Edgard, Louisiana
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Edgard is a census-designated place and town located in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, of which it is the parish seat. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 2,637.
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History
Edgard was the birthplace of musician and songwriter Dave Bartholomew.
Geography
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Location of Edgard, Louisiana
Edgard is located at 30°2'2" North, 90°33'14" West (30.033974, -90.553802)Template:GR, on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 46.3 km² (17.9 mi²). 40.2 km² (15.5 mi²) of it is land and 6.1 km² (2.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 13.09% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 2,637 people, 857 households, and 695 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 65.5/km² (169.7/mi²). There are 905 housing units at an average density of 22.5/km² (58.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 4.59% White, 94.84% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. 0.15% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 857 households out of which 36.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% are married couples living together, 30.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% are non-families. 17.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.08 and the average family size is 3.51.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $24,865, and the median income for a family is $29,706. Males have a median income of $31,029 versus $22,688 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $10,635. 29.5% of the population and 25.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 31.3% of those under the age of 18 and 34.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Edgard Today
Edgard's economy has remained stagnant for generations. In the late 1990s, a contract for a textile factory prompted the state of Louisiana to construct the Veterans Bridge in Edgard to provide access to workers who would commute from the east bank of the Mississippi River. However, the contract for the factory fell through, leaving the state with the bill with what became known as "the bridge to nowhere". Edgard continues to produce its traditional sugar crop, with many of its jobs going to surrounding chemical plants.