# Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana

Pointe Coupee Parish (/ˈpɔɪnt kəˈpiː/ or /ˈpwɑːnt kuːˈpeɪ/; French: Paroisse de la Pointe-Coupée) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,758. The parish seat is New Roads.
Pointe Coupee Parish is part of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2010, the center of population of Louisiana was located in Pointe Coupee Parish, in the city of New Roads.

## History

Pointe Coupee is the oldest settlement on the lower Mississippi, having been made by some wandering Canadian trappers as early as 1708. Bienville established this place as a military post, before the commencement of New Orleans. The fort was moved in 1722 to an area near the present St. Francisville Ferry landing.
After several floods, Governor Luis de Unzaga in 1772 moved the European settlement to a new post, the so-called Post Unzaga. Recently, historians Cazorla and Polo, from the Louis de Unzaga Historical Society research team, using satellite remote sensing techniques and comparative plans from the General Archive of the Indies, have managed to locate the position of the Unzaga post, which included, along with it, a parish. After the slave rebellion of 1795 this settlement was left uninhabited. Pointe Coupee Parish (originally and recently, informally pronounced pwahnt coo-pee) was organized by European Americans in 1805 as part of the Territory of Orleans (statehood for Louisiana followed in 1812). It was originally called Pointe Coupee County, and was one of the original 12 counties of the Territory of Orleans. It was renamed as Pointe Coupee Parish in 1816. The original Pointe Coupee Parish included parts of present-day Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parishes. There were minor boundary adjustments with neighboring parishes up through 1852, when its boundaries stabilized.
In 2008, Pointe Coupee was one of the communities that suffered the most damage by Hurricane Gustav.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the parish has a total area of 591 square miles (1,530 km$^2$), of which 557 square miles (1,440 km$^2$) is land and 33 square miles (85 km$^2$) (5.6%) is water. The land consists mainly of prairies and backswamp.

### Major highways

Pointe Coupee Parish has 498.98 miles of highways within its borders.
* U.S. Highway 190
* Louisiana Highway 1
* Louisiana Highway 10
* Louisiana Highway 15
* Louisiana Highway 77
* Louisiana Highway 78
* Louisiana Highway 81
* Louisiana Highway 411
* Louisiana Highway 413
* Louisiana Highway 414
* Louisiana Highway 415
* Louisiana Highway 416
* Louisiana Highway 417
* Louisiana Highway 418
* Louisiana Highway 419
* Louisiana Highway 420
* Louisiana Highway 970
* Louisiana Highway 971
* Louisiana Highway 972
* Louisiana Highway 973
* Louisiana Highway 975
* Louisiana Highway 976
* Louisiana Highway 977
* Louisiana Highway 978
* Louisiana Highway 979
* Louisiana Highway 981
* Louisiana Highway 982
* Louisiana Highway 983
* Louisiana Highway 984
* Louisiana Highway 3050
* Louisiana Highway 3091
* Louisiana Highway 3131
* Louisiana Highway 3190

### Major waterways

* Atchafalaya River
* False River
* Mississippi River
* Old River
* Raccourci Old River (not a river but an oxbow lake)
* Red River

### Adjacent parishes

* Concordia Parish (north)
* West Feliciana Parish (northeast)
* West Baton Rouge Parish (east)
* Iberville Parish (south)
* St. Martin Parish (southwest)
* St. Landry Parish (west)
* Avoyelles Parish (northwest)

### National protected area

* Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge (part)

## Communities
### City

* New Roads (parish seat)

### Towns

* Fordoche
* Livonia

### Village

* Morganza

### Census-designated place

* Ventress

### Unincorporated communities

* Aline
* Allon
* Alma
* Anchor
* Argyle
* Bayou Latenache
* Batchelor
* Beaud
* Blanks
* Brooks
* Brownview
* Chenal
* Columbo
* Coon
* Dupont
* False River
* East Krotz Springs
* Elliot City
* Frisco
* Frogmore
* Glynn
* Hermitage
* Ingleside
* Innis
* Island
* Jacoby
* Jarreau
* Keller
* Knapp
* LaBarre
* Lacour
* Lakeland
* Leavel
* Legonier
* Lettsworth
* Lottie
* Major
* McCrea
* McKneeley
* Mix
* Morrison
* New California
* New Texas
* Oscar
* Parlange
* Patin
* Point Coupee
* Quinton
* Ravenswood
* Red Cross
* Red River Landing
* Rougon
* Seibert
* Schwabs
* Sherburne
* Shexnayder
* Smithland
* Sparks
* St. Dizier
* Torbert
* Torras
* Valverda
* Waterloo
* Wickliffe
* Williamsport

## Demographics

Pointe Coupee Parish racial composition as of 2020 :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 12,245 | 58.99% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 7,221 | 34.79% |
| Native American | 37 | 0.18% |
| Asian | 60 | 0.29% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 568 | 2.74% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 625 | 3.01% |
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,763 people, 8,397 households, and 6,171 families residing in the parish. The population density was 41 inhabitants per square mile (16/km$^2$). There were 10,297 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the parish was 68.91% White, 29.61% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 93.61% of the population spoke only English at home, while 4.89% spoke French or Cajun French, 0.96% spoke Spanish, and 0.73% spoke Louisiana Creole French.
By the publication of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,758 people, 8,960 households, and 5,625 families residing in the parish, reflecting a slight population decline. Among the population in 2020, the racial and ethnic makeup of the parish was 58.99% non-Hispanic white, 34.79% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.74% other or multiracial, and 3.01% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the parish was $30,618, and the median income for a family was $36,625. Males had a median income of $35,022 versus $20,759 for females. The per capita income for the parish was $15,387, ranking 23rd out of 64 parishes. About 18.70% of families and 23.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.20% of those under age 18 and 23.90% are the age of 65 and older.
Religiously, Christianity is the dominant religion being part of the Bible Belt. The largest denomination by membership as of 2020 has been the Catholic Church (according to the Association of Religion Data Archives). Southern Baptists were the second largest denomination by membership.

## Economy

Nan Ya Plastics Corporation America has a large plant near Batchelor. Another large employer is NRG / Big Cajun 1 & 2 power plants near New Roads. The parish's economy is heavily reliant upon agriculture, with sugar cane being one of the main cash crops.

## Education
### Primary and secondary schools

The Pointe Coupee Parish School Board serves the parish. As of 2014 the sole secondary school operated by the parish school board is Livonia High School, serving grades 7 through 12. Pointe Coupee Central High School was closed down in 2014. Current public schools include Stem Magnet Academy, Valverda Elementary, Rougon, Rosenwald, and Upper Pointe Coupee Elementary.

#### Private

* Catholic Elementary of Pointe Coupee / Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge)
* False River Academy

### Post Secondary

The parish is in the service area of South Louisiana Community College.
Additionally, Pointe Coupee Parish is home to one of the satellite campuses of Baton Rouge Community College. This campus, located in New Roads, offers several technical, academic, and other courses.

## National Guard

A Co of the 769th BEB (Brigade Engineer Battalion) is an Engineer Company (Combat) that resides in New Roads, Louisiana. This unit is part of the 256TH IBCT and deployed to Iraq in 2004-5 and 2010.

## Law enforcement

The Pointe Coupee Sheriff's Office is the chief law enforcement agency in Pointe Coupee Parish. The sheriff's office is responsible for routine law enforcement patrols in the parish. There are several divisions besides the road patrol, including the parish prison, a water patrol, a mounted horse patrol, an aviation unit, a criminal investigations division, and bailiffs for the courthouse. This department employs over 100 full-time deputies, as well as several part-time deputies. The department's main office is located in the parish courthouse in New Roads.

## Notable residents

* Lindy Boggs (1916-2013) – U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district and U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See
* Brian J. Costello - native and lifelong resident of New Roads, author of more than two dozen books
* Emmitt Douglas (1926–1981) – president of the Louisiana NAACP from 1966 to 1981, resided in New Roads from 1949 to 1981
* Ernest Gaines – author
* Clark Gaudin - former state representative from East Baton Rouge Parish
* Buddy Guy - blues guitarist and singer
* Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, historian, did extensive research and writing about slavery in Louisiana
* Russel L. Honoré - retired Lieutenant General, U.S. Army
* J. Thomas Jewell - state representative 1936–1968; Speaker of the Louisiana House 1960-1964
* J. E. Jumonville, Jr. - state senator from District 17, 1976–1992, horse breeder
* J. E. Jumonville, Sr. - state senator, 1968–1976, natural gas developer
* Catherine D. Kimball - former Chief Justice of Louisiana Supreme Court; former judge of the Louisiana 18th Judicial District Court, 1983-1993
* Major General John Archer Lejeune, career military officer and Commandant of the US Marine Corps
* Norma McCorvey - anonymous plaintiff in 1973 U.S. Supreme Court landmark abortion case, Roe v. Wade.
* deLesseps Story Morrison (1912–1964), born in New Roads, elected four times as mayor of New Orleans, ran unsuccessfully three times for governor of Louisiana, later US ambassador to the Organization of American States.
* Jacob Haight Morrison, (1905-1974), New Roads native, journalist, politician and preservationist to help protect the French Quarter of New Orleans
* Charles Parlange - former Chief Justice of Louisiana Supreme Court
* Julien Poydras – territorial U.S. Representative for Louisiana; 1st State Senate President, philanthropist
* Patrick Queen- Linebacker for Baltimore Ravens, Former LSU player
* William Priestley (1771-1838), son of the famous English chemist and philosopher Joseph Priestley
* James Ryder Randall - poet, teacher at Poydras Academy, 1856–1860, wrote the state song of Maryland, "Maryland, My Maryland" while living in Pointe Coupée Parish
* Nauman Scott - judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, based in Alexandria
* Major Thibaut - state representative for District 18 since 2008; First Parish President
* H. C. Tounoir - former state representative
* Chris Williams - offensive tackle for the St. Louis Rams
* Clyde Kimball - former State Representative and former deputy secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

## Politics

Prior to 2008, Pointe Coupee Parish was a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections, only failing to back the party's nominees four times between 1912 and 2004 even as the South began trending more Republican in presidential elections. Since 2008 it has consistently supported Republican nominees.
United States presidential election results for Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 7,319 | 63.26% | 4,132 | 35.71% | 119 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | 7,503 | 60.65% | 4,683 | 37.85% | 185 | 1.50% |
| 2016 | 6,789 | 57.72% | 4,764 | 40.51% | 208 | 1.77% |
| 2012 | 6,548 | 53.91% | 5,436 | 44.75% | 163 | 1.34% |
| 2008 | 6,702 | 53.90% | 5,516 | 44.36% | 217 | 1.75% |
| 2004 | 5,429 | 48.17% | 5,712 | 50.68% | 130 | 1.15% |
| 2000 | 4,710 | 43.48% | 5,813 | 53.67% | 309 | 2.85% |
| 1996 | 3,545 | 31.28% | 6,835 | 60.32% | 952 | 8.40% |
| 1992 | 3,563 | 31.47% | 6,512 | 57.52% | 1,247 | 11.01% |
| 1988 | 4,333 | 39.64% | 6,308 | 57.71% | 289 | 2.64% |
| 1984 | 5,477 | 44.58% | 6,732 | 54.79% | 78 | 0.63% |
| 1980 | 3,667 | 35.73% | 6,395 | 62.31% | 201 | 1.96% |
| 1976 | 2,567 | 32.59% | 5,147 | 65.35% | 162 | 2.06% |
| 1972 | 3,192 | 46.58% | 3,133 | 45.72% | 528 | 7.70% |
| 1968 | 850 | 11.34% | 3,139 | 41.87% | 3,508 | 46.79% |
| 1964 | 2,327 | 50.87% | 2,247 | 49.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 674 | 16.39% | 2,953 | 71.81% | 485 | 11.79% |
| 1956 | 1,332 | 45.03% | 1,542 | 52.13% | 84 | 2.84% |
| 1952 | 1,174 | 45.88% | 1,385 | 54.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 198 | 10.01% | 402 | 20.31% | 1,379 | 69.68% |
| 1944 | 271 | 15.88% | 1,436 | 84.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 247 | 11.63% | 1,877 | 88.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 116 | 7.56% | 1,419 | 92.44% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 65 | 5.95% | 1,027 | 94.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 102 | 7.12% | 1,330 | 92.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 146 | 27.65% | 369 | 69.89% | 13 | 2.46% |
| 1920 | 143 | 26.00% | 407 | 74.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 37 | 10.48% | 301 | 85.27% | 15 | 4.25% |
| 1912 | 55 | 12.09% | 304 | 66.81% | 96 | 21.10% |