Independence, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Independence, originally known as Uncle Sam, is a town
in Tangipahoa Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 1,724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hammond
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,724 people, 663 households, and 446 families residing in the town. The population density
was 772.4 people per square mile (298.5/km²). There were 735 housing units at an average density of 329.3 per square mile (127.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 60.90% White, 36.25% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.58% from other races
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population. Italian-Americans make up 30.7% of the population http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Italian.html
There were 663 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples
living together, 21.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,446, and the median income for a family was $30,685. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $17,105 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $10,495. About 20.8% of families and 29.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.3% of those under age 18 and 24.0% of those age 65 or over.
Many attributes of the Italian culture, including food, in Independence are described in Italian Culture in Independence. Other useful resources are Southeastern Louisiana University
's Center for Regional Studies and the Tangipahoa Parish tourist information center.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Tangipahoa Parish
Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Tangipahoa Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, one of the Florida Parishes. The parish seat is Amite City, but the major city is Hammond. As of 2006, the population was 113,137...
, 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 1,724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hammond
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Independence is located at 30°38′7"N 90°30′14"W (30.635293, -90.504005).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 town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
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 1,724 people, 663 households, and 446 families residing in the town. 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 772.4 people per square mile (298.5/km²). There were 735 housing units at an average density of 329.3 per square mile (127.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 60.90% White, 36.25% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.58% 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 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population. Italian-Americans make up 30.7% of the population http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Italian.html
There were 663 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% 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, 21.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,446, and the median income for a family was $30,685. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $17,105 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 town was $10,495. About 20.8% of families and 29.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.3% of those under age 18 and 24.0% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Independence has a large Italian-American community, as do neighbouring towns and villages, and boasts an Italian festival every year in April. Independence has sometimes been referred to colloquially as Little Italy, and Italian expatriates began settling here as early as the 19th Century.Many attributes of the Italian culture, including food, in Independence are described in Italian Culture in Independence. Other useful resources are Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
's Center for Regional Studies and the Tangipahoa Parish tourist information center.
Notable residents and natives
- Lexi BelleLexi BelleLexi Belle is an American pornographic actress.She was working in a video store where she was approached by someone who had seen her on MySpace and wanted to recruit her into the adult industry. Three months later, she visited her first porn set. Her first scene was the first time she had ever...
, noted adult performer - Bruce C. Bennett, state district judge
- Nick BrunoNick BrunoNick Joseph Bruno is president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe . He was appointed by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors on 2010 October 22, at the end of deliberations over the appointment in Baton Rouge. Bruno is the eighth president of ULM and succeeds James E. Cofer...
, President of the University of Louisiana at MonroeUniversity of Louisiana at MonroeThe University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:... - Frank LockettFrank LockettFrank Lockett is a former wide receiver in the National Football League. Lockett was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the tenth round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He later played with the Miami Dolphins during the 1985 NFL season...
, former NFL wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins - Clif RichardsonClif RichardsonClifton Russell Richardson , known as Clif Richardson, is an American politician and businessman from Greenwell Springs, Louisiana. He is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 65...
, state representative - LaBrandon ToefieldLaBrandon ToefieldLaBrandon Cordell Toefield is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, former LSU star runningback and NFL runningback for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers