Sunset, Louisiana

Sunset is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,897 at the 2010 census, up from 2,352 in 2000. It is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Sunset, Louisiana
Town
Town of Sunset
Motto: 
"The best place to be"
Location of Sunset in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Sunset in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 30°24′30″N 92°03′58″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishSt. Landry
Founded1904
Government
 • MayorCharles "Cha Cha" James
Area
[1]
 • Total3.25 sq mi (8.43 km2)
 • Land3.23 sq mi (8.36 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation
49 ft (15 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,909
 • Density901.46/sq mi (348.06/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code337
FIPS code22-74060
Websitewww.sunset.govoffice2.com
[2]

Geography

Sunset is located at 30°24′30″N 92°3′58″W (30.408456, -92.066132).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.1 km2), of which 3.1 square miles (8.1 km2) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.96%) is water.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910377—
192043314.9%
193052020.1%
194063021.2%
19501,08071.4%
19601,30721.0%
19701,67528.2%
19802,30037.3%
19902,201−4.3%
20002,3526.9%
20102,89723.2%
20202,9090.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

2020 census
Sunset racial composition[5]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 1,324 45.51%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,426 49.02%
Native American 6 0.21%
Asian 7 0.24%
Other/Mixed 89 3.06%
Hispanic or Latino 57 1.96%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,909 people, 1,063 households, and 796 families residing in the town.

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,897 people, 1,129 households, and 787 families residing in the town. The population density was 934.5 inhabitants per square mile (360.8/km2). There were 1,226 housing units at an average density of 395.5 per square mile (152.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 46.8% White, 48.9% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 1,129 households, out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 23.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.4% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 20 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

As of the 2009 American Community Survey,[6] the median income for a household in the town was $33,000, and the median income for a family was $62,708. Males had a median income of $59,375 versus $23,258 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,901. About 10.6% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 39.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

Like many towns in Southern Louisiana, Sunset began as a railroad town (for the out-distribution of cotton and sweet potatoes and the in-distribution of specialty goods), was incorporated in 1904, and had its first village meeting that December 7. Victor Hugo Sibille was the first mayor. As part of a large-scale conversion of arable land away from cotton (due to the mass-destruction from the cotton boll weevil) and toward sweet potatoes in the late 19th century,[7] the city gave itself the nickname "Sweet Potato Capital of the Nation" at the turn of the 20th century.[8] According to local lore, The Bank of Sunset was one of the very few that did not close throughout the Great Depression of 1929.[9]

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. Charles Egan Smith, The Sweet Potato Weevil in Louisiana and Its Control (Baton Rouge LA: Bureau of Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1923); available at https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1376&context=agexp
  8. "Sunset, Louisiana". City of Sunset. Archived from the original on May 9, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  9. "Sunset | Armand J. Brinkhaus Community Library".
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