CUT OFF, LOUISIANA

'Cut Off' is a census-designated place and town located on the Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The population was 5,635 at the 2000 census.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

History

Geography

Cut Off is located at (29.515201, -90.333839).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 38.5 km² (14.9 mi²). 38.2 km² (14.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.74%) is water.

★ ZIP code: 70345

★ Area Code: 985

★ Local Telephone prefixes: 325, 632, 693

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,635 people, 2,033 households, and 1,608 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 147.4/km² (381.7/mi²). There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 55.9/km² (144.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.41% White, 1.12% African American, 3.78% Native American, 1.26% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.
There were 2,033 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 18.0% 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 2.76 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,077, and the median income for a family was $42,986. Males had a median income of $35,994 versus $19,225 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,353. About 7.3% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

History

Cut Off was the birthplace of early jazz clarinet great Jimmie Noone.
Cut Off is the hometown of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert.
Cut Off is the hometown of former The Real World castmember Trishelle Cannatella.
A historical marker now designates the site of the Cut Off Canal from which the community of Cut Off derives its name. The canal is located on Hwy 308 on the East Bank of Bayou Lafourche. During the War of 1812, General Andrew Jackson made a military desision that altered the flow of Bayou Lafourche. In 1814 he ordered that trees be cut down and placed in the deep bayou in order to prevent the British ascent sailing north and attacking New Orleans from the north via Donaldsonville and the Mississippi River.These obstructions remained after the Battle of New Orleans was won on January 9th.Even after forty plus years repeated pleas from the local farmers and State Legisture, The
Federal Government did nothing except study the situation.The State decided to dig an outfall canal in order to stop the flooding.In 1856 the dredge boat "Harmanson" was sent to commence the digging of the "cut off" outlet.In August of 1857 the canal was complete.It was not until 1873 through 1879 that the Federal Government removed thirty miles of sediment and obstructions. In the course of time,the
cut Off canal served many purposes. First,to disperse flood waters,then as a temporary water route through Little Lake to New Orleans,and even rumored to have been used during Prohibition. Today the Cut Off Canal is still significant for its rich history,but more importantly,for lending its name to our community.Roland.Guidry@la.gov Local Hisrorian.
A particular section of the town is known as Côte Blanche, French for "White Coast" because of a statistically abnormal number of white painted homes that lined Bayou Lafourche for much of the early and mid 1900's.
In a segment of ''Dirty Jobs'', Mike Rowe interviewed a Cut Off, LA alligator farmer.