area. At the 2020 population estimates program, it had a population of 1,041.[3]

Arnaudville, Louisiana
Town
Town of Arnaudville
Location of Arnaudville in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Arnaudville in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 30°24′06″N 91°55′57″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishesSt. Landry, St. Martin
Incorporated1870
Government
 • MayorTodd Meche (R)[1]
 • Chief of PoliceEddy LeCompte (I)
Area
[2]
 • Total0.71 sq mi (1.83 km2)
 • Land0.69 sq mi (1.80 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,009
 • Density1,453.89/sq mi (561.52/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code337
FIPS code22-03110
Websitewww.arnaudvillela.com

History

On the original site of an Attakapas Indian village, Arnaudville is one of the oldest remaining towns in St. Landry Parish. First called La Murière, it was later known as La Jonction which meant "The Junction" translated from French. By the 19th century, the town was named after the Brothers Arnaud, who had donated a large amount of land to the town to make a Church for whites and blacks (which still exists today). The Arnauds were the family in which the town got its final name from, many of whose descendants still live in the area. But the French had settled the town in the late 18th century.[4]

Arnaudville was incorporated in 1870.[5]

Geography

Arnaudville is on the Bayou Teche where the Teche crosses from St. Landry Parish into St. Martin Parish. The town is called "La Jonction" by its French-speaking citizens since Arnaudville is located at the junction of Bayou Teche and Bayou Fuselier. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.7 square mile (1.9 km2), all land.[6]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880140—
1900327—
1910279−14.7%
192040846.2%
193048318.4%
194064032.5%
195087236.3%
19601,18435.8%
19701,67341.3%
19801,6790.4%
19901,444−14.0%
20001,398−3.2%
20101,057−24.4%
20201,009−4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
Arnaudville racial composition as of 2020[8]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 845 83.75%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 116 11.5%
Asian 2 0.2%
Pacific Islander 2 0.2%
Other/Mixed 23 2.28%
Hispanic or Latino 21 2.08%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,009 people, 498 households, and 311 families residing in the town. At the 2019 American Community Survey,[6] the racial and ethnic makeup of the town was 71.3% non-Hispanic white, 18.0% Black and African American, 2.8% some other race, and 7.9% multiracial. In 2010, its racial makeup was 90.2% White American, 7.9% African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% multiracial, and 0.9% Hispanic or Latin American of any race. The 2000 census determined 88.63% were White American, 10.73% African American, 0.07% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.07% Asian, 0.50% multiracial, and 1.57% Hispanic or Latin American of any race.

In 2019, the median age was 30.3 and 7.4% of the population were under 5 years of age. Approximately 72.2% were aged 18 and older, and 11.9% aged 65 and older.[6] Of the population over the age of 5 in 2013, 65.1% spoke English and 34.9% spoke French (including Cajun).[9] At the 2019 census estimates, French was the second most-spoken household language.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,727, up from $21,600 at the 2000 United States census. Males had a median income of $45,417 versus $24,722 for females. About 24.4% of the population lived at or below the poverty line, down from 25.6% at the 2000 census.

Arts and culture

Today, the town is host to the Étouffée Festival, held the 4th weekend in April, Le Feu et l'Eau—Fire and Water Rural Arts Celebration which is held in December [10] and Bayou Blues Revival' which is held in April.[11] Since 2005, attracted by its quaint setting and unique culture, the town has become a haven for artists and musicians from around the world.

Saint Luc French Immersion & Cultural Campus

The Saint Luc French Immersion & Cultural Campus French: Centre d'immersion linguistique et culturelle Saint Luc is located in Arnaudville.[12] Led by president Mavis Frugé, the centre aims to preserve and promote Acadiana culture and Louisianian French.[13][14]

The centre began in 2005 as an immersion workshop for Louisiana State University students, growing into the five-day Sur Les Deux Bayous immersion programme that partnered with several universities. In 2008, the centre began negotiations to purchase and renovate the closed Saint Luke’s hospital premises to give the centre a larger, more permanent location. In 2019, the centre officially took over ownership of the campus.[15] Renovations, however, were temporarily delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

Notable people

Sister City

References
  1. "Election Returns: St. Landry Parish". Louisiana Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  3. "City and Town Population Totals: 2010-2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 27, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  4. "Cajun and Cajuns: Genealogy site for Cajun, Acadian and Louisiana genealogy, history and culture". www.thecajuns.com.
  5. Leeper, Clare D'Artois (October 19, 2012). Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns, Cities, Plantations, Bayous, and Even Some Cemeteries. LSU Press. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-8071-4740-5.
  6. "Geography Profile: Arnaudville town, Louisiana". data.census.gov. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  9. "Data Center Results". Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  10. "Website Disabled". fireandwater.homestead.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  11. "Website Disabled". bayoubluesrevival.homestead.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  12. "ACCUEIL". Mysite.
  13. "Reviving the Cajun dialect: 'All French is good French'". National Geographic Society. August 25, 2021.
  14. "Arnaudville: Ville Exemplaire".
  15. "French immersion group finalizes purchase of hospital". November 12, 2019.
  16. "Saint-Luc French Immersion and Cultural Center". January 25, 2021.


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