Editing Norco, Louisiana

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Norco
| native_name              = 
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline            = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = 
| image_shield             = 
| motto                    = 
| nickname                 = 
| etymology                = <!-- location -->
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = State
| subdivision_name1        = Louisiana
| subdivision_type2        = Parish
| subdivision_name2        = [[St. Charles Parish, Louisiana|St. Charles]]
| subdivision_type3        = 
| subdivision_name3        = <!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map                = 
| map_caption              = 
| pushpin_map              = Louisiana
| pushpin_relief           = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location of Norco in Louisiana
| coordinates              = {{coord|30|00|14|N|90|24|39|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = <!-- established -->
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = <!-- area -->
| 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>
| dunam_link               = 
| area_total_km2           = 10.45
| area_total_sq_mi         = 4.04
| area_land_sq_mi          = 3.45
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.59
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=GNIS/>
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_ft             = 7
<!-- population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 2984
| population_density_km2   = 334.04
| population_density_sq_mi = 865.18
| population_demonym       = <!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1                = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1              = -6
| timezone1_DST            = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = -5
| timezone2                = 
| utc_offset2              = 
| timezone2_DST            = 
| utc_offset2_DST          = <!-- postal codes, area code -->
|postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 70079<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zipdatamaps.com/70079|title=Norco LA ZIP Code|publisher=zipdatamaps.com|year=2023|access-date=June 16, 2023}}</ref>
| area_code_type           = 
| area_code                = [[Area code 985|985]]
| geocode                  = 
| iso_code                 = <!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 22-55525
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info             = 2403339<ref name=GNIS>{{Cite gnis|2403339|Norco Census Designated Place}}</ref>
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_land_km2 = 8.93
|area_water_km2 = 1.52
}}

'''Norco''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[St. Charles Parish, Louisiana|St. Charles Parish]], [[Louisiana]], United States. The population was 2,984 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2020 Race and Population Totals|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Norco%20CDP,%20Louisiana%20population&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1|access-date=2021-10-25|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The community is home to a major [[Shell Oil Company|Shell]]/[[Valero Energy|Valero]] manufacturing complex. The CDP's name is derived from the New Orleans Refining Company.

== Etymology ==
The community of Norco was once called "Sellers," after a wealthy family there. In 1911, the land was purchased by an agent for [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell Oil]], and the [[New Orleans Refining Company]] (NORCO) was established. The community's name was officially changed from Sellers to Norco sometime after 1926.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BNMpKkIa4MsC&q=sellers] Steve Lerner, ''Diamond: A Struggle for Environmental Justice in Louisiana's Chemical Corridor'', Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2005, pp. 24, 228. {{ISBN|978-0-262-12273-3}}. Retrieved May 20, 2010.</ref>

==History==
By the late 18th century, [[France|French]] and European colonial settlers had established numerous [[sugarcane|sugar cane]] [[Plantations in the American South|plantations]]. They imported [[history of slavery in Louisiana|enslaved]] [[African diaspora|Africans]] as laborers. As sugar cane cultivation was highly labor-intensive, the slave population greatly outnumbered the ethnic Europeans in the colony, a circumstance that continued after the [[Louisiana Purchase]] by the United States in 1803.

On January 8, 1811, planters were alarmed by the [[1811 German Coast Uprising|German Coast Uprising]] led by [[Charles Deslondes]], a [[free person of color]] from [[Haiti]] (formerly the French colony of [[Saint-Domingue]]). It was the largest slave uprising in US history, though it resulted in few white fatalities. Deslondes and his followers had been influenced by the ideas of the [[French Revolution|French]] and [[Haitian Revolution|Haitian]] revolutions. In 1809–1810, French-speaking refugees from the Revolution immigrated by the thousands to New Orleans and Louisiana: white planters and their slaves, and [[free people of color]], adding to the French Creole, African and free people of color populations.<ref>Adam Rothman, ''Slave Country: American Expansion and the Origins of the Deep South'', Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2005, pp. 106-108</ref>

Deslondes led followers to the plantation of Col. Manuel André, where they had hoped to seize stored arms, but those had been moved. The band traveled downriver, gathering more slaves for the [[slave rebellion|insurrection]] as they marched. They were armed simply with hand tools and accompanied their progress by drums. More than 200 men participated in the uprising; they killed two white men on their march toward New Orleans. The alarm was raised, and both militia and regular troops were called out by Gov. [[William C.C. Claiborne]] to put down the short-lived revolt. The white militia and troops killed 95 slaves in total, many immediately and others in executions after quick trials.<ref>Adam Rothman, ''Slave Country: American Expansion and the Origins of the Deep South'', Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2005, p. 111</ref>

Since 1995 members of the African American History Alliance of Louisiana have gathered annually at Norco in January to commemorate the events of the German Coast Uprising, when men of color reached for freedom decades before the [[American Civil War]] and [[abolitionism in the United States|emancipation]]. They have been joined by descendants of the insurgents.<ref>James W. Lowen, ''Lies Across America: What Our History Sites Get Wrong'', New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007, p. 192</ref>

In 1942, a Catholic Church, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, was founded.
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sacredheartchurchnorco.org/history|title=Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Norci, Louisiana-History|date=|access-date=2022-09-04}}</ref>

In 2021, [[Hurricane Ida]] passed through the area, leaving the oil refineries/chemical plants spewing toxic chemicals through [[Routine flaring|flaring]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.desmog.com/2021/08/31/hurricane-ida-smoke-shell-norco-refinery-louisiana-apocalyptic/|title=After Ida, Toxic Smoke From Shell's Norco Plant in Louisiana Creates Apocalyptic Landscape|date=2021-08-31|access-date=2023-05-15}}</ref>

==Geography==
Norco is located at {{Coord|30|0|14|N|90|24|39|W|type:city}} (30.003753, -90.410824).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> The city is situated on the eastern edge of the large [[Bonnet Carré Spillway]], which provides for an outlet from the [[Mississippi River]] to [[Lake Pontchartrain]] during flooding of the river.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|3.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|3.0|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi|km2}} (12.83%) is water.

There are two distinct neighborhoods in Norco, one of which is 'Diamond' that spans about four blocks and it is 100% African American and the other neighborhood in Norco is 98% white.<ref>na's chemical corridor Cambridge, Mass.; MIT</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1990= 3385
|2000= 3579
|2010= 3074
|2020= 2984
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusLA/> 2000<ref name=2000CensusP008/> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Norco CDP, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1990<ref name=1990CensusLA>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Louisiana |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-20.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP008>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Norco CDP, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?q=p004&g=160XX00US2255525|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Norco CDP, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2255525&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Norco CDP, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2255525&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!% {{partial|2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|2,686
|2,762
|2,713
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,431
|79.35%
|77.17%
|88.26%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |81.47%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|629
|686
|210
|style='background: #ffffe6; |221
|18.58%
|19.17%
|6.83%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.41%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|11
|14
|10
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4
|0.32%
|0.39%
|0.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.13%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|16
|10
|14
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15
|0.47%
|0.28%
|0.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.50%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|x
|0
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|x
|0.00%
|0.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|2
|1
|3
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7
|0.06%
|0.03%
|0.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|x
|34
|29
|style='background: #ffffe6; |128
|x
|0.95%
|0.94%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.29%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|41
|72
|93
|style='background: #ffffe6; |178
|1.21%
|2.01%
|3.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.97%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''3,385'''
|'''3,579'''
|'''3,074'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''2,984'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,984 people, 1,201 households, and 750 families residing in the CDP.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2255525&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-28|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==Education==
[[St. Charles Parish Public School System]] operates public schools, including:
* Norco Elementary K-3 School
* Norco Elementary 4-6 School
* [[Destrehan High School]] in [[Destrehan, Louisiana|Destrehan]]<ref>"[http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary/pdf;jsessionid=449D1177D21600830A086D4AB488AE5E?institutionId=6639 Destrehan High School]" ([https://archive.today/20161203034929/http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary/pdf;jsessionid=449D1177D21600830A086D4AB488AE5E?institutionId=6639 Archive]). [[AdvancED]]. p. 4. Retrieved on December 3, 2016. "The school pulls from the five communities which make up the East Bank of St. Charles Parish: Destrehan, Montz, New Sarpy, Norco, and St. Rose."</ref>

Prior to 1969 [[Mary M. Bethune High School (Norco, Louisiana)|Mary M. Bethune High School]] in Norco served area black students; that year it closed, with high school students moved to Destrehan High School.<ref>"[http://www.stcharles.k12.la.us/domain/128 About Our School]." [[Destrehan High School]]. Retrieved on December 3, 2016.</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Minor Hall]], jazz drummer
*[[Tubby Hall]], jazz drummer
*[[James Brown Humphrey]], Musician, bandleader, and music instructor
*[[Damaris Johnson]], NFL wide receiver/punt returner for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] and [[Houston Texans]]
*[[Jamall Johnson]], NFL and CFL linebacker and actor
*[[Rondell Mealey]], NFL running back for the [[Green Bay Packers]]
*[[Gregory A. Miller]], member of the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] from St. Charles Parish, was reared in Norco.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/09/st_charles_parish-based_56th_l.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185016/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/09/st_charles_parish-based_56th_l.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 29, 2013|title=Mary Sparacello, St. Charles Parish-based 56th Louisiana House district draws trio of hopefuls, September 28, 2011|newspaper=[[New Orleans Times-Picayune]]|access-date=August 26, 2013}}</ref>
*[[Ralph R. Miller]], member of the Louisiana House from 1968 to 1980 and 1982 to 1992; father of Gregory A. Miller
*[[George T. Oubre]], state senator from 1968 to 1972 for St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist parishes; candidate for [[Attorney General of Louisiana|state attorney general]] in December 1971, while residing in Norco
*[[Jeremy Parquet]], NFL offensive lineman for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], [[St. Louis Rams]] and [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]
*[[Rusty Rebowe]], NFL linebacker for the [[New Orleans Saints]]
*[[Tim Rebowe]], Head football coach at [[Nicholls State Colonels football|Nicholls State University]]
*[[Darrington Sentimore]], NFL defensive lineman for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]
*[[Gary Smith, Jr.]], [[Louisiana State Legislature|Louisiana state senator]]

==In popular culture==
* The eponymous video game ''[[Norco (video game)|NORCO]]'' takes place in the alternative future Norco and the surrounding area.<ref>{{cite news|author=Review by <!-- --> Emily Price |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/reviews/norco-review/ |title=Norco review: A Deep South dystopia about mundane, corporate evils |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2022-05-10 |accessdate=2022-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23025400/norco-review-point-and-click-adventure-windows-pc-mac-ending | title=Norco is an unforgettable game about losing and finding religion | website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | date=14 April 2022 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Fenceline community]]
*[[Mary M. Bethune High School (Norco, Louisiana)|Mary M. Bethune High School]]
*[[Shell plant explosion in Norco, Louisiana]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2002/fenceline/ ''Fenceline''], PBS documentary about the oil industry in Norco, and how the community is divided over issues around it.

{{St. Charles Parish, Louisiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in the New Orleans metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Louisiana populated places on the Mississippi River]]