Lutcher is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

in St. James 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, on the east bank of the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

. It is part of the

New Orleans Metropolitan Area The New Orleans metropolitan area, designated the New Orleans–Metairie metropolitan statistical area by the Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, or simply Greater New Orleans (, ), is a List of United States me ...

. The population was 3,559 at the 2010 U.S. census, and 3,127 at the 2020

population estimates program The Population Estimates Program (PEP) is a program of the U.S. Census Bureau that publishes annual population estimates and estimates of birth, death, and international migration rates for people in the United States. In addition to publishing t ...

History

Lutcher was established as a

sawmill A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logging, logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes ...

town, named after Henry J. Lutcher who was a sawmill operator and businessman. Lutcher is also where James Mather and his family established a sugar plantation, and where Mather died in 1821. The Bank of Lutcher was organized by George H. Jones, M. D., son of Dr. John Welch Jones.George H. Jones, M. D.
In: Alcée Fortier, editor. ''Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons'', 1914. Starting in the late 1800s, Christmas bonfires are built along the

levee near Lutcher. This tradition has often occurred on

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...

and it says that the bonfires are made to light a path for Papa Noel. On August 29, 2005, Lutcher sustained damage from

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...

. On the same day sixteen years later, the town sustained significant damage from Hurricane Ida.

Geography

Lutcher is located at (30.048867, -90.699744). 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 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which 3.4 square miles (8.7 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.88%) is water. Lutcher is bordered by the

and the town of Gramercy. Lutcher is approximately 36 miles west of New Orleans

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,133 people, 1,321 households, and 942 families residing in the town. At the 2019

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...

, the racial and ethnic makeup of Lutcher was 51.9%

non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic Whites, also referred to as White Anglo Americans or Non-Latino Whites, are White Americans who are classified by the United States census as "White" and not of Hispanic or Latino origin. According to annual estimates from the Unit ...

, 46.4% Black and African American, and 1.7% Hispanic and Latin American of any race. The median household income from 2015 to 2019 was $44,347, and males had a median annual income of $52,589 versus $41,722 for females. An estimated 11.2% of the population lived at or below the poverty line. At the 2000 U.S. census, there were 3,735 people, 1,252 households, and 986 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,368 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 49.91% White, 49.77% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latin Americans of any race were 0.35% of the population. There were 1,252 households, out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were

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

living together, 19.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.33. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males. In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $34,167, and the median income for a family was $42,317. Males had a median income of $40,769 versus $22,257 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the town was $15,129. About 21.1% of families and 23.1% 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 31.2% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

St. James Parish Public Schools operates public schools: * Lutcher High School (7–12)

Notable people

* Roy Bourgeois, human rights activist and laicized Catholic priest * Randal Gaines, former resident and member of the

Louisiana House of Representatives The Louisiana House of Representatives (; ) 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 representatives, each of whom represents approximately 4 ...

for St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes * David Jones, jazz musician * Jarvis Landry, American football player * Ron Landry, lawyer and Louisiana state senator * Henry J. Lutcher, sawmiller * James Mather, mayor of New Orleans * Leon Roppolo, early jazz clarinetist * Lionel Washington, American football player and coach * Lenny Webster, former resident and former catcher for the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

References