Church Point, Louisiana
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Church Point () is a town in Acadia Parish,
Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
, United States. The population was 4,560 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Crowley Micropolitan Statistical Area. Church Point is known as the Buggy Capital of the World as it used to be host to the annual Buggy Festival which has since gone defunct.


History

In the late 18th century, French settlers from Nova Scotia (Acadie) Canada, created clearings by burning the underbrush, leaving what they called a ''brûlé'', or "burn", much as the Native Americans in the area had created a "burn" to promote new grass to attract
bison A bison (: bison) is a large bovine in the genus ''Bison'' (from Greek, meaning 'wild ox') within the tribe Bovini. Two extant taxon, extant and numerous extinction, extinct species are recognised. Of the two surviving species, the American ...
and other grazing and browsing animals. One of these clearings was created on a slough off Bayou Mermentau, near where the slough came to a point. This new clearing became known as Plaquemine Brûlé in 1843 when Etienne d'Aigle III, a descendant of immigrants from Quebec, became the first settler in the area, which at that time was in the middle of Opelousas Parish (later St. Landry Parish), which stretched from the
Atchafalaya River The Atchafalaya River () is a distributary of the Mississippi River and Red River of the South, Red River in south central Louisiana in the United States. It flows south, just west of the Mississippi River, and is the fifth largest river in N ...
to the Sabine River. ''Plaquemine'' is an
Atakapa The Atakapa Sturtevant, 659 or Atacapa were an Indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands, who spoke the Atakapa language and historically lived along the Gulf of Mexico in what is now Texas and Louisiana. They included several distinct b ...
word for the native Louisiana
persimmon The persimmon () is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus '' Diospyros''. The most widely cultivated of these is the Chinese and Japanese kaki persimmon, ''Diospyros kaki''. In 2022, China produced 77% of the world's p ...
. The French term ''Plaquemine Brûlé'' is translated into English as "Burnt Persimmon" - a result of the burning of the brush and other woody growth, which apparently contained persimmon trees, during the widening of a slough off Bayou Mermentau to accommodate barge travel for local farmers. As more families were attracted to the area, Jesuit missionaries fulfilled their spiritual needs by establishing a chapel in 1848 on land donated by the d'Aigle brothers Etienne (III) and Joseph ("José"). The church was known as ''La Chapelle de la pointe de Plaquemine Brûlé'' (in English, "The Church at the point of Burnt Persimmon"). The English term was later shortened to "Church Point" to refer to the spire on top of the church which could be seen, and traversed to, for miles in this frontier area, and translated back into French as ''La Pointe de l'Eglise''. "Plaquemine Brûlé was considered part of the frontier for the next several decades, as there were no railroads and the swampy terrain made overland travel difficult. Early pioneers to the area requested land grants along the bayou only large enough to satisfy their families' immediate needs. Many families raised cattle, which roamed freely on the open range of the prairie." The town's first school was established in 1856, providing encouragement for the community to grow further. The first post office for the town of "Church Point" was established in the area on September 29, 1873, marking the settlement's first official recognition as a community. Thirteen years later, residents of the town voted with those of surrounding communities to form a new parish known as
Acadia Acadia (; ) was a colony of New France in northeastern North America which included parts of what are now the The Maritimes, Maritime provinces, the Gaspé Peninsula and Maine to the Kennebec River. The population of Acadia included the various ...
.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the town has a total area of , all land.


Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,179 people, 1,823 households, and 1,064 families residing in the town.


Economy

As
Interstate 10 Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost transcontinental highway in the Interstate Highway System of the United States. It is the fourth-longest Interstate in the country at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. It was part of the origina ...
and
Interstate 49 Interstate 49 (I-49) is a north–south Interstate Highway with multiple segments. The original portion is entirely within Louisiana with an additional signed portion extending from Interstate 220 (Louisiana), I-220 in Shreveport, Louisian ...
are less than from town, many of the people who live in Church Point work in larger surrounding communities. Many of those who work in the area are farmers, growing rice, soybeans, corn, milo, sugarcane or
crawfish Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the infraorder Astacidea, which also contains lobsters. Taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills. Some spe ...
. Church Point is home to Church Point Wholesale, a grocery distributor that transports goods in the southern United States. Also, Richard’s Cajun Foods, who has called Church Point its home since 1981, creates a variety of smoked meats and pre-packaged Cajun meat mixes that is in stores around the United States. Since 2021, Cajun Family Traditions, owned by the original Richard’s Cajun Foods owners, also has ties to the Cajun
meat industry The meat industry are the people and companies engaged in modern industrialized livestock agriculture for the production, packing, preservation and marketing of meat (in contrast to dairy products, wool, etc.). In economics, the meat industry is ...
and delivers their foods regionally at this time.


Arts and culture

Since 1981, the Acadia St. Landry Medical Foundation, which supports the Acadia St. Landry Hospital, has organized an annual Buggy Festival held in Church Point on the first weekend in June. The town was chosen because residents had used buggies as their main means of transportation until the early 1950s, earning Church Point the nickname "Buggy Capital of the world" in 1927. In its first 25 years, the festival earned over $440,000 in profits, which were distributed among the hospital, the parks department of the city of Church Point, and various civic organizations. Two scholarships are also awarded annually. The festival, which includes a Sunday parade, gives visitors the opportunity to explore various
horse-drawn vehicle A horse-drawn vehicle is a piece of equipment pulled by one or more horses. These vehicles typically have two or four wheels and were used to carry passengers or a load. They were once common worldwide, but they have mostly been replaced by auto ...
s.
Cajun music Cajun music (), an emblematic music of Louisiana played by the Cajuns, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Although they are two separate genres, Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based ...
ians perform throughout the weekend, while
Cajun cuisine Cajun cuisine ( , ) is a subset of Louisiana Creole cuisine, Louisiana cooking developed by the Cajuns, itself a Louisianan development incorporating elements of Indigenous cuisine of the Americas, Native American, West African, French cuisine, ...
is featured. The festival also often includes a French speaking contest and a Cajun French accordion contest. Each year the town holds a '' Courir de Mardi Gras''. In 1987 Church Point established a relationship with Church Point, Nova Scotia, bringing about a revival of interest in its French culture. The town now proudly calls itself the "Cajun Music Capital of the World", based on "having the greatest number of professional Cajun musicians of any place on earth". A different Cajun musician is honored each year on Cajun Day, the second Sunday in November. Among the many professional musicians, Church Point is also the origin of the multi-media recording artist, musician, and composer Fabian Thibodeaux (professionally known as "Isadar") and his oldest brother, organist Dexter Thibodeaux. Isadar's award-winning music covers a wide range of genres and styles including Pop, Dance, Adult Contemporary, Solo Piano, New Age, Classical, and Jazz. He has also produced Cajun music in the past and comes from a family with a rich musical lineage reaching back two generations of Church Point residents. Iry LeJeune born in Church Point, October 28, 1929. One of the most popular Cajun musicians in the mid to late 1940s into the early 1950s. Boozoo Chavis born in Church Point, October 23, 1930. Accordion player, singer, songwriter and bandleader. Boozoo Chavis was one of the pioneers of zydeco music. Rosie Ledet born Mary Roszela Bellard, in Church Point, October 25, 1971. An American Creole, Zydeco Accordion player and singer. She is currently playing with her band, The Zydeco Playboys.


Government

Church Point is organized under the Louisiana Lawrason Act and is governed by an elected mayor and five members of the Board of Aldermen. These officials are responsible for implementing and carrying out laws for the advancement of interest, welfare, health, comfort, safety, and convenience of the community and its citizens. Elections are held every four years, with candidates taking office on the first day of July following the election and remaining in power for the next four years.
The current mayor of Church Point is: *Ryan "Spanky" Meche (R), a local businessowner and entrepreneur Aldermen include: *Gene Malbrough (D) - District 1 *Joy Daigle (R) - District 2 *Patrick "Pat" O'Pry (I) - District 3 *Dale Wimberley (R) - District 4 *Jerome Landry - District 5 (interim) Chief of Police of Church Point is: *Dale Thibodeaux (NP), former police officer for the Church Point Police Department and the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Department. Non-elected leadership positions include: *Raymond Ledoux - Fire Chief, Church Point Volunteer Fire Department *Anthony Jones - Street Commissioner, Church Point Street Department *Keith LeJeune - Wastewater Superintendent, Church Point Wastewater Department *Johnathon Murphy - Superintendent, Church Point Water Works Department *Tyrone Wheeler - Parks Director, Church Point Parks & Recreations Department *Patrick Duplechin - Recreations Director, Church Point Parks & Recreations Department


Education

Public * Church Point High School (9-12) * Church Point Middle School (6-8) * Church Point Elementary (PK-5) Private * Our Mother of Peace Elementary (PK4-8)


Athletics

The town of Church Point has one high school, which fields these sports: Church Point High School * Men's Football (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman) * Men's Baseball (Varsity) * Men's Basketball (Varsity) * Men's Wrestling (Varsity) * Men's Powerlifting (Varsity) * Women's Softball (Varsity) * Women's Basketball (Varsity) * Women's Volleyball (Varsity, Junior Varsity) * Men's and Women's Track and Field (Not including club sports) NFL Wide Receiver Mark Carrier was born in Church Point, October 28, 1965. Mark was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the third round of the 1987 NFL Draft, 57th overall. He was a 3 sport athlete at Church Point High School, playing football, basketball and track. Carrier went on to play college football at Nicholls State University. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball assistant head coach and former Nicholls Colonels baseball head coach Seth Thibodeaux is originally from Church Point. He was the head coach at Nicholls from 2011 until 2021 and began his tenure at Louisiana in 2022. He has an overall career record of 229-220-1 and has reached the
Southland Conference The Southland Conference (SLC) is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the South Central United States (specifically Texas and Louisiana). It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in ...
baseball tournament four times in his head coaching job. The Town of Church Point also hosts recreational softball and baseball during the spring time as well as FNA, Football N' America, a youth flag football league created by
Drew Brees Drew Christopher Brees (; born January 15, 1979) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. A member of the New Orleans Saints for most of his career, Brees is sec ...
during the summer and fall. Church Point's FNA is one of the first leagues to be played in a small town.


References


External links


Town of Church Point official website
{{authority control Towns in Acadia Parish, Louisiana Towns in Louisiana Populated places established in 1843 1843 establishments in Louisiana