Sunday, March 04, 2007

Kentwood, Louisiana

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 2,205 people, 850 households, and 559 families residing in the town. The population density was 123.0/km² (318.4/mi²). There were 979 housing units at an average density of 54.6/km² (141.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 34.42% White, 64.85% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.

There were 850 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% were married couples living together, 28.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 80.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $17,297, and the median income for a family was $23,889. Males had a median income of $25,583 versus $15,200 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,171. About 29.5% of families and 37.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.2% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.

Independence, Louisiana

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,724 people, 663 households, and 446 families residing in the town. The population density was 298.5/km² (772.4/mi²). There were 735 housing units at an average density of 127.3/km² (329.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 60.90% White, 36.25% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population.

There were 663 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 21.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,446, and the median income for a family was $30,685. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $17,105 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,495. About 20.8% of families and 29.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.3% of those under age 18 and 24.0% of those age 65 or over.

Independence has a large Italian American community, and boasts an Italian festival every year in April.

Hammond, Louisiana

The city is named for Peter Hammond, a Swedish immigrant, who first settled the area around 1818. Hammond is buried on the east side of town under the Hammond Oak along with his wife, three daughters and a favorite slave.

In 1854, the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Railroad (now the Illinois Central Railroad) came to Hammond, launching the city's continuing role as a commercial and transport center. During the American Civil War, the city was a shoemaking center for the Confederacy and it later became a major shipping point for strawberries, earning it the title of "the Strawberry Capital of America". Today, it sits at the intersections of Interstates 12 and 55.

Its 19th century shoemaking industry was the work of Charles Emery Cate, who bought land in the city in 1860 for a home, a shoe factory, tannery and sawmill. Toward the end of the war, Cate laid out the city grid, using the rail line as a guide and naming several of the streets after his sons. After the American Civil War, light industry and commercial activities were attracted to the town, and by the end of the century the town had become a stopping point for northerners traveling south and for New Orleanians heading north to escape summer yellow fever outbreaks

Amite City, Louisiana

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 4,110 people, 1,310 households, and 926 families residing in the town. The population density was 412.2/km² (1,066.2/mi²). There were 1,450 housing units at an average density of 145.4/km² (376.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 46.42% White, 51.82% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.

There were 1,310 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.1% 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 111.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,011, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $30,590 versus $19,063 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,565. About 23.1% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.3% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.