Thibodaux, Louisiana

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Thibodaux (pronounced "TIB-uh-doe"; IPA: [ˈtɪbəˌdoʊ] or "TIB-oh-doe"; IPA: [ˈtɪboʊˌdoʊ]) is a small city located on the banks of Bayou Lafourche in northwestern Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The population was 14,431 at the 2000 census.

Thibodaux is nicknamed "Queen City of Lafourche."

Thibodaux is home to Nicholls State University. It was mentioned in the 1970s Jerry Reed song "Amos Moses," and is the title of a song by jazz songstress Marcia Ball.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Education
5 Other information
6 External links

[edit] History

The community was settled in the 18th century. It was incorporated as a town in 1830 under the name Thibodauxville, in honor of local plantation owner Henry Schuyler Thibodaux, who in 1824 served as acting governor of Louisiana. The name was changed to Thibodeaux in 1838, and the current spelling Thibodaux was officially adopted in 1918.

A sugar cane workers' strike culminated in the "Thibodaux Massacre" of 1887, the second most bloody labor dispute in U.S. history.

In 1896, the first "rural free delivery" of mail in Louisiana began in Thibodaux. It was the second in the United States.

[edit] Geography

Thibodaux is located at 29°47′32″N, 90°49′12″W (29.7922, -90.8200)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.2 km² (5.5 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 14,431 people, 5,500 households, and 3,355 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,018.6/km² (2,636.8/mi²). There were 6,004 housing units at an average density of 423.8/km² (1,097.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.04% White, 33.76% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population.

There were 5,500 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 17.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,697, and the median income for a family was $36,551. Males had a median income of $31,464 versus $21,144 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,966. About 20.6% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

Residents are zoned to schools in the LaFourche Parish Public Schools [1].

Zoned elementary schools include:

Zoned middle schools include:

Thibodaux residents are zoned to Thibodaux High School.

Catholic schools include

E.D. White Catholic High School
St. Genevieve Catholic Elementary
St. Joseph Catholic Elementary

[edit] Other information

ZIP codes for Thibodaux are 70301, 70302, and 70310. The mayor of Thibodaux is Charles Caillouet. Thibodaux's area code is 985.

The Catholic patron saints of Thibodaux are St. Vitalis of Milan and his wife, St. Valeria (Valerie). A life-sized reliquary of St. Valerie is displayed in St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux.

Thibodaux was also the city where the movie Fletch Lives starring Chevy Chase was filmed.