ASSUMPTION PARISH, LOUISIANA

'Assumption Parish' ((French: ''Paroisse de l'Assomption'') is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and was formed in 1807 as an originial parish of the Louisiana Territory. Its parish seat is Napoleonville. In 2000, its population was 23,388. Assumption is one of the 22 Acadiana parishes. Its major product is sugarcane. In proportion to its area, Assumption Parish produces the most sugar of any parish of Louisiana.

Contents

Geography

Major Highways

Adjacent parishes

Demographics

Hurricane Katrina

Cities and towns

Geography

The parish has a total area of 944 km² (365 mi²). 877 km² (339 mi²) of it is land and 67 km² (26 mi²) of it (7.10%) is water.

Major Highways

★ U.S. Highway 90

★ Louisiana Highway 1

Adjacent parishes

★ Iberville Parish & Ascension Parish (north)

★ St. James Parish (northeast)

★ Lafourche Parish (east)

★ Terrebonne Parish (southeast)

★ St. Mary Parish (southwest)

★ Iberia Parish (northwest)

★ St. Martin Parish (west)

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 23,388 people, 8,239 households, and 6,311 families residing in the parish. The population density was 27/km² (69/mi²). There were 9,635 housing units at an average density of 11/km² (28/mi²). The racial makeup of the parish was 67.17% White, 31.52% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 81.14% of the population over the age of five spoke only English at home, while 17.58% reported speaking French or Cajun French &ea=&order=r.
There were 8,239 households out of which 37.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 14.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.40% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the parish the population was spread out with 28.50% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.
The median income for a household in the parish was $31,168, and the median income for a family was $36,052. Males had a median income of $35,941 versus $18,065 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $14,008. About 19.50% of families and 21.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

Hurricane Katrina

Assumption Parish was not badly affected by Hurricane Katrina as were some parishes in Southeast Louisiana. There were official reports of three deaths in the parish.
Two days before Hurricane Katrina's scheduled landfall, parish government ordered a voluntary evacuation for the entire Parish of Assumption. The next morning, parish leaders met once more and then decided to order a mandatory evacuation for all residents living within the parish.
After Katrina, schools were closed for a week because of widespread power outages, and a curfew was placed throughout the parish.

Cities and towns

★ Belle Rose ★ Labadieville

★ Napoleonville ★ Paincourtville

★ Pierre Part ★ Supreme