Cottonport, Louisiana
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Cottonport is a town in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,006 at the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
[edit]Template:Unreferenced section Cottonport was founded in the early 19th century. In 1835, Joseph Ducote donated land to be used for a road and school, which was the beginnings of the community. Incorporated in 1888 along the banks of Bayou Rouge (French for "Red Bayou"). In the 19th century, large boats made their way through Cottonport with goods destined for the port of New Orleans. The bayou was deep enough to support the large boats and formed a perfect horseshoe, which allowed vessels to turn around. The boats would deliver cargo into the area and would load crops on board to take to larger ports along the route. The main crop available for exporting at that time was cotton. In fact, because so much cotton was being shipped from the port, early settlers named the village Cottonport.
Present day
[edit]Today, over 100 years after its incorporation, Cottonport retains many of its picturesque qualities. Although Bayou Rouge is no longer navigable, it continues to be used as a fishing hole. It also serves as the backdrop to the annual Cottonport Christmas Festival, held the second weekend in December, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015.
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>
Demographics
[edit]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | % 2000 | % 2010 | Template:Partial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 1,107 | 895 | 707 | 47.80% | 44.62% | 34.95% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,147 | 1,058 | 1,191 | 49.53% | 52.74% | 58.87% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 13 | 6 | 19 | 0.56% | 0.30% | 0.94% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 4 | 10 | 7 | 0.17% | 0.50% | 0.35% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0.22% | 0.05% | 0.20% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 16 | 18 | 56 | 0.69% | 0.90% | 2.77% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24 | 18 | 38 | 1.04% | 0.90% | 1.88% |
| Total | 2,316 | 2,006 | 2,023 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,023 people, 711 households, and 435 families residing in the town.
Notable people
[edit]- Bill Callegari, Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives; born in Cottonport<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Moon Ducote, football, baseball, and basketball player and coach, born in Cottonport.