Parks, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Parks is a village in St. Martin Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 533 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lafayette
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Jeff Landry
, the Republican
U.S. Representative from the Third Congressional District
, is a former Parks police officer.
, inquired about the name of the settlement, the residents replied "C'est Pacques" (it's Easter
). The train engineer thought he understood the word Parks, and the name apparently stuck.
Parks, originally called Potier, lies in the area previously known as La Pointe District, which existed in 1765. It was also called La Pointe de Repose, supposedly because the cowhands in the early 19th century drove their cattle
into the cul-de-sac
formed by the sharp bend of the bayou
on round up time.
Settlement began in the Parks village shortly after 1900. Around that time, Paul Melancon purchased a large tract of land in the vicinity of what is now Parks in order to establish a cotton
farm. But, shortly after buying the property, he decided to divide a portion into town lots and the community took shape. In 1908, the village of 330 acres was incorporated. Since that time, Parks has remained approximately the same size.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 533 people, 207 households, and 150 families residing in the village. The population density
was 677.6 inhabitants per square mile (260.5/km²). There were 240 housing units at an average density of 305.1 per square mile (117.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 51.97% White, 47.47% African American, 0.38% Native American, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 207 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples
living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% 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 village the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $33,958, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $30,909 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,191. About 13.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
. The village of Parks is zoned to Parks Primary School (Grades PK-4), Parks Middle School (Grades 5-8), and Breaux Bridge High School http://www.stmartin.k12.la.us/bbhs (Grades 9-12).
St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
St. Martin Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is St. Martinville. As of the 2000 census, the population was 48,583.St...
, 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 533 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Jeff Landry
Jeff Landry
Jeffrey Martin "Jeff" Landry is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party and the Tea Party Caucus.-Early life, education, and military service:...
, the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Representative from the Third Congressional District
Louisiana's 3rd congressional district
Louisiana's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district surrounds the southern tier of the Greater New Orleans Area. The district contains large portions of southeastern and south central Louisiana, including River Parishes and East Acadiana...
, is a former Parks police officer.
History
The exact origin of the name "Parks" is somewhat of a mystery. Although some residents seem to think that it had something to do with the railroad, one story states the first train to pass through the community arrived on Easter Sunday. When the train engineer, who apparently did not speak or understand FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, inquired about the name of the settlement, the residents replied "C'est Pacques" (it's Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
). The train engineer thought he understood the word Parks, and the name apparently stuck.
Parks, originally called Potier, lies in the area previously known as La Pointe District, which existed in 1765. It was also called La Pointe de Repose, supposedly because the cowhands in the early 19th century drove their cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
into the cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
formed by the sharp bend of the bayou
Bayou
A bayou is an American term for a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying areas, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river , or to a marshy lake or wetland. The name "bayou" can also refer to creeks that see level changes due to tides and hold brackish water which...
on round up time.
Settlement began in the Parks village shortly after 1900. Around that time, Paul Melancon purchased a large tract of land in the vicinity of what is now Parks in order to establish a cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
farm. But, shortly after buying the property, he decided to divide a portion into town lots and the community took shape. In 1908, the village of 330 acres was incorporated. Since that time, Parks has remained approximately the same size.
Geography
Parks is located at 30°12′56"N 91°49′46"W (30.215675, -91.829472).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 village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
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 533 people, 207 households, and 150 families residing in the village. 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 677.6 inhabitants per square mile (260.5/km²). There were 240 housing units at an average density of 305.1 per square mile (117.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 51.97% White, 47.47% African American, 0.38% Native American, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 207 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% 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, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% 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 village the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $33,958, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $30,909 versus $22,500 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 village was $16,191. About 13.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools in St. Martin Parish are operated by the St. Martin Parish School BoardSt. Martin Parish School Board
The St. Martin Parish School Board is an entity responsible for the operation of public schools in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is headquartered in the city of St. Martinville.-Schools:...
. The village of Parks is zoned to Parks Primary School (Grades PK-4), Parks Middle School (Grades 5-8), and Breaux Bridge High School http://www.stmartin.k12.la.us/bbhs (Grades 9-12).