Poydras is a census-designated place (CDP) in

St. Bernard Parish St. Bernard Parish (french: Paroisse de Saint-Bernard; es, Parroquia de San Bernardo) is a parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat and largest community is Chalmette. The parish was formed in 1807. St. Bernard Parish is part of ...

, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,886 at the 2000 census and 2,536 in

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

. It is part of the New Orleans– Metairie– Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. Poydras is on the East Bank of the Mississippi River, just upriver from the

Plaquemines Parish Plaquemines Parish (; French: ''Paroisse de Plaquemine'', Louisiana French: ''Paroisse des Plaquemines'', es, Parroquia de Caquis) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 23,515 at the 2020 census, the parish ...

line.

History

Poydras was first settled in the 18th century by Isleños when Louisiana was a

Spanish colony The Spanish Empire ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its predece ...

. Presumably, the town is named for

Julien Poydras Julien de Lallande (Lalande) Poydras (April 3, 1740 – June 23, 1824) was a French American merchant, planter, financier, poet, educator and political leader who served as Delegate from the Territory of Orleans to the U.S. House of Represen ...

. Albert Estopinal, Jr., a St. Bernard Parish district attorney, judge, and sheriff, was born in Poydras in 1869 to later

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

, Albert Estopinal, Sr. The locally constructed levee failed during the 1922 flood and the community of Poydras was destroyed. Some historians claim that the levee break was intentional to save the City of New Orleans. The New Orleans

river stage A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...

dropped .2 foot within 24 hours of the Poydras crevasse and a sound levee had been inspected and reported only 30 minutes before the breach occurred. Poydras was severely damaged by the impact of

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...

on 29 August 2005.

Geography

Poydras is located at (29.869696, -89.888955). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (4.81%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,886 people, 1,361 households, and 1,023 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 1,518 housing units at an average density of . According to 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 of ...

, there were 2,536 people, 944 households, and 638 families residing in the CDP. The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.88% White, 8.65% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.57%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races in 2000. Hispanic or Latinos of any race were 5.22% of the population. By 2020 its racial makeup was 62.46% non-Hispanic white, 14.71% Black or African American, 0.79% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 4.3% multiracial or another race, and 17.31% Hispanic or Latino of any race, reflecting the demographic shift of American self-identification.

Education

Residents are zoned to schools in the

St. Bernard Parish Public Schools St. Bernard Parish Public Schools is a school district headquartered in unincorporated St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, United States. The district operates public schools in the parish. School uniforms The district requires students to wea ...

. As of 2015

Chalmette High School Chalmette High School is a public secondary school in the unincorporated Chalmette area of St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a part of St. Bernard Parish Public Schools. History The history of Chalmette High School began i ...

serves the population.

References

{{authority control Census-designated places in Louisiana Census-designated places in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana Census-designated places in New Orleans metropolitan area Louisiana Isleño communities Louisiana populated places on the Mississippi River