Fordoche, Louisiana | |
Official Name: | Town of Fordoche |
Settlement Type: | Town |
Image Map1: | Louisiana in United States (US48).svg |
Map Caption1: | Location of Louisiana in the United States |
Coordinates: | 30.5914°N -91.6086°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Louisiana |
Subdivision Type2: | Parish |
Subdivision Name2: | Pointe Coupee |
Established Title: | Incorporated |
Established Date: | 1961 |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Teddy Gros |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Area Footnotes: | [1] |
Area Total Km2: | 6.30 |
Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.43 |
Area Land Km2: | 6.30 |
Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.43 |
Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
Elevation Ft: | 30 |
Population As Of: | 2020 |
Population Total: | 910 |
Population Density Km2: | 144.43 |
Population Density Sq Mi: | 374.02 |
Timezone1: | CST |
Utc Offset1: | -6 |
Timezone1 Dst: | CDT |
Utc Offset1 Dst: | -5 |
Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
Postal Code: | 70732 |
Area Code: | 225 |
Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Blank Info: | 543211 |
Blank1 Name: | FIPS code |
Blank1 Info: | 22-26280 |
Blank2 Name Sec2: | Wikimedia Commons |
Fordoche (pronounced four-DOASH) is a town in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 928 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.
In 1854, the first post office was established at Fordoche, with Thomas Farrar designated as its first postmaster. There are two conflicting stories about how the town's name was derived. One story is that it received its name from a Caddo Indian word meaning "wild animal lair" (i.e., the bed of a wild beast) and the other suggests that it is named after a Louisiana French term for underbrush found in bayou bottom.[2]
At least two American Civil War battles were fought in and around Fordoche. The Battle of Fordoche Bridge was fought in September 1863. Union troops were sent to prevent the Confederacy from operating in the upper Atchafalaya but the Confederates were successful in driving back the Union forces.
In May 1864, the Confederates were again victorious over the Union troops at the "Skirmish on Bayou Fordoche Road".[3]
The area saw an influx of Italian immigrants after 1890.
Fordoche is the youngest incorporated community in Pointe Coupee Parish. It was incorporated as a village in 1961 and became a town in 1994.[4]
Fordoche is located at (30.591445, -91.608546).[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4sqmi, all land.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 933 people, 341 households, and 285 families residing in the town. The population density was 383.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 361 housing units at an average density of 148.5sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 90.68% White, 8.57% African American, 0.11% Asian, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 341 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.4% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.4% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,364, and the median income for a family was $40,313. Males had a median income of $32,400 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,223. About 12.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.