Ville Platte, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Ville Platte is a city in and the parish seat of Evangeline Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. The population was 8,145 at the 2000 census. Its name is derived from the French
ville plate, or "flat town."
Popular legend states the founder of Ville Platte was Marcellin Garand, an adjutant major in the Army of the French Empire
, during the time of Napoleon. In 1824 Garand obtained one of the first two lots that were platted in what is now Ville Platte; a Doctor Robert Windex obtained the other lot. Those lots were obtained from the estate of William O'Donegan. This appears to be the actual beginning of, or the founding of the present town of Ville Platte.
The first post office in Ville Platte was established in 1842 with Marcellin Garand as postmaster from then to 1848.
Ville Platte is also the home of Chicot State Park
. The park covers 6400 acres (25.9 km²) of rolling hills and water in South Central Louisiana. Chicot State Park has large amounts of deer, racoon, and other wildlife.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (7.9 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 8,145 people, 3,169 households, and 2,047 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,665.4 people per square mile (1,027.7/km²). There were 3,513 housing units at an average density of 1,149.6 per square mile (443.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 40.53% White, 58.67% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.11% from other races
, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 3,169 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% were married couples
living together, 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $12,917, and the median income for a family was $18,056. Males had a median income of $29,798 versus $16,563 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $9,672. About 43.5% of families and 50.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 68.9% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.
. Three campuses are located in Ville Platte - James Stephens Montessori School (Grades PK-4), Ville Platte Elementary School (Grades PK-4), and Ville Platte High School (Grades 5-12).
The famous St. Landry Parish Sheriff
Cat Doucet
was educated in Ville Platte.
and Cajun
music and cultural associations. It is one of the birthplaces of the Afro-creole Zydeco
music that has become one of the signatures of Louisiana culture throughout the world.
City Officials 2007-2011:
Mayor: Jennifer Vidrine
Members of the Council:
C.J. Dardeau,
Carol Alfred,
Mike Perron,
Rev. Freddie Jack,
Donald Sam,
Taranza Arvie
City Clerk: Shelley Fruge', Deputy Clerk: Cliff Fontenot
Chief of Police: Neal Lartigue
Evangeline Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 35,434 people, 12,736 households, and 9,157 families residing in the parish. The population density was 53 people per square mile . There were 14,258 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, 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 8,145 at the 2000 census. Its name is derived from the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
ville plate, or "flat town."
History
The area around Ville Platte appears to have been first settled during the last half of the eighteenth century, when Louisiana was under Spanish rule. The earliest record of settlement in the immediate area of Ville Platte was in the 1780s.Popular legend states the founder of Ville Platte was Marcellin Garand, an adjutant major in the Army of the French Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
, during the time of Napoleon. In 1824 Garand obtained one of the first two lots that were platted in what is now Ville Platte; a Doctor Robert Windex obtained the other lot. Those lots were obtained from the estate of William O'Donegan. This appears to be the actual beginning of, or the founding of the present town of Ville Platte.
The first post office in Ville Platte was established in 1842 with Marcellin Garand as postmaster from then to 1848.
Ville Platte is also the home of Chicot State Park
Chicot State Park
Chicot State Park is located near Ville Platte, Louisiana. This wildlife reserve of South Central Louisiana features of rolling hills surrounding a man-made lake stocked with bass, crappie , bluegill, and red-ear sunfish. Chicot Park offers fishing boat rentals, pavilions, barbecue pits, picnic...
. The park covers 6400 acres (25.9 km²) of rolling hills and water in South Central Louisiana. Chicot State Park has large amounts of deer, racoon, and other wildlife.
Geography
Ville Platte is located at 30°41′21"N 92°16′39"W (30.689140, -92.277534).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 3.1 square miles (7.9 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 8,145 people, 3,169 households, and 2,047 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 2,665.4 people per square mile (1,027.7/km²). There were 3,513 housing units at an average density of 1,149.6 per square mile (443.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 40.53% White, 58.67% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.11% 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 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 3,169 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% 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, 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $12,917, and the median income for a family was $18,056. Males had a median income of $29,798 versus $16,563 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 $9,672. About 43.5% of families and 50.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 68.9% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools in Evangeline Parish are operated by the Evangeline Parish School BoardEvangeline Parish School Board
The Evangeline Parish School Board is an entity responsible for the operation of public schools in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is headquartered in the city of Ville Platte.-Schools:*Grades 5-12**Basile High School...
. Three campuses are located in Ville Platte - James Stephens Montessori School (Grades PK-4), Ville Platte Elementary School (Grades PK-4), and Ville Platte High School (Grades 5-12).
The famous St. Landry Parish Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Cat Doucet
Cat Doucet
Daly Joseph Doucet, Sr., known as Cat Doucet , was a Democratic politician and a law enforcement officer from St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. He served as sheriff of St. Landry Parish for a total of twenty years.-Background:Doucet was born in Grand Prairie in St. Landry Parish to Lucius...
was educated in Ville Platte.
Culture
Ville Platte has significant CreoleLouisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
and Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
music and cultural associations. It is one of the birthplaces of the Afro-creole Zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
music that has become one of the signatures of Louisiana culture throughout the world.
Government
City Officials 2011-2015:City Officials 2007-2011:
Mayor: Jennifer Vidrine
Members of the Council:
C.J. Dardeau,
Carol Alfred,
Mike Perron,
Rev. Freddie Jack,
Donald Sam,
Taranza Arvie
City Clerk: Shelley Fruge', Deputy Clerk: Cliff Fontenot
Chief of Police: Neal Lartigue