New Iberia, Louisiana
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| City of New Iberia | |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Iberia |
| Area | 10.6 sq mi (27.5 km²) |
| - land | 10.6 sq mi (27.5 km²) |
| - water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km²), 0% |
| Center | |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Population | 32,623 (2000) |
| Density | 3,088.8 /sq mi (1,192.6 /km²) |
| Founded | 1779 |
| - Incorporated | 1839 |
| Mayor | Hilda Curry |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 70560, 70563 |
| Area code | 337 |
  Location of New Iberia in Louisiana
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 Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Website : http://www.cityofnewiberia.com/home.html | |
The city of New Iberia (French: La Nouvelle-Ibérie, Spanish: Nueva Iberia) is the parish seat of Iberia Parish, in the US state of Louisiana, 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Lafayette. [1] [2] In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia, Louisiana; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747. The population was 32,623 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] Geography
New Iberia is located at (30.003577, -91.818454)[3] and has an elevation of 20 feet (6.1 m)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.6 square miles (27.4 km²), all of it land.
New Iberia enjoys a sub-tropical climate with above average rainfall. Among the lakes is Lake Peigneur, which was formerly a 10-foot deep freshwater lake until a 1980 disaster involving oil drilling and a salt mine. The lake is now a 1300-foot deep salt water lake, having been refilled by the Gulf of Mexico via the Delcambre Canal.
This region has many natural features of interest, such as Avery Island, famous for its Tabasco sauce factory, deposits of rock salt, and Jungle Gardens.
[edit] History
The town of New Iberia dates from Spring 1779, when a group of 500 Malaguenian colonists and the actual founder Bernardo de Galvez[5] [6] came up Bayou Teche and settled around Spanish Lake. The Spanish settlers called the town "Nueva Iberia" in honor of the Iberian Peninsula, and the French referred to the town as "Nouvelle Ibérie" while the English settlers called it "New Town" after the Louisiana Purchase.[citation needed]
In 1814, the federal government opened a post office, and it was officially known as "New Iberia," but postmarks shortly thereafter reveal that the town was being called "Nova Iberia" (with Latin for "new").[citation needed] The town was incorporated as "Iberia" in 1839,[citation needed] but the state legislature resolved the situation in 1847, naming the town New Iberia.[citation needed]
In 1868, Iberia Parish (county) was established, and New Iberia became the seat of parish government.[citation needed] At first, only rented space served for the courthouse, but by 1884 a new courthouse stood on a landscaped lot in downtown New Iberia, at the present-day site of Bouligny Plaza. That courthouse served Iberia Parish until 1940, when the current courthouse was built along Iberia Street, two blocks from the New Iberia downtown commercial district.[citation needed]
New Iberia hosts the Louisiana Sugarcane Festival[citation needed] in September and the Gumbo Cook-Off in October.[citation needed]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 32,623 people,[2][broken footnote] 11,756 households, and 8,335 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,088.8 people per square mile (1,192.8/km²). There were 12,880 housing units at an average density of 1,219.5/sq mi (470.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.99% White, 38.42% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 11,756 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city of New Iberia, the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,079, and the median income for a family was $30,828. Males had a median income of $30,289 versus $16,980 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,084. About 24.9% of families and 29.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notable persons
Natives
- Kathleen Blanco, former governor of Louisiana,
- George Rodrigue, artist famous for the Blue Dog paintings
- Mark Roman, NFL Defensive Back, Currently with San Francisco 49ers
- Kerry Joseph, CFL Quarterback, Currently with Saskatchewan Roughriders
- William Eckhart Tony winning Set Designer. Worked with Richard Rogers on 1957 CBS production of Cinderella
- Brian Schexnayder Principal Baritone with The Metropolitan Opera
- Phillip Burguieres Chairman Emeritus Weatherford International, Board of Directors Newfield Exploration and Co-Owner Houston Texans Football Team
Residents
- James Lee Burke, mystery writer
- Bunk Johnson, former jazz legend
- Paul Schwing, 'Mayor of Main St.'
- Louis W. Belaire, Actor "Return To Boggy Creek"
- Patrick T. Caffery, Sr., Attorney. Former U.S. Congressman from Louisiana and grandson of former U.S.Senator Donelson Caffery from Louisiana. Chosen by NBC News as outstanding Democratic freshman Congressman of 91st Congress.
- Bryan Lourd, Talent agent and partner of Creative Artists Agency
- Danny Castille Drummer with Stevie B, who had #1 hit The Postman Song, in early '90s
- Scott Bernard Guitarist with Kenny Loggins of Loggins & Messina and "Footloose" fame
- Kent Himel Guitarist with '70s rock band Prezence which opened for such stellar groups as LeRoux, Benny Mardonnes, Molly Hatchet, and Redbone.
- Ray Himel CEO Himel Motor Supply, one of the largest NAPA distributors in Southern U.S.
- Paul Schexnayder prominent painter of Folk Art
- Joshua Murrell Grammy winning producer
- Werner Ammann, engineer. Son of renown bridge engineer O.H. Ammann. Werner was partner in firm of Ammann & Whitney and participated in design of Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in NYC. Died in New Iberia in 1994.
- Ryan Gonsoulin, 2007 IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatics Club) National Advanced Champion & 2007 Tuscon Shootout Advanced Champion
[edit] Points of Interest
- Shadows-on-the-Teche[citation needed] historic residence, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation http://www.shadowsontheteche.org/
- Avery Island, home of Tabasco sauce and the oldest salt mine in North America.
- Annual Bunk Johnson/New Iberia Jazz, Arts & Heritage Festival, also known as the BunkFest.
- Jungle Gardens, botanical garden and bird sanctuary.
- Sugar Cane Festival, to celebrate the commencement of the sugar cane harvest, locally referred to as grinding. Sugar cane is a principal crop grown by New Iberia farmers.
- The Iberia Community Band hosts four public concerts throughout the year and is open to amateur, student, and professional band instrumentalists of all ages and skill levels.
- A local curiosity is an ancient seven-foot marble statue of Roman emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD), located on the corner of Weeks and St. Peter Streets.[citation needed]
- New Iberia is home to fictional detective Dave Robicheaux and his creator, author James Lee Burke.[citation needed]
[edit] Sister city
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Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Belgium
Fuengirola, Spain
[edit] References
- ^ "New Iberia, Louisiana (LA) Detailed Profile" (notes), City Data, 2007, webpage: C-NIb.
- ^ a b "Census 2000 Data for the State of Louisiana" (town list), US Census Bureau, May 2003, webpage: C2000-LA.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Two Malaguenos Settlers of New Iberia" (notes), TheCajuns.com, webpage: The Cajuns-Málaga.
- ^ "The History of New Iberia" (article), CityOfNewIberia.com, 2003, webpage: CNI-Hist.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- City of New Iberia
- Shadows-on-the-Teche
- The Iberia Community Concert Band
- Bunk Johnson New Iberia Jazz Festival site
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