NEW IBERIA, LOUISIANA

The city of 'New Iberia' (French: ''La Nouvelle-Ibérie'') is the parish seat of Iberia Parish, in the US state of Louisiana, 125 miles (201 km) west of New Orleans.
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In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia, Louisiana; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747. The population was 32,623 at the 2000 census.

Contents

Geography

History

Demographics

Notable persons

Points of Interest

References

External links

Geography

New Iberia is located at (30.003577, -91.818454) and has an elevation of .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.4 km² (10.6 mi²), all land.
New Iberia enjoys a sub-tropical climate with above average rainfall. Among the lakes is Lake Peigneur, which was formerly a 10-foot deep freshwater lake until a 1980 disaster involving oil drilling and a salt mine. The lake is now a 1300-foot deep salt water lake, having been refilled by the Gulf of Mexico.
This region has many natural features of interest, such as Avery Island, famous for its Tabasco sauce factory, deposits of rock salt, and Jungle Gardens.

History

The town of New Iberia dates from Spring 1779, when a group of 16 families of immigrants from the province of Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
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came up Bayou Teche and settled. The Spanish settlers called the town ''"Nueva Iberia"'' in honor of the Iberian Peninsula, and the French referred to the town as ''"Nouvelle Ibérie"'' while the English settlers called it "New Town" after the Louisiana Purchase.
In 1814, the federal government opened a post office, and it was officially known as "New Iberia," but postmarks shortly thereafter reveal that the town was being called "Nova Iberia" (with Latin for "new"). The town was incorporated as "Iberia" in 1839, but the state legislature resolved the situation in 1847, naming the town New Iberia.
In 1868, Iberia Parish (county) was established, and New Iberia became the seat of parish government. At first, only rented space served for the courthouse, but by 1884 a new courthouse stood on a landscaped lot in downtown New Iberia, at the present-day site of Bouligny Plaza. That courthouse served Iberia Parish until 1940, when the current courthouse was built along Iberia Street, two blocks from the New Iberia downtown commercial district.
New Iberia hosts the Louisiana Sugarcane Festival in September and the Gumbo Cook-Off in October.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 32,623 people, 11,756 households, and 8,335 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,192.8/km² (3,088.8/mi²). There were 12,880 housing units at an average density of 470.9/km² (1,219.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.99% White, 38.42% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 11,756 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city of New Iberia, the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,079, and the median income for a family was $30,828. Males had a median income of $30,289 versus $16,980 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,084. About 24.9% of families and 29.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable persons

'Natives'

★ Kathleen Blanco, governor of Louisiana,

★ George Rodrigue, artist famous for the ''Blue Dog'' paintings

★ Mark Roman, NFL Defensive Back, Currently with San Francisco 49ers
'Residents'

★ James Lee Burke, mystery writer

★ Bunk Johnson, former jazz legend

★ Paul Schwing, 'Mayor of Main St.'

★ Louis W. Belaire, Actor "Return To Boggy Creek"

★ Patrick T. Caffery, Sr., prominent attorney. Former U.S. Congressman from Louisiana and grandson of former U.S.Senator Donelson Caffery from Louisiana

Points of Interest

★ Shadows-on-the-Teche historic residence, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation http://www.shadowsontheteche.org/

★ Avery Island, home of Tabasco sauce and the oldest salt mine in North America.

★ Annual 'Bunk Johnson/New Iberia Jazz, Arts & Heritage Festival', also known as the 'BunkFest.'

★ Jungle Gardens, botanical garden and bird sanctuary.

★ Sugar Cane Festival, to celebrate the commencement of the sugar cane harvest, locally referred to as ''grinding.'' Sugar cane is a principal crop grown by New Iberia farmers.

★ The Iberia Community Band hosts four public concerts throughout the year and is open to amateur, student, and professional band instrumentalists of all ages and skill levels.

★ A local curiosity is an ancient seven-foot marble statue of Roman emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD), located on the corner of Weeks and St. Peter Streets.

★ New Iberia is home to fictional detective Dave Robicheaux and his creator, author James Lee Burke.

References

1.
"New Iberia, Louisiana (LA) Detailed Profile" (notes),
''City Data'', 2007, webpage:
C-NIb.

2.
"Census 2000 Data for the State of Louisiana" (town list),
US Census Bureau, May 2003, webpage:
C2000-LA.

3.
"Two Malaguenos Settlers of New Iberia" (notes),
TheCajuns.com, webpage:
TheCajuns-Malag.

4.
"The History of New Iberia" (article),
CityOfNewIberia.com, 2003, webpage:
CNI-Hist.

External links

★ City of New Iberia

★ Shadows-on-the-Teche

★ The Iberia Community Concert Band

★ Bunk Johnson New Iberia Jazz Festival site