Evangeline Parish (french: Paroisse d'Évangéline) is a

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or ...

located in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is bord ...

. As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,984. The

parish seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

Ville Platte Ville Platte is the largest city in, and the parish seat of, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,430 at the 2010 census, down from 8,145 in 2000. The city's name is of French origin, roughly translating to "flat town ...

History

The parish was created out of lands formerly belonging to St. Landry Parish in 1910. The majority of the area was originally settled by French Canadian colonists and former colonial marines (''coureurs de bois'') from such outposts as

Fort Toulouse Fort Toulouse and Fort Jackson are two forts that shared the same site at the fork of the Coosa River and the Tallapoosa River, near Wetumpka, Alabama. Fort Toulouse Fort Toulouse (Muscogee: Franca choka chula), also called Fort des Alibamons a ...

and

Fort Kaskaskia Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site is a 200-acre (0.8 km²) park near Chester, Illinois, on a blufftop overlooking the Mississippi River. It commemorates the vanished frontier town of '' Old Kaskaskia'' and the support it gave to George ...

and later included 19th-century French-speaking soldiers and immigrant families. The early generations were born in colonial French colonies, which included the enormous Louisiana territory ('Upper and Lower' Louisiana) known as "la Nouvelle France", and later were born under Spanish rule. Many people of Evangeline are primarily of French, English, and Spanish descent from Louisiana's colonial period. Examples of the French family names are Fontenot, Brignac, Ardoin, Bordelon, Vidrine, Courville, Gaspard, LaFleur, Chataignier, Dupre, Berza, Manuel, Ratelle, Fuselier, Landreneau, Andrepont, Guillory, Soileau, LeBas, and Gobert, among others. People of Spanish

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, :es:Canarias, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to ...

heritage ( Isleños) can be observed to have settled in the Parish as well, bringing names like Aguillard, Casaneuva, De Soto, Ortego, Rozas, and Segura. Many

English Americans English Americans (historically known as Anglo-Americans) are Americans whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England. In the 2020 American Community Survey, 25.21 million self-identified as being of English origin. The term is disti ...

as colonists came from the Eastern United States to settle in the newly purchased Louisiana Territory often married into Acadian families. Some prominent English surnames include Chapman, Kershaw, Young, Reed, Langley, Tate and Buller. A few

Acadians The Acadians (french: Acadiens , ) are an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Most Acadians live in the region of Acadia, as it is the region where the de ...

such as François Pitre and his wife settled the area between Evangeline and St. Landry parishes, preferring the rich pre-American and pre-

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polici ...

era

Cajun The Cajuns (; French: ''les Cadjins'' or ''les Cadiens'' ), also known as Louisiana ''Acadians'' (French: ''les Acadiens''), are a Louisiana French ethnicity mainly found in the U.S. state of Louisiana. While Cajuns are usually described as ...

planter's lifestyle over that of the humble and isolated existence of their

Acadiana Acadiana (French and Louisiana French: ''L'Acadiane''), also known as the Cajun Country ( Louisiana French: ''Le Pays Cadjin'', es, País Cajún), is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that has historically contained ...

cousins. The parish was named ''Evangeline'' in honor of

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include "Paul Revere's Ride", ''The Song of Hiawatha'', and '' Evangeline''. He was the first American to completely trans ...

's narrative poem, ''

Evangeline ''Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie'' is an epic poem by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written in English and published in 1847. The poem follows an Acadian girl named Evangeline and her search for her lost love Gabriel, set during t ...

''. It was from this poem that founding father Paulin Fontenot was to propose the namesake of "Evangeline" for this parish, allegedly foreseeing an emerging American tourism centered upon the Acadian saga. (See ''Ville Platte Gazette'', Sept. 2010) In 19th-century American literature, she would gain popularity through Hollywood's interest, and thus began the embryonic 'Acadian-based' tourism which sprang up in St. Martinville. Evangeline Parish is mentioned in the

Randy Newman Randall Stuart Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist known for his Southern-accented singing style, early Americana-influenced songs (often with mordant or satirical lyrics), and vari ...

song "

Louisiana 1927 "Louisiana 1927" is a 1974 song written and recorded by Randy Newman on the album '' Good Old Boys''. It tells the story of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 which left 700,000 people homeless in Louisiana and Mississippi. Lyrics Sung from the ...

", in which he described the Great Mississippi Flood which covered it with six feet of water. Ville Platte, Louisiana, the

seat A seat is a place to sit. The term may encompass additional features, such as back, armrest, head restraint but also headquarters in a wider sense. Types of seat The following are examples of different kinds of seat: * Armchair, a chair ...

of Evangeline Parish, was itself so named by one of Napoleon Bonaparte's former soldiers, Adjutant Major Marcellin Garand (1781-1852), of Savoy, France. (See ''Napoleon's Soldiers In America'', by Simone de la Souchere-Delery, 1999).

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the parish has a total area of , of which is land and (2.5%) is water.

Major highways

Interstate 49 Interstate 49 (I-49) is a north–south Interstate Highway that exists in multiple segments: the original portion entirely within the state of Louisiana with an additional signed portion extending from I-220 in Shreveport to the Arkansas st ...

U.S. Highway 190 U.S. Route 190 (US 190) is an east–west United States Highway in Louisiana and Texas. Segments of US 190 will be upgraded to Interstate 14 (I-14); the first segment was opened on January 26, 2017. Route description , - , TX , , - , ...

U.S. Highway 167 * Louisiana 10

Louisiana Highway 10 * Louisiana 13

Louisiana Highway 13 Louisiana Highway 13 (LA 13) is a state highway located in southern Louisiana. It runs in a north–south direction from LA 14 west of Kaplan to US 167 in Turkey Creek. The route connects several small population centers in th ...

Louisiana Highway 29 Louisiana Highway 29 (LA 29) is a state highway located in southern Louisiana. It runs in a north–south direction from LA 13 north of Eunice to LA 114 west of Moreauville. The route connects Eunice, a city in western St. Lan ...

Adjacent parishes

Rapides Parish Rapides Parish () (french: Paroisse des Rapides) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,613. The parish seat is Alexandria, which developed along the Red River of the South. ''Rapides' ...

(north) *

Avoyelles Parish Avoyelles (french: Paroisse des Avoyelles) is a parish located in central eastern Louisiana on the Red River where it effectively becomes the Atchafalaya River and meets the Mississippi River. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42 ...

(northeast) * St. Landry Parish (east) * Acadia Parish (south) * Allen Parish (west)

National protected area

* Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge (part)

State parks

* Chicot State Park * Louisiana State Arboretum

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...

, there were 32,350 people, 12,172 households, and 7,739 families residing in the parish.

2010 census

As of the

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators serving ...

, there were 33,984 people living in the parish. 69.0% were

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 28.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 2.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 40.0% were of

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

French Canadian French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fre ...

ancestry and 9.1% identified as having

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

ancestry.

2000 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2000, there were 35,434 people, 12,736 households, and 9,157 families living in the parish. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was 53 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 14,258 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the parish was 70.42%

, 28.57%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.23% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.18% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race. 25.71% reported speaking

Cajun French Louisiana French ( frc, français de la Louisiane; lou, françé la lwizyàn) is an umbrella term for the dialects and varieties of the French language spoken traditionally by French Louisianians in colonial Lower Louisiana. As of today Louis ...

at home, the highest percentage of any Louisiana parish. There were 12,736 households, out of which 38.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19. In the parish the population was spread out, with 29.60% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males. The median income for a household in the parish was $20,532, and the median income for a family was $27,243. Males had a median income of $30,386 versus $16,793 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the parish was $11,432. About 27.20% of families and 32.20% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 39.10% of those under age 18 and 31.00% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public Schools in Evangeline Parish are operated by the Evangeline Parish School Board. * Bayou Chicot Elementary School (Grades PK-8) (Ville Platte) * Chataignier Elementary School (Grades PK-8) (Chataignier) * James Stephens Montessori School (Grades PK-6) (Ville Platte) * Mamou Elementary School (Grades PK-4) (Mamou) * Vidrine Elementary School (Grades PK-8) (Ville Platte) * Ville Platte Elementary School (Grades PK-4) (Ville Platte) * W. W. Stewart Elementary (Grades PK-4) (Basile) * Basile High School (Grades 5–12) (Basile) * Mamou High School (Grades 5–12) (Mamou) * Pine Prairie High School (Grades 9–12) (Pine Prairie) * Ville Platte High School (Grades 5–12) (Ville Platte) * Evangeline Central School (Grades 4–12) (Ville Platte) Evangeline Parish is also served by the Diocese of Lafayette with one school: * Sacred Heart School (Grades K-12) (Ville Platte) Additionally, Evangeline Parish is served by one unaffiliated private school: * Christian Heritage Academy (Grade K) (Ville Platte) Evangeline Parish is served by one institutions of higher education: *

South Louisiana Community College South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) (French: Collège communautaire de la Louisiane du Sud) is a public community college in Lafayette, Louisiana. It was established in 1997 to provide academic and vocational training. Its service area inc ...

service area, C. B. Coreil Campus (

Communities

Map of Evangeline Parish Louisiana With Municipal Labels

City

(parish seat and largest municipality)

Towns

* Basile *

Mamou Mamou (Pular: 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤥𞤵𞤲) is a city and sub-prefecture in a valley of the Fouta Djallon area of Guinea. Population 376,269 (2018 est),and the city is almost 98% Fulani tribe. Chataignier * Pine Prairie * Turkey Creek

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

* Reddell * Vidrine

Other unincorporated communities

* Bayou Chicot * Saint Landry * Tate Cove * Belaire Cove * Beaver * Lone Pine * Lake Cove

Notable people

* Amédé Ardoin, Creole singer and Cajun accordion virtuoso * Winston De Ville - noted genealogist and publisher of hundreds of articles and numerous books *

Eric LaFleur Eric LaFleur (born March 28, 1964, in Ville Platte, Louisiana) is an American attorney and politician. A Democrat, LaFleur is a former member of the Louisiana State Senate for the 28th district, serving from 2008 until 2020. Earlier he was ...

, lawyer and Senator and sponsor of several important bills and represented historic Senate Resolution #30 * Bernard LeBas, a Ville Platte pharmacist who has represented Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the

Louisiana House of Representatives The Louisiana House of Representatives (french: link=no, Chambre des Représentants de Louisiane) is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. This chamber is composed of 105 rep ...

since 2008 * Walter L. Lee - Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court, 1956-2012

Politics

Sources

* Title: ''The Cajunization of French Louisiana: Forging a Regional Identity. ''Authors: Trepanier, Cecyle Source: 'Geographical Journal'; Jul 91, Vol. 157 Issue 2, p161, 11p, 2 charts, 10 maps * French, Cajun, Creole, Houma : a primer on francophone Louisiana / Carl A. Brasseaux. * https://web.archive.org/web/20091026030323/http://geocities.com/old_time_time/many.htm * ''A history of Evangeline : its land, its men and its women who made it a beautiful place to live'', Robert Gahn, Sr. ; edited by Revon John Reed, Sr. Baton Rouge, LA : Claitor's, c 1972 * ''La Voix des Prairies'', Evangeline Genealogical and Historical Society. * Bonnes Nouvelles : good news about people, places and things in Evangeline Parish. Ville Platte, La. : Bonnes Nouvelles, 1993- * ''Fort Toulouse : The French Outpost at the Alabamas on the Coosa'', Gregory A. Thomas * Louisiana's French Creole Culinary & Linguistic Traditions: Facts vs. Fiction Before And Since Cajunization, John laFleur II, Brian Costello w/ Dr. Ina Fandrich 2013 * ''Louisiana's Creole French People, Our Food, Language & Culture: 500 Years of Culture'' copyright 2014, John laFleur II

National Guard

The 1086th Transportation Company of the 165th CSS (Combat Service Support) Battalion resides in Ville Platte, Louisiana. This unit belongs to the 139th RSG (regional support group).

References

External links

Evangeline Parish School Board

Evangeline Parish Tourism Commission

City of Ville Platte

Evangeline Parish Library

Tournoi
Geology * Snead, J., P. V. Heinrich, and R. P. McCulloh, 2002
''Ville Platte 30 x 60 minute geologic quadrangle.''
Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. {{authority control Louisiana parishes Parishes in Acadiana Acadiana 1910 establishments in Louisiana Populated places established in 1910

History

Geography

Major highways

Adjacent parishes

National protected area

State parks

Demographics

2020 census

2010 census

2000 census

Education

Communities

City

Towns

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Notable people

Politics

See also

Sources

National Guard

References

External links