Bunkie, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Bunkie is a city in Avoyelles Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 4,662 at the 2000 census.
Bunkie is the birthplace of jazz
drummer Zutty Singleton. Sue Eakin
, Louisiana historian
and former publisher of the Bunkie Record, resided in Bunkie for most of her life until her death in 2009 at the age of ninety. Her works include Avoyelles Parish: Crossroads of Louisiana.
Ronnie Johns
, an incoming member of the Louisiana State Senate
from Sulphur
in Calcasieu Parish
, was reared in Bunkie and graduated from Bunkie High School in 1967.
Since 1987, Bunkie has hosted the annual Louisiana Corn Festival during the second full weekend of June.
Bunkie is also well known as the rice, sugarcane, sweet potato, waterfowl, boudin, boiled crawfish, fried fish, and cajun capital of the world.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (6.9 km²), of which, 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²) of it is land and 0.38% is water.
of 2000, there were 4,662 people, 1,698 households, and 1,198 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,763.4 people per square mile (681.8/km²). There were 1,866 housing units at an average density of 705.8 per square mile (272.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.54% White, 50.26% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.34% from other races
, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.
There were 1,698 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples
living together, 26.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $14,745, and the median income for a family was $23,448. Males had a median income of $31,382 versus $19,479 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $10,302. About 34.4% of families and 37.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.9% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.
Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
Avoyelles is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Marksville. In 2000, its population was 41,481. The parish is named for the Avoyel Indian tribe.-History:...
, 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 4,662 at the 2000 census.
Bunkie is the birthplace of jazz
Jazz
Jazz 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...
drummer Zutty Singleton. Sue Eakin
Sue Eakin
Myrtle Sue Lyles Eakin, known as Sue Eakin , was an American professor, newspaper columnist, and historian from Bunkie in Avoyelles Parish, who researched Louisiana history, particularly the Old South plantation system.-Early years:Eakin was born on the Compromise Plantation in the Lyles community...
, Louisiana historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and former publisher of the Bunkie Record, resided in Bunkie for most of her life until her death in 2009 at the age of ninety. Her works include Avoyelles Parish: Crossroads of Louisiana.
Ronnie Johns
Ronnie Johns (Louisiana politician)
Ronald Steven Johns, known as Ronnie Johns , is a State Farm Insurance agency owner in Sulphur, Louisiana, who is an incoming Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from District 27 in Calcasieu Parish. He is unopposed in the nonpartisan blanket primary set for October 22, 2011, to choose...
, an incoming member of the Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All Senators serve four year terms and are assigned multiple committees to work on. The Republicans control the State Senate following a Special Election Victory in District 26 by Jonathan W. Perry...
from Sulphur
Sulphur, Louisiana
Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 22,512 at the 2000 census. Sulphur is a suburb of Lake Charles, and is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in Calcasieu Parish
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish[p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Charles. As of 2010, the parish population was 192,768...
, was reared in Bunkie and graduated from Bunkie High School in 1967.
Since 1987, Bunkie has hosted the annual Louisiana Corn Festival during the second full weekend of June.
Bunkie is also well known as the rice, sugarcane, sweet potato, waterfowl, boudin, boiled crawfish, fried fish, and cajun capital of the world.
Geography
Bunkie is located at 30°57′13"N 92°11′8"W (30.953566, -92.185462).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 city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (6.9 km²), of which, 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²) of it is land and 0.38% is water.
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 4,662 people, 1,698 households, and 1,198 families residing in the city. 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 1,763.4 people per square mile (681.8/km²). There were 1,866 housing units at an average density of 705.8 per square mile (272.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.54% White, 50.26% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.34% 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 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.
There were 1,698 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% 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, 26.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $14,745, and the median income for a family was $23,448. Males had a median income of $31,382 versus $19,479 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 city was $10,302. About 34.4% of families and 37.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.9% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.