Sicily Island, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Sicily Island is a village in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
, United States. The population was 453 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all land.
who were fleeing the pogroms that began that same year. By 1882, the colony was completely disbanded as the Mississippi flooded destroying most farms.
of 2000, there were 453 people, 197 households, and 110 families residing in the village. The population density
was 790.4 inhabitants per square mile (306.8/km²). There were 245 housing units at an average density of 427.5 per square mile (166.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 44.81% White, 54.53% African American, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.
There were 197 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.7% were non-families. 41.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $14,783, and the median income for a family was $23,036. Males had a median income of $25,750 versus $14,821 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $11,972. About 45.5% of families and 47.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.6% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Catahoula Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Harrisonburg, located on the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern boundary of the parish. In 2000, the population of the parish was 10,920.-Prehistory:...
, United States. The population was 453 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Sicily Island is located at 31°50′48"N 91°39′32"W (31.846573, -91.658925).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 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all land.
History
In 1881, a Jewish agricultural colony was created in Sicily Island. The colony was mostly made up of immigrants from ElizavetgradKirovohrad
Kirovohrad , formerly Yelisavetgrad, is a city in central Ukraine. It is located on the Inhul River. It is a motorway junction. Pop. 239,400 ....
who were fleeing the pogroms that began that same year. By 1882, the colony was completely disbanded as the Mississippi flooded destroying most farms.
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 453 people, 197 households, and 110 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 790.4 inhabitants per square mile (306.8/km²). There were 245 housing units at an average density of 427.5 per square mile (166.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 44.81% White, 54.53% African American, 0.22% 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 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.
There were 197 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.7% were non-families. 41.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $14,783, and the median income for a family was $23,036. Males had a median income of $25,750 versus $14,821 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 $11,972. About 45.5% of families and 47.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.6% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives and residents
- Cecil R. BlairCecil R. BlairCecil Ray Blair was a Rapides Parish farmer and businessman who was a Democratic member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1952 to 1956...
, Louisiana State SenatorLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from Rapides Parish, grew up in Sicily Island. - J.C. "Sonny" Gilbert, cottonCottonCotton 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....
planter, former member of both the Louisiana House of RepresentativesLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
(1972–1976) and the Louisiana State SenateLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
(1960–1972), and former director of Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission, resides in Sicily Island. - Joe Raymond PeaceJoe Raymond PeaceJoseph Raymond Peace, Jr. is the former Louisiana Tech University head football coach of eight seasons from 1988-1995. He ushered the Tech football program into NCAA Division I-A football in 1989.Peace is an alumnus of Louisiana Tech...
, football coach - William S. Peck, Jr.William S. Peck, Jr.William Smith Peck, Jr. , was a businessmanfrom Sicily Island in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, who served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1956–1964, during the administrations of Governors Earl Kemp Long and Jimmie Davis. His father, William S...
, member of the Louisiana House from 1956–1964 - William S. Peck, Sr.William S. Peck, Sr.William Smith Peck, Sr. was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Sicily Island in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, having served from 1920-1928....
, member of the Louisiana House from 1920–1928 - Sonny SimmonsSonny SimmonsHuey "Sonny" Simmons is an American jazz musician.He grew up in Oakland, California, where he began playing the english horn. At age 16 he took up the alto saxophone, which became his primary instrument...
, jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician, was born in Sicily Island in 1933. - S. S. DeWittS. S. DeWittSturgis Sprague DeWitt, known primarily as S.S. DeWitt was a farmer and businessman from Newellton and St. Joseph in Tensas Parish in northeastern Louisiana who served as a conservative Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1964–1972.In 1963, DeWitt unseated 20-year...
, a member of the Louisiana House from 1964-1972 from Tensas Parish, was born in Sicily Island and graduated from Sicily Island High School in 1931.