Acadia Parish, located in Louisiana, had a population of 57,576 according to the 2020 U.S. census. Its administrative center is Crowley. The parish was established in 1886, formed from parts of St. Landry Parish, and it is named after the historic French colony of Acadia in Canada, where many of its residents trace their ancestry.
Acadia Parish faces economic challenges, with a poverty rate of 23.1%, surpassing both the state’s average of 18.8% and the national average of 12.6%. The median household income in the parish is $44,412, which falls below the state average of $51,073 and the national average of $68,703.
Furthermore, there is a relatively high incidence of disability, with 14.7% of people under 65 experiencing a disability, compared to 11.3% in the state and 8.7% nationally.
In Acadia Parish, there are neighborhoods with varying levels of economic disadvantage. Below are the five neighborhoods with the lowest median household income in the parish, as per data from the U.S. Census Bureau‘s American Community Survey.
Morse
Morse is a small village situated in the northern area of Acadia Parish. It has a population of 759. The median household income in Morse is $28,750, which is significantly lower compared to both the parish and national averages, by 35.3% and 58.2% respectively.
The poverty rate in Morse stands at 31%, which is notably higher than both the parish and national averages, by 7.9 and 18.4 percentage points respectively. The unemployment rate in Morse is 10%, surpassing the state rate of 7% and the national rate of 6%.
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Estherwood
Estherwood is a village situated in the central area of Acadia Parish, boasting a population of 1,017 residents. The median household income in Estherwood is $28,125, reflecting a 36.6% reduction compared to the parish average and a significant 59% lower than the national average.
Regarding poverty, Estherwood faces a rate of 32%, marking an 8.9 percentage point difference from the parish average and a substantial 19.4 percentage points higher than the national average. Unemployment in Estherwood stands at 9%, surpassing the state rate of 7% and the national rate of 6%.
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Mermentau
Mermentau is a small village in the southern part of Acadia Parish. It has a population of 633 people. The median household income here is $26,250, which is considerably lower than both the average income in the parish (40.9% lower) and the national average (61.8% lower).
The poverty rate in Mermentau is 34%, which is significantly higher compared to both the parish average (10.9 percentage points higher) and the national average (21.4 percentage points higher). Additionally, the unemployment rate in Mermentau stands at 11%, surpassing the state rate of 7% and the national rate of 6%.
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Branch
Branch, a village in the eastern part of Acadia Parish, has a population of 388. The median household income here is $25,000, which is significantly below both the parish and national averages.
In terms of poverty, Branch faces a rate of 35%, which is considerably higher than both the parish and national averages. Specifically, it’s 11.9 percentage points higher than the parish average and 22.4 percentage points higher than the national average.
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Iota
Iota is a small town in the northeastern area of Acadia Parish. It has around 1,443 residents. In terms of income, the median household earns $23,750, which is considerably lower than both the parish and national averages.
In Iota, the poverty rate stands at 38%, significantly surpassing both the parish and national averages by 14.9 and 25.4 percentage points, respectively. Additionally, the unemployment rate is at 12%, which is higher than both the state rate of 7% and the national rate of 6%.
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Final Words
These five communities are among the most economically disadvantaged areas in Acadia Parish and all of Louisiana. They deal with issues like limited income, elevated poverty rates, high unemployment, lower educational levels, and less favorable health conditions.
Yet, they also possess valuable assets like diverse cultures, strong community spirit, and rich history. These neighborhoods warrant increased focus and assistance from local, state, and national authorities, as well as from private businesses and nonprofit organizations, to enhance their quality of life and chances for progress.
