Buras-Triumph, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Buras-Triumph is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Plaquemines Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 3,358 at the 2000 census. On the peninsula, Buras has been located higher, with Triumph located southeast of Buras.
became known collectively as the Quartiers des Burats, the Burat Settlement, anchored on the property of Sebastian Burat, near where Cazezu Boulevard meets Parish Highway 11 today. Burat was later anglicized to Buras. In 1854, the Buras Post Office was established, along with a regular mail route by packet boat on the river. By 1864, a new church, Our Lady of Good Harbor, was established in Buras as the community grew.
The 1893 Cheniere Caminada hurricane destroyed the Church and all but 2 houses in Buras http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/plaquemines/history/hurc1893.txt.
The August 1901 Hurricane caused damage including 4 feet (1 m) of water in Buras. http://www.thecajuns.com/lahurricanes.htm However it was the Great Hurricane of 1915 which damaged Buras and the surrounding area very severely. As there was no evacuation in 1915, the loss of life was great.
Buras-Triumph was destroyed in 1965 by Hurricane Betsy
. Then, complete destruction came again in 1969 from Hurricane Camille
. However, more recently this area became famous as the location where, on August 29, 2005, the eye
of Hurricane Katrina
, made first landfall in Louisiana. Although Katrina was one of the costliest natural disasters to strike the United States, according to the Hurricane Severity Index
, both Betsy and Camille were higher intensity hurricanes than Katrina. In fact, Hurricane Betsy
was the first hurricane to cause over a billion dollars in damage. Nonetheless, with the landfall of Hurricane Katrina
, this area was obliterated, yet again.
The recovery and rebuilding continues in Buras, Triumph and surrounding communities. Emblematic of the recovery is the new Buras water tower. The image of the previous tower, collapsed in the rubble, was an icon of the destruction Katrina brought.
at 29°21′6"N 89°30′50"W (29.351783, -89.513815) and has an elevation of 3 foot (0.9144 m). Buras-Triumph is within the federal hurricane protection levee system. Approximately 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of the area are drained by two stormwater pumping stations, one north of Buras and one in Triumph.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), of which, 5 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it (30.32%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,358 people, 1,146 households, and 850 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 670.9 people per square mile (258.8/km²). There were 1,408 housing units at an average density of 281.3 per square mile (108.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.68% White, 10.90% African American, 1.67% Native American, 12.30% Asian, 1.28% from other races
, and 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.
There were 1,146 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.40.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,059, and the median income for a family was $41,216. Males had a median income of $35,980 versus $16,917 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $13,426. About 18.1% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.
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...
(CDP) in Plaquemines Parish
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 à la Hache...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,358 at the 2000 census. On the peninsula, Buras has been located higher, with Triumph located southeast of Buras.
History
The town of Buras was established, informally, in the 1840s. Several small settlements on the West Bank of the Mississippi River north of Fort JacksonFort Jackson
Fort Jackson can refer to several places or things:*Fort Jackson , also called Fort Toulouse, a War of 1812 fort*Fort Jackson , a frontier trading post located near present-day Ione, Colorado...
became known collectively as the Quartiers des Burats, the Burat Settlement, anchored on the property of Sebastian Burat, near where Cazezu Boulevard meets Parish Highway 11 today. Burat was later anglicized to Buras. In 1854, the Buras Post Office was established, along with a regular mail route by packet boat on the river. By 1864, a new church, Our Lady of Good Harbor, was established in Buras as the community grew.
The 1893 Cheniere Caminada hurricane destroyed the Church and all but 2 houses in Buras http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/plaquemines/history/hurc1893.txt.
The August 1901 Hurricane caused damage including 4 feet (1 m) of water in Buras. http://www.thecajuns.com/lahurricanes.htm However it was the Great Hurricane of 1915 which damaged Buras and the surrounding area very severely. As there was no evacuation in 1915, the loss of life was great.
Buras-Triumph was destroyed in 1965 by Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy was a Category 4 hurricane of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season which caused enormous damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. Betsy made its most intense landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River, causing significant flooding of the waters of Lake Pontchartrain into...
. Then, complete destruction came again in 1969 from Hurricane Camille
Hurricane Camille
Hurricane Camille was the third and strongest tropical cyclone and second hurricane during the 1969 Atlantic hurricane season. The second of three catastrophic Category 5 hurricanes to make landfall in the United States during the 20th century , which it did near the mouth of the Mississippi River...
. However, more recently this area became famous as the location where, on August 29, 2005, the eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, made first landfall in Louisiana. Although Katrina was one of the costliest natural disasters to strike the United States, according to the Hurricane Severity Index
Hurricane Severity Index
The Hurricane Severity Index is a hurricane rating system which defines the strength and destructive capability of a storm. The HSI uses equations which incorporate the intensity of the winds and the size of the area covered by the winds...
, both Betsy and Camille were higher intensity hurricanes than Katrina. In fact, Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy was a Category 4 hurricane of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season which caused enormous damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. Betsy made its most intense landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River, causing significant flooding of the waters of Lake Pontchartrain into...
was the first hurricane to cause over a billion dollars in damage. Nonetheless, with the landfall of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, this area was obliterated, yet again.
The recovery and rebuilding continues in Buras, Triumph and surrounding communities. Emblematic of the recovery is the new Buras water tower. The image of the previous tower, collapsed in the rubble, was an icon of the destruction Katrina brought.
Geography
Buras-Triumph is located along the west bank of the Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
at 29°21′6"N 89°30′50"W (29.351783, -89.513815) and has an elevation of 3 foot (0.9144 m). Buras-Triumph is within the federal hurricane protection levee system. Approximately 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of the area are drained by two stormwater pumping stations, one north of Buras and one in Triumph.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), of which, 5 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it (30.32%) is water.
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 2000, there were 3,358 people, 1,146 households, and 850 families residing in the CDP. 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 670.9 people per square mile (258.8/km²). There were 1,408 housing units at an average density of 281.3 per square mile (108.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.68% White, 10.90% African American, 1.67% Native American, 12.30% Asian, 1.28% 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 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.
There were 1,146 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% 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, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.40.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,059, and the median income for a family was $41,216. Males had a median income of $35,980 versus $16,917 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 CDP was $13,426. About 18.1% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.
