Erath, Louisiana

History

Erath is named after August Erath (March 18, 1843 - September 11, 1900) who emigrated from Switzerland to New Orleans in 1860 and was a bookkeeper in the breweries. He moved to New Iberia in 1876 and erected a brewery there. Erath was later mayor of New Iberia and began to develop land in the Erath area. Although August Erath never lived in Erath, he was close to railroad officials, which brought forth a great business venture for him. Later, Erath built a seltzer water factory in New Iberia and an ice plant in Abbeville. In 1884, he started a hardware business and purchased land located in this area.

In 2005, storm surge forced inland by Hurricane Rita flooded most of the town. Water in most parts of town was up to six feet deep.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.5 sqmi, all land.

Erath is located 20 mi south of Lafayette, parish seat of Lafayette Parish via Louisiana Highway 339, 7 mi east of Abbeville, parish seat of Vermilion Parish, and 15 mi west of New Iberia, parish seat of Iberia Parish via Louisiana Highway 14. The eastern edge of Erath borders with the town of Delcambre on LA-14.

Demographics

The 2020 United States census counted 2,028 people, 830 households, and 509 families in Erath. The population density was 1,154.2 per square mile (445.7/km). There were 928 housing units at an average density of 528.2 per square mile (203.9/km). The racial makeup was 84.12% (1,706) white or European American (83.53% non-Hispanic white), 6.41% (130) black or African-American, 0.3% (6) Native American or Alaska Native, 4.39% (89) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.49% (10) from other races, and 4.29% (87) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 2.56% (52) of the population.

Of the 830 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18; 36.4% were married couples living together; 38.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 31.7% of households consisted of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.0. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 15.3% of the population.

25.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 125.0 males.

The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $37,198 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,630) and the median family income was $40,341 (+/- $16,273). Males had a median income of $41,250 (+/- $16,514) versus $25,595 (+/- $5,021) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $29,938 (+/- $5,893). Approximately, 16.1% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under the age of 18 and 23.3% of those ages 65 or over.

Economy

Erath is home to Henry Hub, an important junction of natural gas pipeline systems. Natural gas prices in North America are more or less set at this junction.

The "Henry" hub is so named for its location in the Henry hamlet of Erath, which was named after the Henry High School that stood there until damage from flooding due to Hurricane Rita forced its closure and demolition. This school was named for its benefactor, William Henry, who originally immigrated from Copenhagen, Denmark as Ludwig Wilhelm Kattentidt, circa 1840, then dropped the surname and used his father's middle 'Heinrich' for his surname of Henry. There are Henry descendants in the area to this day.

It was customary for benefactors to sponsor schools; there were quite a few similarly sponsored schools in Vermilion Parish around that time. Being that long ago and in a rural area, with schools sometimes sponsored even in homes, there was great variation in what was offered to how many, and it often changed over time. Records say that the Henry school was founded in 1877, and apparently became a high school in 1896 because it celebrated its centennial in 1996.

In 1992, the Vermilion Parish school district reorganized the schools. Students transferred to Erath High, and Henry High became an elementary school. Then on September 24, 2005 (less than a month after Hurricane Katrina), Hurricane Rita smashed the parish and ruined the school. The area was also hit hard three years later by Hurricane Ike, and the main building was finally razed around March 2009. Likewise, St. John Catholic Church across the street had its rectory damaged; it is being replaced with a new building elevated to meet new flood standards as of early 2014.

When land for the Henry school was bequeathed, it was stipulated for education into perpetuity, or to be returned to the heirs. The gymnasium was salvaged and is still used by the school district to this day. A Google Earth comparison of, for example, February 28, 2006, to April 23, 2012, at the intersection of Highways 330 and 689 shows a parking lot where the main school was, and the church's rectory gone, but the gymnasium in clear use by child sports organizations and other groups.

Notable people

• Dylon Hoffpauir, NFL Cheerleader for the New Orleans Saints and head cheer & dance coach at Loyola University New Orleans
• Dudley J. LeBlanc, served in legislature and ran for governor on three occasions.
• Doris Leon "D. L." Menard, songwriter, performer, and recording artist
• Elijah Mitchell, NFL running back for the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Randy Romero, Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame jockey

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. (2023). "Erath LA ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com.
3. {{GNIS. 2406457
4. "Acadians – Que Sera, Sera… Whatever Will Be, Will Be…".
5. "City and Town Population Totals: 2010-2020".
6. (June 30, 1982). "Town of Erath named after founder". The Morning Star.
7. "The History of Erath, Louisiana".
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
9. "Explore Census Data".
10. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE".
11. "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics".
12. "Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
13. "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE".
14. "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE".
15. "US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES".
16. "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT".
17. "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)".
18. "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)".
19. "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS".
20. "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES".
21. Perrin, Warren A.. (2011). "Vermilion Parish". Arcadia Pub..
22. Bodin, Stacy. "History of the Erath Schools". Vermilion Parish Schools.
23. (March 25, 2009). "Henry High being torn down". Vermilion Today.
24. (April 25, 2012). "Very Special Arts Festival takes place in Vermilion Parish in Henry High gym". Vermilion Today.
25. "49ers select Elijah Mitchell with the No. 194 pick in 2021 draft".
26. JakeJake. (February 7, 2022). "Former Louisiana Ragin' Cajun, Erath Native Elijah Mitchell Reflects on Special Draft Moment".