Sellers, Louisiana
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Norco is a
census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...
(CDP) in
St. Charles Parish St. Charles Parish (french: Paroisse de Saint-Charles) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, its population was 52,549. The parish seat is Hahnville and the most populous community is Luling. The parish was ...
,
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 borde ...
, United States. The population was 2,984 at the 2020 census. The community is home to a major Shell petroleum refinery. The CDP's name is derived from the New Orleans Refining Company.


Etymology

The community of Norco was once called "Sellers," after a wealthy family there. In 1911, the land was purchased by an agent for
Shell Oil Shell plc is a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, England. Shell is a public limited company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and secondary listings on Euronext Amsterdam and the New Yor ...
, and the New Orleans Refining Company (NORCO) was established. The community's name was officially changed from Sellers to Norco sometime after 1926.


History

By the late 18th century,
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 ...
and European colonial settlers had established numerous sugar cane
plantations A plantation is an agricultural estate, generally centered on a plantation house, meant for farming that specializes in cash crops, usually mainly planted with a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. The ...
. They imported enslaved
Africans African or Africans may refer to: * Anything from or pertaining to the continent of Africa: ** People who are native to Africa, descendants of natives of Africa, or individuals who trace their ancestry to indigenous inhabitants of Africa *** Ethn ...
as laborers. As sugar cane cultivation was highly labor-intensive, the slave population greatly outnumbered the ethnic Europeans in the colony, a circumstance that continued after the
Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase (french: Vente de la Louisiane, translation=Sale of Louisiana) was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from the French First Republic in 1803. In return for fifteen million dollars, or app ...
by the United States in 1803. On January 8, 1811, planters were alarmed by the German Coast Uprising led by
Charles Deslondes Charles Deslondes ( – January 11, 1811) was an African-American revolutionary who was one of the leaders in the 1811 German Coast Uprising, a slave revolt that began on January 8, 1811, in the Territory of Orleans. He led more than 200 rebel ...
, a
free person of color In the context of the history of slavery in the Americas, free people of color (French: ''gens de couleur libres''; Spanish: ''gente de color libre'') were primarily people of mixed African, European, and Native American descent who were not ...
from
Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
(formerly the French colony of
Saint-Domingue Saint-Domingue () was a French colony in the western portion of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, in the area of modern-day Haiti, from 1659 to 1804. The name derives from the Spanish main city in the island, Santo Domingo, which came to refer ...
). It was the largest slave uprising in US history, though it resulted in few white fatalities. Deslondes and his followers had been influenced by the ideas of the
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 ...
and Haitian revolutions. In 1809–1810, French-speaking refugees from the Revolution immigrated by the thousands to New Orleans and Louisiana: white planters and their slaves, and
free people of color In the context of the history of slavery in the Americas, free people of color (French: ''gens de couleur libres''; Spanish: ''gente de color libre'') were primarily people of mixed African, European, and Native American descent who were not ...
, adding to the French Creole, African and free people of color populations. Deslondes led followers to the plantation of Col. Manuel André, where they had hoped to seize stored arms, but those had been moved. The band traveled downriver, gathering more slaves for the insurrection as they marched. They were armed simply with hand tools and accompanied their progress by drums. More than 200 men participated in the uprising; they killed two white men on their march toward New Orleans. The alarm was raised, and both militia and regular troops were called out by Gov. William C.C. Claiborne to put down the short-lived revolt. The white militia and troops killed 95 slaves in total, many immediately and others in executions after quick trials. Since 1995 members of the African American History Alliance of Louisiana have gathered annually at Norco in January to commemorate the events of the German Coast Uprising, when men of color reached for freedom decades before the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
and emancipation. They have been joined by descendants of the insurgents. In 1942, a Catholic Church, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, was founded.


Geography

Norco is located at (30.003753, -90.410824). The city is situated on the eastern edge of the large
Bonnet Carré Spillway The Bonnet Carré Spillway is a flood control operation in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Located in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, about west of New Orleans, it allows floodwaters from the Mississippi River to flow into Lake Pontchartrain and ...
, which provides for an outlet from the
Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...
to
Lake Pontchartrain Lake Pontchartrain ( ) is an estuary located in southeastern Louisiana in the United States. It covers an area of with an average depth of . Some shipping channels are kept deeper through dredging. It is roughly oval in shape, about from west ...
during flooding of the river. According to the
United States 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 CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (12.83%) is water. There are two distinct neighborhoods in Norco, one of which is 'Diamond' that spans about four blocks and it is 100% African American and the other neighborhood in Norco is 98% white.


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 of ...
, there were 2,984 people, 1,201 households, and 750 families residing in the CDP.


Education

St. Charles Parish Public School System The St. Charles Parish Public School System is a public school district headquartered in Luling, Louisiana. It serves all of St. Charles Parish. Schools ''Note: There are no incorporated places in St. Charles Parish. The communities listed in it ...
operates public schools, including: * Norco Elementary K-3 School * Norco Elementary 4-6 School *
Destrehan High School Destrehan High School is a public high school located in Destrehan, Louisiana, United States and is approximately twenty-five miles west of New Orleans. It is part of the St. Charles Parish Public School System and serves all students on the eas ...
in
Destrehan Destrehan is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. At the 2020 census, its population was 11,340. Etymology The community is named after Jean Noël Destréhan (1754–1823), who was twice President of ...
Prior to 1969 Mary M. Bethune High School in Norco served area black students; that year it closed, with high school students moved to Destrehan High School.


Notable people

*
Minor Hall Minor Hall (March 2, 1897 – October 16, 1959), better known as Ram Hall,Tubby Hall Alfred "Tubby" Hall (October 12, 1895 – May 13, 1945) was an American jazz drummer. Hall was born in Sellers, Louisiana; his family moved to New Orleans in his childhood. His younger brother Minor "Ram" Hall also became a professional drummer ...
, jazz drummer *
James Brown Humphrey James Brown Humphrey, also known as "Professor Jim" Humphrey (1859 -1937) was a musician, bandleader, and music instructor in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States and central figure in the formation of jazz as a contemporary musical art form. Hum ...
, Musician, bandleader, and music instructor *
Damaris Johnson Damaris Keith Johnson (born November 22, 1989) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). After playing college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, he was signe ...
, NFL wide receiver/punt returner for the
Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays ...
and
Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division, and play their home ga ...
*
Jamall Johnson Jamall Johnson (born October 12, 1982) is a former gridiron football linebacker and actor. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2005 and was also a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and BC Lio ...
, NFL and CFL linebacker and actor *
Rondell Mealey Rondell Christopher Mealey (born February 24, 1977) is a former American football running back in the National Football League. Early life Rondell Mealey was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in Norco, Louisiana. He played high school f ...
, NFL running back for the
Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...
* Gregory A. Miller, member of 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 repr ...
from St. Charles Parish, was reared in Norco. *
Ralph R. Miller Norco is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,984 at the 2020 census. The community is home to a major Shell petroleum refinery. The CDP's name is derived from the New Orleans Refi ...
, member of the Louisiana House from 1968 to 1980 and 1982 to 1992; father of Gregory A. Miller *
George T. Oubre George Telesmar Oubre Sr. (February 22, 1918 – May 28, 1998) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate The Louisiana State Senate (french: Sénat de Louisiane) is the upper house of the s ...
, state senator from 1968 to 1972 for St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist parishes; candidate for state attorney general in December 1971, while residing in Norco *
Jeremy Parquet Jeremy Michael Parquet (born April 11, 1982) is a former professional gridiron football player. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern Mississippi. Parquet ha ...
, NFL offensive lineman for the
Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The tea ...
,
St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). They played in St. Louis from 1995 to the 2015 season, before moving back to Los Angeles, where the team had played from 1946 to 1994. The arri ...
and
Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...
*
Rusty Rebowe Rusty Rebowe (born January 17, 1956) is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Playing career Hi ...
, NFL linebacker for the
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
*
Tim Rebowe Timothy J. Rebowe (born February 25, 1963) is an American football coach. He is head football coach at Nicholls State University, a position he has held since the 2015 season. Early life and playing career Rebowe from Norco, Louisiana is an alumn ...
, Head football coach at
Nicholls State University Nicholls State University is a public university in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Founded in 1948, Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System. Originally named Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the university is named for Francis T. Nicholl ...
*
Darrington Sentimore Darrington Sentimore (born February 17, 1990) is a former American football defensive lineman. High school career Sentimore was a standout athlete at Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana. Under head coach Stephen Robicheaux, Sentimo ...
, NFL defensive lineman for the
Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The c ...
*
Gary Smith, Jr. Gary L. Smith Jr. (born August 27, 1972), is an American attorney from his native Norco in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, who is a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate for District 19, a position which he has held since 2012. He ...
,
Louisiana state senator The Louisiana State Senate (french: Sénat de Louisiane) is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All senators serve four-year terms and are assigned to multiple committees. Composition The Louisiana State Senate is compose ...


In popular culture

* The eponymous video game NORCO takes place in the alternative future Norco and the surrounding area.


See also

*
Fenceline community A fenceline community or frontline community is a neighborhood that is immediately adjacent to a company, military base, industrial or service center and is directly affected by the noise, odors, chemical emissions, traffic, parking, or operations ...
* Mary M. Bethune High School *
Shell plant explosion in Norco, Louisiana The Shell plant explosion in Norco, Louisiana refers to two explosions that occurred in the community in 1973 and 1988. The incident in 1973 occurred when a sixteen-year-old, Leroy Jones, was cutting grass for Helen Washington, who was taking a nap ...


References


External links


''Fenceline''
PBS documentary about the oil industry in Norco, and how the community is divided over issues around it. {{authority control Census-designated places in Louisiana Census-designated places in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana Census-designated places in New Orleans metropolitan area Louisiana populated places on the Mississippi River