Grand Coteau, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grand Coteau, Louisiana
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Town
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| Town of Grand Coteau | |
Location of Grand Coteau in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | St. Landry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.42 sq mi (6.27 km2) |
| • Land | 2.42 sq mi (6.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 776 |
| • Density | 320.26/sq mi (123.67/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 337 |
| FIPS code | 22-30760 |
Grand Coteau is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 947 at the 2010 census. Grand Coteau is on Interstate 49 south of Opelousas and is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town is a center for local farming. As of 2018[update], the mayor is Patrick Richard.
History
The first known land grant by the colonial Louisiana government was in 1776 in the area referred to as Buzzard Prairie. In the early 19th century, Buzzard Prairie served as a stopping point for travelers between Washington, Louisiana, and St. Martinville, Louisiana. The thriving community had two bakeries, a cobbler, a millinery, a blacksmith shop, a post office and six bars.
In 1821, Mrs. Charles Smith, widow of a wealthy planter in Opelousas, donated land, a two-story building, and funds to pay for the travel expenses of two nuns from St. Charles, Missouri. The two nuns of the Religious of the Sacred Heart founded a convent and a school that became the Academy of the Sacred Heart.
The Jesuits arrived in 1837 when St. Charles College was built. The settlement that grew up around the schools was called St. Charles Town before it was changed to Grand Coteau. Grand Coteau is derived from the French meaning "great hill."
On October 3, 1863, the Campaign of the Teche was commenced. The Ninety-ninth infantry regiment of Illinois was in several skirmishes, and a detachment of the regiment, Captain A. C. Mathews commanding, was engaged in the Battle of Grand Coteau. On November 9, they moved on to New Orleans. Although thousands of Union troops were encamped in the fields surrounding the Academy during the Civil War, the school was not touched.
In the 19th century the population of Grand Coteau grew with African-Americans, free people of color, Acadians, Creoles, French, Irish, and German immigrants. The town retains examples of Victorian architecture from its mid-19th-century boom.
Geography
Grand Coteau is located at 30°25′8″N 92°2′53″W / 30.41889°N 92.04806°W (30.418861, -92.048174).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), all of it land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 470 | — | |
| 1880 | 302 | −35.7% | |
| 1890 | 333 | 10.3% | |
| 1900 | 521 | 56.5% | |
| 1910 | 392 | −24.8% | |
| 1920 | 470 | 19.9% | |
| 1930 | 580 | 23.4% | |
| 1940 | 662 | 14.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,103 | 66.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,165 | 5.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,301 | 11.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,165 | −10.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,118 | −4.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,040 | −7.0% | |
| 2010 | 947 | −8.9% | |
| 2020 | 776 | −18.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 247 | 31.83% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 483 | 62.24% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.13% |
| Asian | 1 | 0.13% |
| Other/Mixed | 19 | 2.45% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 25 | 3.22% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 776 people, 296 households, and 182 families residing in the town.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 947 people living in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 71.0% Black, 26.0% White, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from some other race and 0.6% from two or more races. 2.2% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Grand Coteau has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
See also
In Spanish: Grand Coteau para niños
