Assumption Parish, Louisiana

Parish in Louisiana, United States

Not to be confused with Ascension Parish, Louisiana.

Parish in Louisiana

Assumption Parish

Parish

St. Anne Catholic Church in Napoleonville

Location within the U.S. state of Louisiana

Louisiana's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 29°54′N 91°04′W﻿ / ﻿29.9°N 91.06°W﻿ / 29.9; -91.06
Country|  United States
State|  Louisiana
Founded| 1807
Named for| Assumption Roman Catholic Church
Seat| Napoleonville
Largest community| Pierre Part
Area

• Total| 365 sq mi (950 km2)
• Land| 339 sq mi (880 km2)
• Water| 26 sq mi (70 km2)  7.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 21,039
• Density| 58/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts| 2nd, 6th
Website| www.assumptionla.com

Assumption Parish (French: Paroisse de l'Assomption, Spanish: Parroquia de la Asunción) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,039.[1] Its parish seat is Napoleonville.[2] Assumption Parish was established in 1807, as one of the original parishes of the Territory of Orleans.[3]

Assumption Parish is one of the twenty-two Acadiana parishes. Its major product is sugar cane. In proportion to its area, Assumption Parish produces the most sugar of any parish of Louisiana.

## History

[edit]

In 1807, Assumption became the eighth parish of the Orleans Territory. Its history is rooted in its waterways and its large expanse of fertile soils ideal for farming. Settled in the middle 18th century by French and Spanish settlers, the area retains strong cultural ties to its past with conversational French still common among residents. Assumption was also a final destination for many of the French Acadians exiled from Nova Scotia between 1755 and 1764.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 365 square miles (950 km2), of which 339 square miles (880 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (7.1%) is water.[4]

### Major highways

[edit]

* Future Interstate 49
* U.S. Highway 90
* Louisiana Highway 1
* Louisiana Highway 70
* Louisiana Highway 182
* Louisiana Highway 308

### Adjacent parishes

[edit]

* Iberville Parish (north)
* Ascension Parish (north)
* St. James Parish (northeast)
* Lafourche Parish (east)
* Terrebonne Parish (southeast)
* St. Mary Parish (southwest)
* Iberia Parish (northwest)
* St. Martin Parish (west)

## Communities

[edit]

Map of Assumption Parish, with municipal labels

### Village

[edit]

* Napoleonville (parish seat and only municipality)

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Bayou Corne
* Bayou L'Ourse
* Belle Rose
* Labadieville
* Paincourtville
* Pierre Part
* Supreme

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Albemarle
* Belle Alliance
* Belle River
* Bruly St. Martin
* Cancienne
* Foley
* Klotzville
* Plattenville
* Westfield
* Wildwood
* Woodlawn

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1810| 2,472| | —
1820| 3,576| | 44.7%
1830| 5,669| | 58.5%
1840| 7,141| | 26.0%
1850| 10,538| | 47.6%
1860| 15,379| | 45.9%
1870| 13,234| | −13.9%
1880| 17,010| | 28.5%
1890| 19,629| | 15.4%
1900| 21,620| | 10.1%
1910| 24,128| | 11.6%
1920| 17,912| | −25.8%
1930| 15,990| | −10.7%
1940| 18,541| | 16.0%
1950| 17,278| | −6.8%
1960| 17,991| | 4.1%
1970| 19,654| | 9.2%
1980| 22,084| | 12.4%
1990| 22,753| | 3.0%
2000| 23,388| | 2.8%
2010| 23,421| | 0.1%
2020| 21,039| | −10.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010[9]
Assumption Parish racial composition as of 2020[10] Race  | Number  | Percentage

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 13,580  | 64.55%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 5,973  | 28.39%
Native American | 83  | 0.39%
Asian | 56  | 0.27%
Other/Mixed | 433  | 2.06%
Hispanic or Latino | 914  | 4.34%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 21,039 people, 8,552 households, and 5,484 families residing in the parish. During the 2010 United States census, there were 23,421 people living in the parish. Among its 2010 population, 66.8% were White, 30.5% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 2.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 38.2% were of French, French Canadian or Cajun and 9.4% American ancestry.[11]

## Education

[edit]

The Assumption Parish School Board operates local public schools. Assumption High School serves the whole parish. There is one private school in the parish, Saint Elizabeth School, which was founded in 1834.

* Assumption High School
* Bayou L'Ourse Primary School
* Belle Rose Middle School
* Belle Rose Primary School
* Labadieville Middle School
* Labadieville Primary School
* Napoleonville Middle School
* Napoleonville Primary School
* Pierre Part Elementary School
* Saint Elizabeth School

## National Guard

[edit]

The 928th Sapper Company, a unit of the 769th Engineer Battalion and the 225th Engineer Brigade.

## Politics

[edit]

Assumption Parish is represented in the Louisiana House of Representatives by Beryl Amedee, a Republican, and Chad Brown, a Democrat. During the "Solid South" era, conflicts over trade policy often caused Assumption Parish to deviate somewhat from overwhelming Democratic support, as did rebellion in the Acadiana region against Woodrow Wilson's perceived hostility towards France.[12]

Since the Dixiecrat revolt, by contrast, Assumption has been a typical rural South Louisiana parish in its political behaviour. It backed Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond in 1948 and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 before showing powerful pro-Catholic behaviour in 1960[13] and then turning powerfully against liberal Midwestern Democrats in 1968 and 1972. With the nomination of the more centrist Southerner Jimmy Carter in 1976, Assumption became again Democratic leaning until the 2000s, when, like all of the rural white South, it has turned powerfully Republican due to disagreements with the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues.[14]

United States presidential election results for Assumption Parish, Louisiana[15] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 7,271  | 64.72% | 3,833  | 34.12%  | 131  | 1.17%
2016 | 6,714  | 61.57% | 3,931  | 36.05%  | 259  | 2.38%
2012 | 6,083  | 55.34% | 4,754  | 43.25%  | 155  | 1.41%
2008 | 5,981  | 54.57% | 4,756  | 43.39%  | 223  | 2.03%
2004 | 4,966  | 46.26%  | 5,585  | 52.03% | 184  | 1.71%
2000 | 4,388  | 43.65%  | 5,222  | 51.94% | 443  | 4.41%
1996 | 2,698  | 26.42%  | 6,416  | 62.83% | 1,098  | 10.75%
1992 | 2,928  | 28.01%  | 5,639  | 53.95% | 1,886  | 18.04%
1988 | 4,017  | 40.19%  | 5,610  | 56.13% | 368  | 3.68%
1984 | 5,433  | 52.43% | 4,660  | 44.97%  | 270  | 2.61%
1980 | 4,001  | 44.10%  | 4,679  | 51.57% | 393  | 4.33%
1976 | 3,117  | 40.42%  | 4,401  | 57.07% | 193  | 2.50%
1972 | 3,751  | 58.93% | 2,065  | 32.44%  | 549  | 8.63%
1968 | 1,222  | 19.69%  | 2,085  | 33.60%  | 2,898  | 46.70%
1964 | 2,112  | 40.87%  | 3,056  | 59.13% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 766  | 18.19%  | 3,019  | 71.69% | 426  | 10.12%
1956 | 1,708  | 55.17% | 1,282  | 41.41%  | 106  | 3.42%
1952 | 1,210  | 42.35%  | 1,647  | 57.65% | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 469  | 25.57%  | 362  | 19.74%  | 1,003  | 54.69%
1944 | 426  | 23.09%  | 1,419  | 76.91% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 722  | 29.10%  | 1,759  | 70.90% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 1,111  | 60.94% | 712  | 39.06%  | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 386  | 20.06%  | 1,538  | 79.94% | 0  | 0.00%
1928 | 307  | 24.46%  | 948  | 75.54% | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 601  | 66.34% | 305  | 33.66%  | 0  | 0.00%
1920 | 725  | 78.21% | 202  | 21.79%  | 0  | 0.00%
1916 | 221  | 20.41%  | 489  | 45.15% | 373  | 34.44%
1912 | 149  | 20.03%  | 423  | 56.85% | 172  | 23.12%

## Notable people

[edit]

* Kim Willoughby, American indoor volleyball player, 2008 U.S. volleyball Olympian, former University of Hawaii volleyball player, 2003 AVCA NCAA National Player of the Year
* Charles Melançon, former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
* Troy E. Brown, a former member of the Louisiana State Senate
* Brandon Jacobs, two-time Super bowl winner, former running back for the New York Giants
* Johnny Meads, is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League Houston Oilers Washington Redskins
* J. E. Jumonville Sr., was a businessman, farmer, and horse breeder born in Paincourtville state senator
* Samuel A. LeBlanc I, was a lawyer from Napoleonville born in Paincourtville in Assumption Parish
* Whitmell P. Martin, was a U.S. Representative from Assumption Parish Louisiana from 1915 to 1929.

## See also

[edit]

* Bayou Corne sinkhole
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Assumption Parish, Louisiana
* Isleños in Louisiana#Valenzuela
* Troy E. Brown
* Samuel A. LeBlanc I
* J. E. Jumonville Sr.

* United States portal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Assumption Parish, Louisiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Assumption Parish". Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
10. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
11. ^ "American FactFinder"[dead link]
12. ^ Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 211 ISBN 978-0-691-16324-6
13. ^ Phillips; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 222
14. ^ Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, The New York Times, April 24, 2014
15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 6, 2018.

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Assumption Parish, Louisiana

| Iberia Parish | Iberville Parish and Ascension Parish | St. James Parish

|
|

|  |
St. Martin Parish |

Assumption Parish, Louisiana

| Lafourche Parish
|  |
St. Mary Parish |  | Terrebonne Parish

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Assumption Parish, Louisiana, United States

Parish seat: Napoleonville

Village|

* Napoleonville

CDPs|

* Bayou Corne
* Bayou L'Ourse
* Belle Rose
* Cancienne
* Labadieville
* Paincourtville
* Pierre Part
* Supreme

Other
unincorporated
communities|

* Belle Alliance
* Belle River
* Plattenville

* Louisiana portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Parishes of Louisiana

Current|

* Acadia
* Allen
* Ascension
* Assumption
* Avoyelles
* Beauregard
* Bienville
* Bossier
* Caddo
* Calcasieu
* Caldwell
* Cameron
* Catahoula
* Claiborne
* Concordia
* DeSoto
* East Baton Rouge
* East Carroll
* East Feliciana
* Evangeline
* Franklin
* Grant
* Iberia
* Iberville
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Jefferson Davis
* LaSalle
* Lafayette
* Lafourche
* Lincoln
* Livingston
* Madison
* Morehouse
* Natchitoches
* Orleans
* Ouachita
* Plaquemines
* Pointe Coupee
* Rapides
* Red River
* Richland
* Sabine
* St. Bernard
* St. Charles
* St. Helena
* St. James
* St. John the Baptist
* St. Landry
* St. Martin
* St. Mary
* St. Tammany
* Tangipahoa
* Tensas
* Terrebonne
* Union
* Vermilion
* Vernon
* Washington
* Webster
* West Baton Rouge
* West Carroll
* West Feliciana
* Winn

Former|

| Counties|

* Acadia
* Attakapas
* Biloxi
* Concordia
* German Coast
* Iberville
* LaFourche
* Natchitoches
* Opelousas
* Orleans
* Ouachita
* Pascagoula
* Pointe Coupée
* Rapides
* Warren

|

Split|

* Carroll
* Feliciana

29°54′N 91°04′W﻿ / ﻿29.90°N 91.06°W﻿ / 29.90; -91.06

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* NARA

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