Editing Abita Springs, Louisiana

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Abita Springs, Louisiana
| settlement_type = [[Town]]
| image_skyline = Abita Springs Pavillion Park (June 2021).jpg
| imagesize = 
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = The pavilion building was originally constructed for the [[World Cotton Centennial]] 1884 Worlds Fair in New Orleans
| image_flag = 
| image_seal = 
| etymology = 
| nickname = 
| motto = "Where Nature Performs Miracles"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.townofabitasprings.com/|title= Town of Abita Springs, Louisiana|publisher= Town of Abita Springs, Louisiana |accessdate=August 26, 2012}}</ref>
| anthem = 
| image_map = File:St. Tammany Parish Louisiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Abita Springs Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Abita Springs in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
| image_map1 = Louisiana in United States (US48).svg
| mapsize1 = 
| map_alt1 = 
| map_caption1 = Location of Louisiana in the United States
| pushpin_map = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
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| coordinates = {{coord|30|28|34|N|90|02|06|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| grid_name = 
| grid_position = 
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Louisiana
| subdivision_type2 = Parish
| subdivision_name2 = [[St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|St. Tammany]]
| subdivision_type3 = 
| subdivision_name3 = 
| subdivision_type4 = 
| subdivision_name4 = 
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = 1903
| established_title1 = 
| established_date1 = 
| extinct_title = 
| extinct_date = 
| founder = 
| named_for = 
| seat_type = 
| seat = 
| seat1_type = 
| seat1 = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type = 
| governing_body = 
| leader_party = 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = "Dan" Curtis ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
<br>
(unseated Greg Lemons, December 8, 2018)
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1 = 
| total_type = 
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_22.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 11.91
| area_total_sq_mi = 4.60
| area_land_km2 = 11.88
| area_land_sq_mi = 4.59
| area_water_km2 = 0.02
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.01
| area_water_percent = 
| area_metro_footnotes = 
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| area_rank = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 
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| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total = 2631
| pop_est_as_of = 
| pop_est_footnotes = 
| population_est = 
| population_rank = 
| population_density_km2 = 221.39
| population_density_sq_mi = 573.45
| timezone1 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1 = -6
| timezone1_DST = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = -5
| timezone2 = 
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| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 
| postal2_code_type = 
| postal2_code = 
| area_code_type = 
| area_code = [[Area code 985|985]]
| geocode = 
| iso_code = 
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 22-00240
| blank1_name = 
| blank1_info = 
| blank2_name = 
| blank2_info = 
| blank_name_sec2 = 
| blank_info_sec2 = 
| blank1_name_sec2 = 
| blank1_info_sec2 = 
| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2 = 
| website = {{URL|https://www.townofabitasprings.com}}
}}

'''Abita Springs''' is a town in [[St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana|St. Tammany Parish]], [[Louisiana]], United States. The population was 2,365 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]],<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Abita Springs town, Louisiana |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=February 17, 2012 }}</ref> up from 1,957 in [[2000 United States Census|2000]]. It is part of the [[New Orleans]]&ndash;[[Metairie, Louisiana|Metairie]]&ndash;[[Kenner, Louisiana|Kenner]] [[New Orleans metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area]].

==History==
Abita Springs was originally a [[Choctaw]] Indian village, taking its name from nearby medicinal springs. The Choctaw burial and execution grounds, which were in use up until around 1880, are located nearby.<ref>{{ cite web
|title=Abita Springs Historical Marker
|author=Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism
|url=http://www.stoppingpoints.com/louisiana/St.-Tammany/Abita+Springs.html
}}</ref>

==Geography==
Abita Springs is located at {{Coord|30|28|34|N|90|2|6|W|type:city(1957)_region:US-LA}} (30.476233, -90.035138).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|11.6|km2|disp=flip}}, all land.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Abita Springs town, Louisiana |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=February 17, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1910= 365
|1920= 388
|1930= 471
|1940= 528
|1950= 559
|1960= 655
|1970= 839
|1980= 1072
|1990= 1296
|2000= 1957
|2010= 2365
|2020= 2631
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Abita Springs racial composition as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2200240&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 28, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 2,143
| 81.45%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 143
| 5.44%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 8
| 0.3%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 9
| 0.34%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 1
| 0.04%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 112
| 4.26%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 215
| 8.17%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,631 people, 1,010 households, and 636 families residing in the town.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=June 16, 2015 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,957 people, 757 households, and 550 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|474.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 813 housing units at an average density of {{convert|197.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.30% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.01% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.36% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.31% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.79% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]], or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 757 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% 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 3.07.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,923, and the median income for a family was $45,208. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $27,368 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $16,998. 6.7% of the population and 4.7% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. Out of the total population, 4.4% of those under the age of 18 and 11.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

==Economy ==
[[File:Artesian Waterpump Louisiana 1972.jpg|thumb|left|125px|The [[artesian aquifer|artesian water]] at Abita Springs enjoyed regional popularity for more than a century.]]

The [[Abita Brewing Company]] was established in 1986 as a [[microbrewery]], and in 1994, they added a brew pub and restaurant. Abita's beer is brewed with the water of the artesian wells in Abita Springs.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The UCM Museum (pronounced "you see 'em", and also known as the "Abita Mystery House") is an Abita Springs tourist attraction.  The museum features an eclectic collection of antiques (particularly electronics and arcade games) and dozens of examples of proprietor John Preble's folk art, which ranges from the whimsical to the macabre.<ref>[http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php?tip_AttractionNo==3667 Roadside America: Abita Mystery House]</ref>

The Abita Springs Opry is "a non-profit organization dedicated to the presentation and preservation of Louisiana roots music".  "The Opry" presents six concerts per year of [[American folk music|roots music]] by performers from throughout the United States. The concerts are presented in the auditorium of the Abita Springs Town Hall. The concerts are broadcast on a number of radio stations and on the Southeastern Channel and [[public-access television]] [[cable TV]] channels throughout the United States.<ref>See also [http://www2.selu.edu/thesoutheasternchannel/programs/entertainment/music/#Abita_Opry Southeastern Louisiana University program listing.]</ref>

==Education==
[[St. Tammany Parish Public Schools]] operates local public schools:
* K-3: Abita Springs Elementary School (Abita Springs)<ref>[http://maps.stpsb.org/boundarieswebpage/images/ase.jpg Abita Springs Elementary Boundary]. [[St. Tammany Parish Public Schools]]</ref>
* 4-6: Abita Springs Middle School (Abita Springs)<ref>[http://maps.stpsb.org/boundarieswebpage/images/asm.jpg Abita Springs Middle Boundary]. [[St. Tammany Parish Public Schools]]</ref>
* 7-8: Fontainebleau Junior High School (unincorporated St. Tammany Parish)<ref>[http://maps.stpsb.org/boundarieswebpage/images/fbj.jpg Fountainebleau Junior High Boundary]. [[St. Tammany Parish Public Schools]].</ref>
* 9-12: [[Fontainebleau High School]] (unincorporated St. Tammany Parish)<ref>[http://maps.stpsb.org/boundarieswebpage/images/foh.jpg Fontainebleau High School Boundary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070805202306/http://maps.stpsb.org/boundarieswebpage/images/foh.jpg |date=August 5, 2007 }}. [[St. Tammany Parish Public Schools]].</ref>

St. Tammany Parish Library operates the Abita Springs Branch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/locations/3/|title=Abita Springs Branch|publisher=St. Tammany Parish Library|access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref>

St. Tammany Parish is within the service areas of two community colleges: [[Northshore Technical Community College]] and [[Delgado Community College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lctcs.edu/our-colleges|title=Our Colleges|publisher=[[Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges]]|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref>

==Government==
===Mayor's Court===
The town has a [[Louisiana Mayor's Courts|Mayor's Court]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.townofabitasprings.com/clerk-of-court|title=Mayor's Court|publisher=Town of Abita Springs |access-date=March 25, 2025}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Dick Hart (golfer)|Dick Hart]], professional golfer
*[[David Lohr]], crime writer
*[[Bunny Matthews]], cartoonist and writer
*[[Michael G. Strain]], veterinarian and the incumbent [[Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner]]

==See also==
*[[List of municipalities in Louisiana]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Abita Springs}}
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.townofabitasprings.com/ Town of Abita Springs official website]
* [http://www.abitamysteryhouse.com/ Abita Mystery House]

{{St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Abita Springs, Louisiana|*]]
[[Category:Towns in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Towns in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Towns in the New Orleans metropolitan area]]