Des Allemands, Louisiana

Des Allemands, Louisiana
"The Germans"
CDP
Des Allemands on the Bayou des Allemands. View to the north.
Nickname: Catfish Capital of the Universe
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parishes	Lafourche, St. Charles
Elevation	3 ft (0.9 m)
Coordinates
Area	10.9 sq mi (28.2 km2)
- land	8.7 sq mi (23 km2)
- water	2.2 sq mi (6 km2), 20.18%
Population	2,500 (2000)
Density	287.6 / sq mi (111 / km2)
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Code	70030
Area code	985
Location of Des Allemands in Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States

Des Allemands is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lafourche and St. Charles parishes in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 2,500 at the 2000 census. The town, known as the "Catfish Capital of the Universe," is along the Bayou Des Allemands, which is the boundary of Lafourche and St. Charles parishes. Lac des Allemands is located northwest of the town. The ZIP code for Des Allemands is 70030.

The St. Charles Parish portion of Des Allemands is part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Lafourche Parish portion is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Bayou Des Allemands in 2003. View is to the south.

Des Allemands was settled in 1721 by immigrants to the colony of Louisiana from Alsace under the control of John Law and the "Company of the Indies." "Des Allemands" means "the Germans" (partitive case) in the French.

The German Louisiana colony was originally up the Mississippi River at the Arkansas Post. But they experienced hostility from the Native Americans in that area, and moved to a location much closer to the colonial capital of New Orleans.

Geography

Des Allemands is located at (29.825570, -90.469163).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 10.9 square miles (28.3 km²), of which 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) (20.35%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,500 people, 943 households, and 714 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 287.6 people per square mile (111.1/km²). There were 1,020 housing units at an average density of 117.3 per square mile (45.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.88% White, 10.44% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.48% of the population.

There were 943 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,908, and the median income for a family was $32,946. Males had a median income of $33,125 versus $21,433 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,306. About 16.2% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.

Festivals

• Hosts the Louisiana Catfish Festival on the third weekend in June.
• Hosts a small parade in conjunction with Mardi Gras season.

See also

• German Coast

• Live and Let Die: The motor boat chase scene in Roger Moore's debut James Bond movie was filmed in Bayou Des Allemands.