Norco, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Norco is a census-designated place
(CDP) in St. Charles Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 3,579 at the 2000 census. The community is home to a major Shell
petroleum
refinery
. Its name is derived from the New Orleans Refining Company.
and European colonial settlers had established numerous sugar cane plantations
. They imported enslaved Africans as laborers. As the sugar cane cultivation was labor-intensive, the concentration of slaves greatly outnumbered the ethnic Europeans in the colony, a circumstance that continued after the Louisiana Purchase by the United States in the early 19th century..
On 8 January 1811, planters were alarmed by the German Coast Uprising
led by Charles Deslondes, a free person of color from Haiti
(formerly the French colony of Saint-Domingue
). It was the largest slave uprising in US history, but resulted in few fatalities among whites. Deslondes and his followers had been influenced by the ideas of the French and Haitian revolutions. In 1809-1810 French-speaking refugees from the Revolution immigrated by the thousands to New Orleans and Louisiana: white planters and their slaves, and free people of color, adding to the French Creole, African and free people of color populations.
Deslondes led followers to the plantation of Col. Manuel André, where they had hoped to get stored arms, but these were moved. They traveled downriver, gathering more slaves for the insurrection as they marched, armed simply with handtools and accompanying themselves with drums. More than 200 men participated in the insurrection; they killed two white men on their march toward New Orleans. The alarm was raised, and both militia
s and regular troops were called out by Gov. William C.C. Claiborne
to put down the short-lived insurrection. The militias and troops killed 95 slaves in total, many immediately and others in executions after quick trials.
The community was once called "Sellers," after a wealthy family there. In 1911, the land was purchased by an agent for Royal Dutch/Shell Oil, and the New Orleans Refining Company (NORCO) was established. The community's name was officially changed from Sellers to Norco sometime after 1926.
Since 1995 members of the African American History Alliance of Louisiana have gathered annually at Norco in January to commemorate the events of the German Coast Uprising, when men of color reached for freedom decades before the Civil War
and Emancipation
. They have been joined by descendants of the insurgents.
, which provides for an outlet from the Mississippi River
to Lake Pontchartrain
during flooding of the river.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (12.83%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,579 people, 1,329 households, and 983 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,198.0 people per square mile (462.2/km²). There were 1,420 housing units at an average density of 475.3 per square mile (183.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 78.68% White, 19.22% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.34% from other races
, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% of the population.
There were 1,329 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples
living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,270, and the median income for a family was $46,446. Males had a median income of $35,369 versus $22,406 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $17,065. About 8.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% 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 St. Charles Parish
St. Charles Parish, Louisiana
St. Charles Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Hahnville. In 2010, its population was 52,780. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, this was part of the German Coast, an area along the Mississippi River settled by numerous German pioneers in the...
, 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 3,579 at the 2000 census. The community is home to a major Shell
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
. Its name is derived from the New Orleans Refining Company.
History
By the late 18th century, FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and European colonial settlers had established numerous sugar cane plantations
Plantations in the American South
Plantations were an important aspect of the history of the American South, particularly the antebellum .-Planter :The owner of a plantation was called a planter...
. They imported enslaved Africans as laborers. As the sugar cane cultivation was labor-intensive, the concentration of slaves greatly outnumbered the ethnic Europeans in the colony, a circumstance that continued after the Louisiana Purchase by the United States in the early 19th century..
On 8 January 1811, planters were alarmed by the German Coast Uprising
1811 German Coast Uprising
The 1811 German Coast Uprising was a slave revolt that took place in parts of the Territory of Orleans on January 8–10, 1811. The revolt took place on the east coast of the Mississippi River in what are now St. John the Baptist and St. Charles Parishes, Louisiana. While the slave insurgency was...
led by Charles Deslondes, a free person of color from Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
(formerly the French colony of Saint-Domingue
Saint-Domingue
The labour for these plantations was provided by an estimated 790,000 African slaves . Between 1764 and 1771, the average annual importation of slaves varied between 10,000-15,000; by 1786 it was about 28,000, and from 1787 onward, the colony received more than 40,000 slaves a year...
). It was the largest slave uprising in US history, but resulted in few fatalities among whites. Deslondes and his followers had been influenced by the ideas of the French and Haitian revolutions. In 1809-1810 French-speaking refugees from the Revolution immigrated by the thousands to New Orleans and Louisiana: white planters and their slaves, and free people of color, adding to the French Creole, African and free people of color populations.
Deslondes led followers to the plantation of Col. Manuel André, where they had hoped to get stored arms, but these were moved. They traveled downriver, gathering more slaves for the insurrection as they marched, armed simply with handtools and accompanying themselves with drums. More than 200 men participated in the insurrection; they killed two white men on their march toward New Orleans. The alarm was raised, and both militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
s and regular troops were called out by Gov. William C.C. Claiborne
William C.C. Claiborne
William Charles Cole Claiborne was a United States politician, best known as the first Governor of Louisiana. He also has the distinction of possibly being the youngest Congressman in U.S...
to put down the short-lived insurrection. The militias and troops killed 95 slaves in total, many immediately and others in executions after quick trials.
The community was once called "Sellers," after a wealthy family there. In 1911, the land was purchased by an agent for Royal Dutch/Shell Oil, and the New Orleans Refining Company (NORCO) was established. The community's name was officially changed from Sellers to Norco sometime after 1926.
Since 1995 members of the African American History Alliance of Louisiana have gathered annually at Norco in January to commemorate the events of the German Coast Uprising, when men of color reached for freedom decades before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and Emancipation
Emancipation
Emancipation means the act of setting an individual or social group free or making equal to citizens in a political society.Emancipation may also refer to:* Emancipation , a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 1979...
. They have been joined by descendants of the insurgents.
Geography
Norco is located at 30°0′14"N 90°24′39"W (30.003753, -90.410824). The city is situated on the eastern edge of the large Bonnet Carré SpillwayBonnet Carré Spillway
The Bonnet Carré Spillway is a flood control operation in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Located in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana - about west of New Orleans - it allows floodwaters from the Mississippi River to flow into Lake Pontchartrain and thence into the Gulf of Mexico...
, which provides for an outlet from the Mississippi River
Mississippi 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...
to Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
during flooding of the river.
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 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (12.83%) 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 3,579 people, 1,329 households, and 983 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 1,198.0 people per square mile (462.2/km²). There were 1,420 housing units at an average density of 475.3 per square mile (183.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 78.68% White, 19.22% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.34% 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 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% of the population.
There were 1,329 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% 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, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,270, and the median income for a family was $46,446. Males had a median income of $35,369 versus $22,406 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 $17,065. About 8.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Fenceline, PBS documentary about the oil industry in Norco, and how the community is divided over issues around it.